Music To Your Ears: Cincinnati May Festival

Did you know: one of the oldest and most prestigious choral festivals in the Western Hemisphere takes place annually in Cincinnati?

Founded in 1873, the Cincinnati May Festival is an unforgettable collaboration between the May Festival Chorus and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.  These two historic organizations are presented along with international guest artists in an array of world-class productions.

The Festival has flourished over the years and its musicians' amazing and massive wall of acoustic sound continues to inspire audiences today. With six different concerts over two weeks, there really isn’t anything else like it.

The May Festival has a rich local history that continues to grow and evolve with each iteration of the event. Anything with such a long and storied legacy is bound to have traditions, and there is certainly no shortage here – from maypole dancing to the audience joining in on the “Hallelujah Chorus."

Fun fact: The most-performed work in the May Festival’s history is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. It has appeared on 22 Festivals, including the first one.

Beginning in 2024,the May Festival now appoints a Festival Director to a one-year term, so that each year a new director will infuse the Festival with a new aesthetic and sense of musical and theatrical exploration.

The 2025 Festival Director will be five-time Grammy Award winner and renowned soprano Renee Fleming!

“I’m honored to serve as Festival Director for the 2025 May Festival, and to collaborate with Matthew Swanson and the Chorus,” Fleming expressed. “Cincinnati is famous for its vibrant music scene, as well as its discerning and engaged audience, giving us the opportunity to offer new and unexpected musical narratives alongside revered works. Beyond music’s power to express the most profound ideas and feelings, we are learning more every day about its enormous potential to improve our health and well-being. The Festival is programmed with those goals in mind, and I invite everyone to join us for a week of powerful, transformative music-making.”

The Venue

The iconic Cincinnati Music Hall at the corner of 14^th and Elm in the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood serves as home base for the choral event. This historic landmark possesses one of the largest and best-equipped stages in the world. Recent renovations revealed historic details, added increased lounge space, improved accessibility and enhanced the restroom and concession experiences for visitors. These renovations at Music Hall fulfilled one of the venue's ultimate goals: bringing the audience closer to the music making. With improved acoustics, a May Festival go-er can 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!

Note: you have many options for nearby parking! The Washington Park Garage, located directly across from Cincinnati Music Hall and underneath lush Washington Park, is your closest option. 

Ready to plan your trip to the Cincy Region for Cincinnati May Festival? Check out our calendar of events for ideas of more things to do, and order your Official Visitors Guide.