Cincinnati Song Initiative Announces Song Connect Series

Cincinnati, OH - Cincinnati Song Initiative (CSI) announces Song Connect, its newest educational offering designed to create an interactive experience for those interested in deepening their knowledge of the genre. These free events may compliment CSI’s Mainstage programs or exist independently, but are always led by charismatic and expert guests based on the topic at hand.

“With Song Connect, we hope to provide an outlet for song lovers to explore and engage with this amazing repertoire,” says Founding Artistic Director Samuel Martin. “The interactive nature of these small-group events will both broaden attendees’ understanding of the genre and provide an entertaining social experience.”

Events will occur as a mixture of virtual and in-person events to achieve maximum reach. The first Song Connect experience on February 25 - Fauré/Debussy Cage Match!!!! - takes place virtually and explores settings of two famous poems by Paul Verlaine, set by the two beloved composers Gabriel Fauré and Claude Debussy. Led by past CSI artist Simon Barrad, the group will compare and contrast the different settings through listening and discussion.

“The goal of this new type of engagement is to get people excited about listening to, exploring, discussing, and developing opinions about song,” says Martin. “We are responding to the recurring observation that song remains a relatively unknown classical genre when compared to other areas like orchestral, operatic, and choral music. By enabling music enthusiasts to dig in and add a layer of engagement beyond simply sitting in an audience, we hope to inspire a new group of song lovers who feel they have a home with this incredible genre.”

The series is designed to be accessible to all, whether attendees have never attended a song recital before or are more experienced but wish to broaden their exposure and engage in deeper conversations with others. Each event is capped at a very limited number of participants to maximize the small-group experience where everybody has the opportunity to interact. Free registration for the first event opens on February 5, with Early Bird Registration available as a benefit for Friends of CSI opening on February 1.

About Cincinnati Song Initiative

Since its founding in 2016, Cincinnati Song Initiative has connected thousands of people through the unique and intimate power of classical song. A recipient of Ovation TV’s Stand for the Arts Award, the nonprofit is celebrated for its work to  empower the community, build strategic partnerships, drive engagement through volunteerism, and deliver creative programming. Smaller in scale than opera, choral music, or other theatrical genres, the performance of song most commonly features one singer and one pianist in an intimate musical experience. Cincinnati Song Initiative creates these experiences with a pioneering spirit to engage communities in thoughtful and innovative ways. Deriving its texts from a variety of sources such as poetry, prose, speeches, or plays, song portrays the immediate and deep personal experiences we encounter throughout everyday life.

Each concert features singers and pianists of national renown, providing an unparalleled level of artistry within an intimate and accessible atmosphere. Audiences enjoy close interaction with the artists, hearing them discuss the relevance of the music in relation to today’s cultural and societal context, and enjoy engaging with them - and each other - during post-performance receptions. Concerts take place at different venues throughout the Queen City in order to connect with its many vibrant communities and explore all it has to offer.

Cincinnati Song Initiative remains devoted to the innovation of twenty-first century song by commissioning and premiering new works. CSI aims to connect with today's audiences and lead the way in original digital content among arts organizations, continually adding to its rich suite of resources with educational webinars, live interviews with artists and composers, and innovative performance projects imagined for the virtual realm.