concerts + events.
ALL-AGES INSTRUMENT-MAKING WORKSHOP
Overview
Make instruments from recycled materials ahead of concertnova’s Cincinnati Sandbox concert at CCM on October 25.
This is a free pre-concert event for concertnova's Cincinnati Sandbox concert, which will be at CCM on October 25, 2026.
What sounds are hiding inside the things we throw away?
Join concertnova and Indigo Hippo for a free, all-ages workshop exploring how everyday materials can become imaginative musical instruments. Using wood, cardboard, plastic, tubing, bells, rubber bands, and other reclaimed materials, participants will build, experiment, and discover entirely new sounds.
An Indigo Hippo facilitator will lead the workshop, with additional support from concertnova. All materials will be provided, and no musical or building experience is necessary. Children must participate with an accompanying adult.
Space is very limited, so advance registration is required.
WHO: All ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
WHAT: A FREE, hands-on workshop making musical instruments from recycled and creatively reused materials.
WHEN: Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 3:00–5:00 PM
WHERE: Indigo Hippo
WHAT TO EXPECT
A playful, hands-on instrument-making experience
An assortment of recycled and creatively reused materials
Guidance from Indigo Hippo and concertnova
Plenty of opportunities to experiment and make noise
Want to get more heavy-duty and make an instrument you can play during the concert? Check out our instrument-building workshop with Heavy Metal Marching Band at Wave Pool on September 29.
Participants who make instruments during the workshops will be invited to bring them to the performance during Cincinnati Sandbox on Sunday, October 25. Every workshop attendee will receive discounted tickets to the show!
ABOUT CINCINNATI SANDBOX
Cincinnati Sandbox explores how music can transform what we discard by repurposing everyday objects, found sounds, and recycled materials into something entirely new. Presented by concertnova, Cincinnati’s artist-led collective creating immersive and interdisciplinary concert experiences, the program brings together Grammy-nominated Sandbox Percussion, acclaimed violinist Kristin Lee, and Cincinnati’s Heavy Metal Marching Band.
The concert features the Cincinnati premiere of Vivian Fung’s Goddess//Insect, written for Sandbox Percussion and Lee, alongside music by John Corigliano, Andy Akiho, Viet Cuong, and others.
CINCINNATI SANDBOX CONCERT
Sunday, October 25, 2026
5:00 PM
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Tickets: $35 general admission, $20 young professionals, and $10 students.
RACHEL GRIMES X CONCERTNOVA
Guest appearance: TALK LOW FESTIVAL: RACHEL GRIMES X CONCERTNOVA
EVENT DESCRIPTION
concertnova joins composer and pianist Rachel Grimes, a founding member of the influential indie chamber ensemble Rachel’s, for a career-spanning program drawn from Music for Egon Schiele, The Doctor from India, The Way Forth, and other works. The performance features Grimes alongside concertnova’s chamber ensemble, including the world premiere of a new arrangement of “Memories Flickering” from The Blue Hour. The festival program also includes Faith Coloccia and Tashi Dorji.
THE PROGRAM
TBA
HEAVY METAL MARCHING BAND INSTRUMENT MAKING WORSHOP
Overview
Build recycled instruments with Heavy Metal Marching Band for concertnova’s Cincinnati Sandbox at CCM on October 25.
This is a free pre-concert event for concertnova’s Cincinnati Sandbox concert, which will be at CCM on October 25, 2026.
What can you build from the things other people throw away?
Join concertnova, Wave Pool, and Cincinnati’s Heavy Metal Marching Band for a free, hands-on workshop devoted to building instruments from reclaimed metal and other discarded materials.
Participants will work in Wave Pool’s woodshop using hand tools and potentially power tools to construct, modify, and test original noise-making instruments. Materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring safe recycled or reusable materials that could clang, rattle, scrape, ring, or otherwise make an interesting sound.
This workshop is intended for adults who are comfortable working around heavy tools and in an active woodshop environment. No musical or instrument-building experience is necessary, but participants should come prepared to build, experiment, and make some noise.
Space is limited, so advance registration is required.
WHO: Adults who are comfortable using hand tools and potentially power tools.
WHAT: A free, hands-on workshop building noise-making instruments from reclaimed materials with members of Heavy Metal Marching Band.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 PM
WHERE: Wave Pool, 2940 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45225
WHAT TO EXPECT
Hands-on instrument construction in the Wave Pool woodshop
Recycled and reclaimed building materials
Hand tools and potentially power tools
Members of Heavy Metal Marching Band sharing their creative approach
Plenty of joyful, unconventional noise
Participants and their newly created instruments will be invited to perform with Heavy Metal Marching Band during Cincinnati Sandbox on Sunday, October 25. Performing is completely optional, and participation in this workshop is not required to join the band at the concert. Every workshop attendee will receive discounted tickets to the show, and every performer will be welcomed for free to the show.
Want something more family-friendly? Check out our all-ages instrument-making workshop at Indigo Hippo on September 20, where children and adults can transform playful recycled materials into imaginative musical instruments.
ABOUT HEAVY METAL MARCHING BAND
Heavy Metal Marching Band is a celebratory, noise-making, dancing, all-inclusive, joy-filled social revelry. The band includes very few people who “know what they’re doing” and is open to anyone who wants to join in. Every instrument is made from trash.
Special thanks to River City Metal Recycling.
ABOUT CINCINNATI SANDBOX
Cincinnati Sandbox explores how music can transform what we discard by repurposing everyday objects, found sounds, and recycled materials into something entirely new. Presented by concertnova, Cincinnati’s artist-led collective creating immersive and interdisciplinary concert experiences, the program brings together Grammy-nominated Sandbox Percussion, acclaimed violinist Kristin Lee, and Cincinnati’s Heavy Metal Marching Band.
The concert features the Cincinnati premiere of Vivian Fung’s Goddess//Insect, written for Sandbox Percussion and Lee, alongside music by John Corigliano, Andy Akiho, Viet Cuong, and others.
CINCINNATI SANDBOX CONCERT
Sunday, October 25, 2026
5:00 PM
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Tickets: $35 general admission, $20 young professionals, and $10 students.
BETWEEN FORMS
BETWEEN FORMS
Music, Sculpture, and the Living Landscape
EVENT DESCRIPTION
cLife does not disappear; it changes form. At the sculpture-filled forested property of artists Steven Finke and Ana England, concertnova performs music of impermanence and transformation, moving through a natural landscape of beauty, loss, and ultimate renewal.
Visitors will be immersed in the experience: musicians will perform throughout the wooded property, in dialogue with Finke’s immersive, life-size sculptures and the land they are built from and on. Music exploring breath, stillness, transformation, and passage will create a dialogue among sound, sculpture, plants, and the surrounding environment.
Performances will take place at scheduled intervals from noon through the early evening. Structured like a festival, the event allows guests to arrive and depart freely and choose how much of the day they would like to experience. The complete musical program and schedule will be announced as plans develop.
SPECIAL GUESTS: Flutist Molly Barth, artists Steven Finke and Ana England, and others to be announced
RAIN DATE: Sunday, October 4, 2026
LOCATION: Felicity, Ohio, approximately one hour southeast of Cincinnati. The exact location will be shared with ticket holders. Group transportation from Cincinnati will be available for an additional fee.
Complimentary snacks will be provided. Guests are welcome to pack picnics. This is an outdoor event, so please dress for the weather and terrain.
THE PROGRAM
To be announced.
CINCINNATI SANDBOX
CINCINNATI SANDBOX
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Cincinnati Sandbox explores how music can transform what we discard by repurposing everyday objects, found sounds, and recycled materials into something entirely new. Presented by concertnova, the program brings together Grammy-nominated Sandbox Percussion, acclaimed violinist and former CCM faculty member Kristin Lee, and Cincinnati’s Heavy Metal Marching Band.
The concert features the Cincinnati premiere of Vivian Fung’s Goddess//Insect, written for Sandbox Percussion and Lee, alongside music by John Corigliano, Andy Akiho, and Viet Cuong.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
Instrument-Making Workshop at Indigo Hippo
Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 3:00–5:00 PM
Instrument-Making Workshop at Wave Pool with Heavy Metal Marching Band
Tuesday, September 29, 6:00-8:00 PM
Subscriber and Donor Event at Cincinnati Public Radio
Saturday, October 24, 2026, time to be announced
An exclusive performance by Sandbox Percussion and Kristin Lee inside Cincinnati Public Radio’s recording studio.
THE PROGRAM
The concert features the Cincinnati premiere of Vivian Fung’s Goddess//Insect, written for Sandbox Percussion and Lee, alongside music by John Corigliano, Andy Akiho, and Viet Cuong.
JOIN THE NAUGHTY LIST
JOIN THE NAUGHTY LIST
An Evening of Holiday Spirits, Served Neat
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Nice List has become unsustainable. This holiday season, concertnova invites exhausted grownups to abandon perfection, put down their obligations, and accept an alternative offer from Krampus himself.
Part concert, part cabaret, and part theatrical ritual, Join the Naughty List combines dark holiday folklore, Weimar nightlife, lounge music, twisted Christmas classics, and gleefully questionable original songs. Krampus and the Ho Ho Ho’s lead audiences from the surveillance and forced cheer of Santa’s Christmas into a world of permission, self-expression, cocktails, and joyful misbehavior. The evening concludes with a ceremonial induction into the Naughty List.
Applications are now being accepted. Good is exhausting. Naughty is healing.
FEATURING: Krampus, the Ho Ho Ho’s, concertnova musicians, and special guests to be announced
THE PROGRAM
To be announced.
JOIN THE NAUGHTY LIST
JOIN THE NAUGHTY LIST
An Evening of Holiday Spirits, Served Neat
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Nice List has become unsustainable. This holiday season, concertnova invites exhausted grownups to abandon perfection, put down their obligations, and accept an alternative offer from Krampus himself.
Part concert, part cabaret, and part theatrical ritual, Join the Naughty List combines dark holiday folklore, Weimar nightlife, lounge music, twisted Christmas classics, and gleefully questionable original songs. Krampus and the Ho Ho Ho’s lead audiences from the surveillance and forced cheer of Santa’s Christmas into a world of permission, self-expression, cocktails, and joyful misbehavior. The evening concludes with a ceremonial induction into the Naughty List.
Applications are now being accepted. Good is exhausting. Naughty is healing.
FEATURING: Krampus, the Ho Ho Ho’s, concertnova musicians, and special guests to be announced
THE PROGRAM
To be announced.
MINI MINI FEST
MINI MINI FEST
Curated by Timo Andres
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Minimalism has never been as simple as it sounds. Pianist, composer, and curator Timo Andres joins concertnova for a two-part festival tracing the movement from early, process-driven minimalism to the expansive post-minimalist music of the 1990s and 2000s.
Andres is an ideal guide to this repertoire: a composer whose work combines rigorous musical structures with an instinct for color, momentum, and surprise, and a pianist equally at home interpreting his own generation and the composers who shaped it. He will perform solo piano music, including a Glass étude and selections from his own work, while leading concertnova through rarely heard chamber music by European, Canadian, and American post-minimalists. Together, the programs consider what happened after repetition broke open: how later composers stretched, disrupted, and personalized the minimalist language.
SPECIAL GUEST: Pianist, composer, and festival curator Timo Andres
Location to be announced.
FEBRUARY 19: SUBSCRIBER AND DONOR EVENT
On Friday, February 19, Andres and concertnova musicians present an intimate house concert at the Lloyd Taft House, an award-winning modernist residence designed by architect Charles Gwathmey. The program is curated in direct response to the house itself — process-based works and pieces built on flexible instrumentation, chosen for their own architectural logic: repetition as structure, structure as form.
This event is reserved for concertnova subscribers and donors. Additional details will be shared directly with invited guests.
THE PROGRAM
To be announced.
WHAT IF WE’RE BEAUTIFUL
WHAT IF WE’RE BEAUTIFUL
EVENT DESCRIPTION
What if family is not something we inherit, but something we choose and create together? Presented during Pride Month, What If We’re Beautiful explores identity, belonging, home, and chosen family through the lens of queer experience.
Musicians from Hub New Music and concertnova come together as a single chamber ensemble for a program that moves from introspection toward connection and queer joy. Eve Beglarian’s I Will Not Be Sad in This World opens the evening as an intimate invocation, followed by music by Jennifer Higdon, Benjamin Britten, and Julius Eastman. The program culminates in Daniel Thomas Davis’s What If We’re Beautiful, a collection of musical gifts created for members of the composer’s chosen family. Together, these works celebrate the relationships through which we become fully known and imagine family as an act of love, trust, and mutual care.
SPECIAL GUESTS: Hub New Music
WHEN: June 2027, date and time to be announced
WHERE: To be announced
THE PROGRAM
To be announced.
From One to Another
FROM ONE TO ANOTHER
EVENT DESCRIPTION
This immersive walking concert leads audiences through the museum in a chain of musical duos, each responding to specific exhibitions and the building’s location on the Ohio River, a historic gateway to freedom. Featuring music from the past and the present, the program draws meaning from Cincinnati’s history as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
PROGRAM
“Music for a While” for violin and guitar — Henry Purcell, arr. David Warin Solomons
Strum for string quartet — Jessie Montgomery
Walkin’ All Over God’s City Called Heaven for violin and cello— Coleridge Taylor-Perkinson
where two or three are gathered for violin and cello — Carlos Simon
Fanfare for Moments of Courage for solo clarinet — Courtney Bryan
“Dream” for soprano, clarinet, and piano — Dolores White
“Here’s One” for soprano and piano — William Grant Still
National Anthem - soprano and guitar
MUSICIANS
Anna Reider, violin
Brandon Coleman, guitar
Korah Cuff, violin
Joanne Wojtowicz, viola
Drew Dansby, cello
Kun Dong, violin
Daniel Kaler, cello
Citlalmina Hernandez clarinet
Victoria Ellington, soprano
Brianna Matzke, piano
#mainstage concerts present large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
From One to Another
FROM ONE TO ANOTHER
EVENT DESCRIPTION
This immersive walking concert leads audiences through the museum in a chain of musical duos, each responding to specific exhibitions and the building’s location on the Ohio River, a historic gateway to freedom. Featuring music from the past and the present, the program draws meaning from Cincinnati’s history as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
PROGRAM
“Music for a While” for violin and guitar — Henry Purcell, arr. David Warin Solomons
Strum for string quartet — Jessie Montgomery
Walkin’ All Over God’s City Called Heaven for violin and cello— Coleridge Taylor-Perkinson
where two or three are gathered for violin and cello — Carlos Simon
Fanfare for Moments of Courage for solo clarinet — Courtney Bryan
“Dream” for soprano, clarinet, and piano — Dolores White
“Here’s One” for soprano and piano — William Grant Still
National Anthem - soprano and guitar
MUSICIANS
Anna Reider, violin
Brandon Coleman, guitar
Korah Cuff, violin
Joanne Wojtowicz, viola
Drew Dansby, cello
Kun Dong, violin
Daniel Kaler, cello
Citlalmina Hernandez clarinet
Victoria Ellington, soprano
Brianna Matzke, piano
#mainstage concerts present large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
Bartók Rebórn
BARTÓK REBÓRN
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Icarus Quartet reimagines Bartók’s iconic Sonata for two pianos and percussion alongside bold contemporary responses.
Note: This performance replaces the originally scheduled Cincinnati Sandbox program, which will be rescheduled for Fall 2026 as part of concertnova’s 20th season. Ticketholders for Cincinnati Sandbox have automatically had their tickets transferred to this program instead.
Nearly a century after Béla Bartók shattered expectations with his Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, the Icarus Quartet returns to this explosive work with a bold question: What does Bartók’s legacy sound like today?
In Bartók Rebórn, three leading contemporary composers respond to Bartók’s landmark score, creating a program that refracts the original through new musical languages and perspectives. Expect an evening of rhythmic electricity, fearless virtuosity, and a fascinating musical conversation spanning nearly 100 years.
The program centers on Bartók’s iconic Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, a work that fundamentally reshaped chamber music by pairing keyboards with percussion in electrifying ways. Surrounding it are companion works commissioned to reflect on its impact.
PROGRAM:
Béla Bartók – Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion
Witold Lutosławski – Variations on a Theme by Paganini
--INTERMISSION--
Martin Bresnick – Hagyaték (Legacy)
Viet Cuong – Cloak of Night
Jennifer Higdon – Turbo Shift (A Crafter’s Workshop)
Originally commissioned by Wake Forest University’s Secrest Artist Series, this program premiered in 2024 to a sold-out hall and glowing praise for its virtuosic energy and expressive power. Now concertnova brings this thrilling re-imagining to Cincinnati.
Program Note:
This performance replaces the originally scheduled Cincinnati Sandbox program featuring Sandbox Percussion, Kristin Lee, a new work by Vivian Fung, and the Heavy Metal Marching Band. The Cincinnati Sandbox project will be rescheduled for Fall 2026 as part of concertnova’s 20th season. Ticketholders for Cincinnati Sandbox have automatically had their tickets transferred to this program instead.
Location: Cohen Family Studio Theater - 290 CCM Blvd, Cincinnati, OH 45221
#mainstage concerts present large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
Alma Latina
ALMA LATINA
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Curated by cellist Nicholas Mariscal and rooted in celebration of Latino and Hispanic heritage, this #mainstage program centers on Latin American composers and the lived experiences of Cincinnati’s immigrant communities. The concert features music spanning a wide range of styles and time periods, from folkloric traditions to modern classical works, highlighting the cultural richness and diversity of Latin America. This program is presented in partnership with a number of local organizations serving immigrant communities of the Cincinnati region.
Alma Latina is envisioned as more than a concert: it is a space for connection, reflection, and cultural exchange. In addition to the music, the evening will incorporate community storytelling and visual art, inviting audiences to engage with the layered histories and identities that shape the Latin American diaspora.
DESCRIPCIÓN DEL EVENTO
Curado por el violonchelista Nicholas Mariscal y arraigado en la celebración de la herencia latina e hispana, este programa #mainstage se centra en compositores latinoamericanos y en las experiencias vividas de las comunidades inmigrantes de Cincinnati. El concierto presenta música que abarca una amplia variedad de estilos y períodos históricos, desde tradiciones folklóricas hasta obras clásicas contemporáneas, destacando la riqueza cultural y la diversidad de América Latina. Este programa se presenta en colaboración con varias organizaciones locales que sirven a comunidades inmigrantes de la región de Cincinnati.
Alma Latina se concibe como algo más que un concierto: es un espacio de conexión, reflexión e intercambio cultural. Además de la música, la velada incorporará narración comunitaria y arte visual, invitando al público a interactuar con las historias e identidades entrelazadas que dan forma a la diáspora latinoamericana.
PROGRAM / PROGRAMA
Heitor Villa-Lobos – Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6: I. Ária (Chôro), II. Fantasia
Heitor Villa-Lobos – A Prole do Bebê, Book I, 1. Caboclinha (A boneca de barro)
Gabriela Ortiz – Exilios I
Paul Desenne – Jaguar Songs: III. Gavotte
— INTERMISSION / INTERMEDIO —
Angélica Negrón – Marejada
Paul Desenne – Haydn Tuyero, Chicharras, Galeones
Osvaldo Golijov Tenebrae: I. Lamentations, II. Psalms
Margarita Lecuona, arr. Golijov – Tabu
Agustin Lara, arr. Gollijov – Se Me Hizo Facil
FEATURED PERFORMERS / INTÉRPRETES DESTACADOS
Nicholas Mariscal, cello and artistic direction
Michael Chertock, piano
Rebecca Pancner, flute
Christopher Philpotts, oboe
Marty Garcia, bassoon
Red Door Quartet (Nicholas Mariscal, cello; Rachel Charbel, violin; Philip Marten, violin; Gabriel Napoli, viola)
PRE-CONCERT COMMUNITY ART WORKSHOP - FEBRUARY 1, 7PM @ THE WELL
In advance of Alma Latina, concertnova will host a free, community-centered art workshop inviting participants to reflect on migration, movement, and cross-cultural connection. Together, community members will create paper butterflies as symbols of journey, transformation, and exchange across borders.
The butterflies created in this workshop will be installed in the concert space as part of the February performance, forming a collective visual expression shaped by many hands and stories. No prior art experience is required — just curiosity and a willingness to create together.
Workshop artist: Julia O. Bianco
When: January 25, 2026 Rescheduled to February 1 - 7:00 PM
Where: The Well / A Mindful Moment, 2454 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Register here.
TALLER COMUNITARIO DE ARTE PREVIO AL CONCIERTO – 1 DE FEBRERO, 7:00 PM @ THE WELL
Antes de Alma Latina, concertnova organizará un taller artístico gratuito y centrado en la comunidad, invitando a las personas participantes a reflexionar sobre la migración, el movimiento y la conexión intercultural. Juntas, las y los miembros de la comunidad crearán mariposas de papel como símbolos de viaje, transformación e intercambio a través de fronteras.
Las mariposas creadas en este taller se instalarán en el espacio del concierto como parte de la presentación de febrero, formando una expresión visual colectiva moldeada por muchas manos e historias. No se requiere experiencia artística previa — solo curiosidad y disposición para crear en comunidad.
Cuándo: 25 de enero de 2026, reprogramado para el 1 de febrero – 7:00 PM
Dónde: The Well / A Mindful Moment, 2454 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Regístrate aquí.
Many thanks to our partner organizations. Please consider donating or volunteering to support their important work.
Muchas gracias a nuestras organizaciones aliadas. Te invitamos a considerar una donación o a ofrecerte como voluntaria/o para apoyar su importante labor.
Immigrant and Refugee Law Center
Cincinnati Compass
Apoyo Latino
Cincinnati Community Action Agency
Dr. Maria Espinola [Psychological Evaluations for Immigration Proceedings]
LULAC Ohio Education Foundation (LOEF)
Cincinnati Language Services Cooperative
Immigrant Dignity Coalition
The Willows Project
#mainstage concerts present large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
Murder Mystery Masquerade
An evening of intrigue awaits.
You are invited to slip behind a mask and enter a masquerade murder mystery party like nothing you’ve experienced before!
On the evening of Monday, December 15, make your way to Ted and Ixi’s home (6311 Kenwood Road) between 7:00 and 7:30 PM – in character, of course. Masks aren’t just welcome; they’re part of the atmosphere. Once you accept, your character dossier and confidential notes will be sent your way.
In this murder mystery party, classical music weaves itself directly into the plot, and our performers, fully costumed and fully in character, will pull you into the story as it unfolds around you. Expect light bites, drinks, and the delicious tension of a mystery we’re all meant to solve together.
A suggested minimum contribution of $150 supports our evening’s goal of raising $19,000 for concertnova’s 19th season and fuels the artistry that makes nights like this possible.
We hope you’ll say yes. Join us for a night to experience.music.
Borrowed Landscape
BORROWED LANDSCAPE
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Presented in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and the 50th anniversary of Wilmington College’s Peace Resource Center, this powerful performance tells the true story of three musical instruments that survived World War II and the people who once played them. Composer Dai Fujikura collaborated with German playwright duo Tauchgold to create this narratorio (a hybrid of play and oratorio) which combines live music and storytelling in a theatrical reflection on war, memory, and hope. The event is co-presented with Wilmington College's Peace Resource Center and will also be performed in Wilmington on Tuesday September 30 at the Murphy Theatre.
Composer Dai Fujikura will host a talk-back after each performance.
Talk Low Festival ticket and pass holders will receive a special discount.
Performers
Musicians:
Anna Reider, violin
Luis Celis, bass
Anna Vinnitsky, piano
Actors
TaShauna Jenkins
Darnell Pierre Benjamin
Daniela Nenova
Justin McCombs
#mainstage concerts present large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
High Notes - A Nature Walk Celebration of Cannabis Music
High Notes: A Nature Walk Celebration of Cannabis Music
RESCHEDULED
This event has been rescheduled to September 7, 2025. (It was originally scheduled for June 22, 2025). We hope to see you there!
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Join concertnova for a first-of-its-kind concert experience in nature. BYOC (Cannabis!) and take part in a guided walk where live music, the natural world, and altered states of awareness converge. While cannabis use is entirely optional, this event has been thoughtfully curated to complement the expanded sensory awareness it can bring. (No smoking though, please!) As you walk, you’ll encounter musicians performing throughout the landscape, sharing works that explore our relationship to nature, the environment, and experiences that transcend everyday reality. Along your journey you’ll encounter a brand-new technology that transforms living trees into musical instruments, inviting you to play music with the forest itself.
#play-with-us events are interactive, unexpected (in a good way) hands-on experiences. Not traditional concerts! We've crafted these multi-sensory adventures with the aim of seeing our world and daily lives through a creative and heightened lens.
Ysaÿe in Cincinnati w/Benjamin Beilman
Ysaÿe in Cincinnati w/Benjamin Beilman
May 9 @ Peterloon
Renowned violinist Benjamin Beilman joins concertnova for a celebration of Ysaÿe's legacy in Cincinnati. Experience Beilman performing on the same legendary Giuseppe "del Gesù" Guarneri violin played by Ysaÿe, who was Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra just more than 100 years ago. Pianist Gloria Chien and the Poiesis Quartet join Beilman for works of Ysaÿe and Chausson's Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet.
Come early for the panel discussion with Beilman and Thea Tjepkema (Friends of Music Hall Historian), who will talk about Ysaÿe’s time in Cincinnati.
Performers: Benjamin Beilman; Poiesis Quartet; Gloria Chien
Program
(Panel discussion @ 6:30 pm with Benjamin Beilman and Thea Tjepkema)
YSAŸE: Sonata for Solo Violin in D minor 'Ballade', Op. 27, No. 3
ROGERSON: “Air” for violin and piano
FRANCK: Sonata in A major for Violin and Piano
CHAUSSON: Concerto for Violin, String Quartet and Piano
#mainstage concerts are large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
Meet in the Middle: Black Midwest Music and Photography w/MIDTONES + Asa Featherstone IV
Meet in the Middle: Black Midwest Music and Photography w/MIDTONES + Asa Featherstone IV
April 13 + 14 @ PAR-Projects
Explore the meeting point between music and photography through an examination of Black Midwestern identity with photographer Asa Featherstone IV. Bring home your own unique set of custom photo prints with your ticket. How do we find the middle?
Presented in partnership with PAR-Projects as well as Asa's new magazine, MIDTONES, the musical program highlights Black and Brown composers with ties to the Midwest.
Program
Shawn Okpebholo: Circleplay
Shelley Washington: Middleground
William Grant Still: Lyric Quartette
#mainstage concerts are large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
Meet in the Middle: Black Midwest Music and Photography w/MIDTONES + Asa Featherstone IV
Meet in the Middle: Black Midwest Music and Photography w/MIDTONES + Asa Featherstone IV
April 13 + 14 @ PAR-Projects
Explore the meeting point between music and photography through an examination of Black Midwestern identity with photographer Asa Featherstone IV. Bring home your own unique set of custom photo prints with your ticket. How do we find the middle?
Presented in partnership with PAR-Projects as well as Asa's new magazine, MIDTONES, the musical program highlights Black and Brown composers with ties to the Midwest.
Program
Shawn Okpebholo: Circleplay
Shelley Washington: Middleground
William Grant Still: Lyric Quartette
#mainstage concerts are large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
Memory Box: featuring Sarah Hennies
Memory Box: Featuring Sarah Hennies
March 18 @ Contemporary Arts Center - Black Box Theater
concertnova presents composer and percussionist Sarah Hennies in an exploration of queer & trans identity, psychoacoustics, and the social and neurological conditions underlying creative thought. The evening will feature premieres of new works by Hennies and composer OGA, paired with an immersive installation from local artist Lizzy DuQuette.
PROGRAM
Sarah Hennies: Memory Box, featuring musicians from the CSO and Queen City Freedom Band
OGA: the earth the air the fire the water return return return return (world premiere)
Juan Hidalgo arr. Hennies: Rrose Selavy (world premiere of new arrangement)
Prior to the concert, concertnova is co-hosting a FREE "Meet the Composers" event on March 16 at Homemakers Bar, in partnership with Midwestern Lesbian. The event gives the public an opportunity to meet Sarah Hennies, OGA, and performing musicians from concertnova.
When: March 16, 2025 from 7:00-9:00 PM
Where: Homemakers Bar
#mainstage concerts are large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
Season Funder:
Echo Play
Echo Play
October 17-20 @ Alice OTR
Performances at 3pm, 4pm + 5pm each day
TICKETS $5
Don't blink! Kick off your BLINK Festival evening with Echo Play, a captivating fusion of live music and visual art that serves as the perfect prelude to a night out! Enter the sanctuary of light and sound as Jasper de Boor and Max Ball of the Poiesis Quartet play hypnotizing music to a new video projection by XUAN.
Program: Bobby Ge - A Mere Breath, Philip Glass - Knee Play 2
Performance duration: 15 minutes
#mainstage concerts are large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
Concert Sponsorship – $225
Become a sponsor of Echo Play and make a lasting impact! Your $225 sponsorship covers ticket costs for an entire performance, allowing the audience to attend free of charge. This option is perfect for those who believe in the power of accessible art and want to help share this immersive experience with the community. Click “Single Tickets” below to offer your support, and thank you!
#mainstage concerts are large-scale events that put classical music front and center. Expect to hear amazing musical performances and explore new ideas from an interdisciplinary lens.
Watch: XUAN’s Art on the Mart:
Music for the Soul w/Soul Cole
Music for the Soul w/NFL Legend Soul Cole
September 29 @ Rhinegeist Event Space
Join us for a one-of-a-kind guided mindfulness session led by NFL icon and Flow Facilitator, SOUL COLE In this unique experience, you’ll be part of an immersive journey that blends the power of breathwork and guided meditation with the live musical artistry of concertnova.
As you breathe and meditate, you’ll contribute to a brand-new musical creation, woven together by the serene sounds that surround you. This is more than just an event; it’s a co-creation where your presence becomes an essential part of the music.
Expect to feel grounded, serene, and deeply connected as you experience the healing power of sound in a safe and sacred space. On this Sunday afternoon, come with an open mind and heart as we blend mindfulness with the transformative energy of live music.
This is a truly unique experience you won’t want to miss—a chance to reset, recharge, and reclaim your inner peace through the symphony of sonic sounds.
What to Bring: An open mind, open heart, and a willingness to co-create a peaceful space together. This event is best experienced lying down on a yoga mat. Feel free to bring your own, or use one of the 20 generously loaned/provided by The Well. Other things that you might want to bring: a cushion, blanket, or both. Chairs will also be provided if that's more comfortable for you. Or, you can move between the chair and floor too, if you wish.
What to Wear: Comfortable and cozy clothing that you feel free to relax in.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early so you don’t feel rushed to set up and make yourself comfortable.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of something truly special.
FREE MERCH ALERT
We’re running a special giveaway of Lululemon belt bags to the first 30 ticketholders as part of this event, and you and your guest are eligible to claim one each by doing the following:
1. Purchase a ticket to the event.
2. Follow @concertnova on Instagram and/or Facebook
3. Post/share about the event and tag us in the post
ALSO:
🌱 There will be tropical plants for sale at the event as a fundraiser for future concertnova productions.
Following the event there will be a 30 minute meet-and-greet with Soul. We will provide cucumber water, and people are also free to go down to the taproom to get a beer to bring back up to our private space.
#play-with-us events are interactive unexpected (in a good way) hands-on experiences. Join in with concertnova musicians to make music and see the world creatively.
Kickoff Party
We're throwing a party to celebrate the kickoff of our 18th season, and we would love to see you there!
Please join us for some good times at Homemakers Bar in OTR from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday September 20th. We will say hello to new and old friends while enjoying creative cocktails from the bar. Check out their amazing menu here (the no-proof drinks look so good!) and plan to join us.
As part of the celebration, anyone who purchases a season pass at the party will receive $20 off the regular subscription price!
RSVP for this free event to save your spot, and please bring a friend or two or three! Cheers!
Tremor: Concert
Tremor
May 5 @ the American Sign Museum
Doors: 5:30 pm
Music: 6:00 pm
FREE VALET PARKING: To ensure a stress-free arrival, take advantage of our complimentary valet parking service. Please arrive early to allow ample time for parking, as both street parking and the parking lot are limited.
Dr. Brianna Matzke, pianist and founder of The Response Project, takes center stage at the American Sign Museum on May 5. This intimate concert experience, starting at 6pm, will showcase Brianna's solo piano performance, demonstrating the creativity that has arisen from her essential tremor diagnosis.This evening features a solo piano performance of five newly commissioned compositions by Molly Joyce, Hanna Benn, Matthew Evan Taylor, Adeliia Faizullina, and Forrest Pierce, followed by a panel discussion exploring the project's themes of inclusion, accessibility, and personal expression.
Each composer has their own unique connection to the project, which will be explored throughout the evening.Free Valet Parking: To ensure a stress-free arrival, take advantage of our complimentary valet parking service. Please arrive early to allow ample time for parking, as both street parking and the parking lot are limited.
About The Response Project
Established in 2014, the Response Project is a commissioning initiative that asks composers and artists to create new music, usually for the piano, and new works, of many disciplines, in response to a preexisting artwork or idea.About Brianna Matzke
Artistic director and founder of The Response Project, Dr. Brianna Matzke is a multi hyphenate creative based in Cincinnati. She is the producing artistic director for concert:nova, a new music ensemble, overseeing the production of five mainstage productions each season, as well as other community outreach and educational events. She is a dedicated music educator and pedagogue; a Nationally-Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), she serves as Associate Professor of Music at Wilmington College. Matzke is an acclaimed performer, commissioner and collaborator of new music, and has appeared in concert performances around the globe and in Cincinnati. In 2021, she was named CEO and President of the International Foundation for Contemporary Music, and appointed Executive Director of the Cortona Sessions for New Music.
Bonus: Don't miss the TREMOR art exhibition opening on 4/28 and running through May, featuring artwork and sound installation by Britni Bicknaver and five artists from Visionaries + Voices.
CONCERT TICKETS: pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $20
Tremor: Exhibition
Tremor: Exhibition
April 28 at 4:00 pm, The Well
This unique exhibition, presented by The Response Project and concert:nova in collaboration with Visionaries + Voices, explores the intersections of ability, disability, and personal expression through the lenses of six talented artists. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with groundbreaking artwork, experience live musical responses, and be part of a transformative dialogue on inclusion and diversity in the arts.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own headphones for an immersive audio experience with these placards. However, headphones will be available on-site if needed. Additional accommodations can be arranged upon request.
Music Performances: At 5:30pm, concert:nova musicians will perform solos in response to the artwork, creating a dynamic connection between visual and auditory experiences. One of these performances features a newly composed piece by a student from the Ben Carlson-Berne Scholarship program.Visionaries + Voices Artists:
- Nick Kraft
- Rosalind Bush
- Milo Gleich
- Vince Cole
- Linda KunickSound
Installation by Britni Bicknaver: Renowned sound artist Britni Bicknaver contributes a unique piece inspired by her own stutter, echoing the groundbreaking work of Alvin Lucier's "I Am Sitting In A Room" from 1969. Bicknaver has also created audio placards featuring interviews with the V+V artists.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own headphones for an immersive audio experience with these placards. However, headphones will be available on-site if needed. Additional accommodations can be arranged upon request.
The exhibit is open throughout May, following the opening.
Gallery Hours: Throughout the month of May, explore the exhibition at your own pace during regular hours on Fridays (5-8pm) and weekends (1-4pm). Gallery open dates are May 3-5, May 10-12, May 17-19, and May 24-26. Additional showings outside of gallery hours are available upon appointment request by contacting The Well.
TICKETS are free, but advance reservations for the 4/28 opening are required - space is limited.
Jewish Festival
Jewish Festival
March 12 at 7:30 pm, Hebrew Union College
concert:nova is thrilled for their first-ever partnership with the Cincinnati Cultural Exchange, and the Jewish Music Festival. Cincinnati Jewish Music and Culture Festival is a celebration of Jewish music through nine performances and lectures across the Cincinnati community. Various local performing groups, artists, and experts from around the world gather in Cincinnati in March 2024, presenting high quality concerts by Jewish composers and Jewish theme-related music.
For this program, concert:nova has selected Lera Auerbach’s Frozen Dreams and Cetera Desunt, and Golijov’s The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind.
For additional information on the festival, click here.
Program:
Lera Auerbach: Frozen Dreams
Lera Auerbach: Cetera Desunt
Osvaldo Golijov: The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind
Performers:
Pavel Vinnitsky, clarinet
Pavel Vinnitsky
Ariel Quartet
Levi Hammer | Gershwin in Vienna: Gershwin and the Second Viennese School
concertnova presents:
LEVI HAMMER | GERSHWIN IN VIENNA: Gershwin and the Second Viennese School
February 1 at 7:30 pm, First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati
Scroll down for program
Both concerts of the Levi Hammer residency for $45. Click here for details.
Available online only, through January 29.
A bonus event to our Schoenberg Perspectives concert! We're thrilled to have Levi Hammer in Cincinnati - he arranged the new version of Pelleas und Melisande we're giving the US premiere to on January 30.
Besides his work as a conductor, Levi is also an extraordinary pianist. concert:nova is thrilled to present Levi in a program exploring the transatlantic connection of Gershwin and the composers of the Second Viennese School: Schoenberg, Berg and Webern.
“Gershwin in Vienna: Gershwin and the Second Viennese School,” is a solo piano program exploring the relationship between George Gershwin and the composers of the Second Viennese School.
Schoenberg Perspectives
Schoenberg Perspectives
January 30 at 7:30 pm, Memorial Hall
Scroll down for program
Both concerts of the Levi Hammer residency for $45. Click here for details.
Available online only, through January 29.
Dive into the rich tapestry of Schoenberg’s repertoire with concert:nova, continuing the 16-year journey we started with “Demystifying Schoenberg.”
This time, we’re deconstructing his early masterpiece, Pelleas und Melisande, through the U.S. premiere of Levi Hammer’s new arrangement. Originally scored for a grand orchestra, Hammer refashions this work for a more intimate group of thirteen (in the spirit of Schoenberg’s own Society for Private Musical Performances – a salon he created for debuting new works…no critics allowed!).
This performance pairs the lush, narrative-driven Pelleas with the stark poignancy of his String Trio. Crafted in the wake of a life-altering heart attack, the Trio is a raw, auditory journey through illness and convalescence. Complementing these are some of Schoenberg’s Cabaret Songs, gems that offer a glimpse into his Berlin days, published only after his death.
Through these diverse works, we explore Schoenberg’s unparalleled capacity to express the inexpressible, marrying the complex and the captivating, the cerebral and the sensual.
Concert:nova invites you to experience the paradoxical beauty of Schoenberg’s world. Join us in discovering the shared heartbeat within his diverse body of work, where every note promises both a challenge and a revelation.
We hope you’ll join us for this bold blend of intimacy and intensity.
PROGRAM & PERFORMERS
NOTE: tickets for this concert are being handled by Memorial Hall. For help/customer service for your purchase, please contact them directly:
Memorial Hall Box Office
513.977.8838
Tue-Fri, 1 pm - 6 pm
Eastern Echoes
Eastern Echoes - Music of the Asian North American Experience
November 6 at 7:30 pm, Woodward Theater
The Asian-North American experience is explored in a collection of stories, each told with a delectable treat evoking the favorite childhood memory of our composers. Wadaiko Japanese Drums sound a transition for us through the journey, which includes works from Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Cambodian and Japanese composers.
MAKE AN EVENING OF IT WITH OUR PRE-CONCERT EVENT!
Add on a bento box by BentOn for $12 each, then arrive early to meet the artists and eat. Doors for pre-concert open at 6 pm. Order your bento box by November 1 to participate.
Host: Simon Tam
Program:
The Ice is Talking by Vivian Fung
Zaher by Reena Esmail
Looking Up by Viet Cuong
A Sanguine Clockwork by Paul Wiancko
Seven Pillars by Andy Akiho
Concertino by Bright Sheng
Wakaido Drumming by Wakaido Gouken Japanese Drum Troupe
Performers: Wadaiko Japanese Drummers / Joe Bricker, Percussion & Ice Block / Joe Morris, Clarinet / Philip Marten, Violin / Minyoung Baik, Violin / Catie Longhi, Viola / Jonathan Lee, CelloIn partnership with Asianati, who celebrates Asian food and culture in Cincinnati through events, food trucks, markets, bakeries and more!
9-Fold Harmonies
Nine-Fold Harmonies
October 7 at 7:30 pm, Union Hall
Join us for an unforgettable multi-sensory musical experience at Union Hall in OTR Cincinnati!
Blend sound with smell as we pair the sounds of different instruments with unique essential oils. After the performance, you will get to create a custom scent based on the sounds you loved the most. See what unique scent you create alongside the artists!
The Music: the Nonets of Louis Spohr and Bohuslav Martinu
Musicians: Philip Marten - violin / Elizabeth Beilman - viola / Hiro Matsuo - cello / Boris Asafiev - bass / Henrik Heide - Flute / Emily Beare - Oboe / Joe Morris - clarinet / Marty Garcia - bassoon /
Molly Norcross - horn
Mark your calendars and get ready to be serenaded at Nine-Fold Harmonies!