[2] Severance's wealth made him instrumental in the support of The Cleveland Orchestra during its creation by Adella Prentiss Hughes and Nikolai Sokoloff.

Beginning in 1921, Severance would serve as president of the Musical Arts Association, the board of trustees that oversaw the Orchestra's founding – a collaboration that continues to this day.

Before intermission, Blossom walked on stage and announced that John and Elisabeth Severance had pledged $1 million toward the construction of a new concert hall.

On November 14, 1929, Severance made the ceremonial first push of the shovel during the concert hall's groundbreaking at the corner of Euclid Avenue and East Boulevard.

On January 16, 1936, Severance died at the age of 72 and was buried in Cleveland's Lakeview Cemetery, his memory living on in the hall that bears his name.