Cincinnati has an extraordinary legacy when it comes to the arts and that really stems from the singing traditions of the 1800s and the founding of the Cincinnati May Festival in 1873. The annual May Festival in Cincinnati is the oldest and one of the most prestigious choral festivals in the Western Hemisphere. The Festival has flourished over the years and its musicians' amazing and massive wall of acoustic sound continues to inspire audiences today. With four different concerts over two weekends, there really isn’t anything else like it.
The May Festival has a rich history, and it continues to grow and evolve. Anything with such a long and storied history is bound to have traditions, and there is certainly no shortage of traditions around this iconic event – from maypole dancing to the audience joining in on the “Hallelujah Chorus."
“The May Festival has evolved through many changes and adjustments over 150 years into its current iteration, but one thing that has never wavered is its artistic excellence and commitment to the choral repertoire,” said May Festival Executive Director Steven Sunderman.
Beginning in 2024 the May Festival began appointing a Festival Director to a one-year term, so that each year a new director will infuse the Festival with a new aesthetic, a new sense of musical and theatrical exploration.
The legendary Cincinnati Music Hall at the corner of 14th and Elm in the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood serves as home base for the choral event. The historic landmark possesses one of the largest and best-equipped stages in the world and has undergone a huge renovation that revealed historic details, added increased lounge space, while also improving safety, accessibility, and enhancing restrooms and concessions for visitors. The renovation at Music Hall has brought the audience closer to the music making. With the improved acoustics, expect to be more connected to what’s happening on stage. Not only has Music Hall regained its sparkle, it is also more welcoming and accessible than ever before.
2024 Cincinnati May Festival Details
May 17, 18, 23 and 25
Composer and Pulitzer-Prize winner Julia Wolfe has been appointed as the Inaugural Festival Director for 2024.
This year's programs to Include Wolfe’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning Piece Anthracite Fields, Her Story, Pretty, and the World Premiere of a New Choral Fanfare All that breathes; Michael Gordon’s Natural History; David Lang’s the national anthems; Haydn’s The Creation; Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem and Fauré’s Requiem.
Featuring conductors Teddy Abrams, Stephanie Childress, François López-Ferrer and Robert Porco to lead the May Festival Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Featured Guests to include Camilla Tilling, Nicholas Phan, Bang on a Can All-Stars, the Lorelei Ensemble, Steiger Butte Singers and the May Festival Youth Chorus.
May Festival will celebrate Robert Porco’s 35-Year Tenure as Director of Choruses with Bob’s Big Sing: A May Festival Reunion on March 23 at Cincinnati Music Hall.
