MusicNOW

MusicNOW MusicNOW is an annual contemporary music festival and presenter based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It commissions and premieres new works, presents established repertoires, and fosters collaborations among composers, ensembles, and artists from diverse backgrounds. The festival connects audiences with contemporary practice through performances, residencies, and recordings.

History

MusicNOW was founded in 2006 by Michael Kaiser and Robby Takac with artistic leadership initially provided by Bradley Sowash and later curated by Festival] staff collaborators. Early seasons featured premieres by composers associated with Bang on a Can, Caroline Shaw, and Missy Mazzoli, and it established ties to institutions such as The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera. Across its history the festival has presented work by figures linked to Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, and John Cage lineages while also engaging artists from Radiohead, Arcade Fire, and Sufjan Stevens circles. Partnerships evolved to include residencies with University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music and collaborations with presenters like BAM, New York Philharmonic's education programs, and Lincoln Center affiliates. Funding and patronage streams have included support from foundations connected to Graham Foundation-style philanthropy, local arts councils, and corporate sponsors based in Cincinnati and Ohio.

Organization and Programming

Programming blends contemporary classical, experimental, indie, and electronic idioms with a curatorial approach informed by guest curators from ensembles such as Alarm Will Sound, Kronos Quartet, and Eighth Blackbird. The festival commissions new works from composers connected to Jennifer Higdon, David Lang, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Caroline Shaw, and Nico Muhly and presents them alongside projects featuring performers from The National, Yo-Yo Ma-adjacent collaborations, and soloists linked to Metropolitan Opera stages. MusicNOW organizes site-specific events in venues like Ziegler Hall, Music Hall (Cincinnati), and nontraditional spaces used by groups such as Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland-affiliated programs. Educational components have involved masterclasses with faculty from Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, and Royal College of Music visiting through partnerships. Administrative structure includes an artistic director, development officers with contacts in National Endowment for the Arts, and production teams experienced with touring ensembles including those affiliated with American Composers Orchestra.

Notable Performers and Commissions

Notable performers have included members of Eighth Blackbird, Kronos Quartet, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Alarm Will Sound, and soloists such as Sarah Cahill and Timo Andres. Vocal projects have featured artists associated with Anonymous 4-style ensembles and contemporary operatic performers linked to Glimmerglass Festival and Tanglewood alumni. Commissions and premieres have been awarded to composers like Missy Mazzoli, Caroline Shaw, David Lang, Julia Wolfe, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Nico Muhly, Phil Kline, Bryce Dessner, Tom Waits collaborators, and younger voices with ties to New Amsterdam Records and Bedroom Community. Collaborative projects have included cross-genre work with musicians from The National, Wilco, Sting-adjacent artists, and electronic producers associated with Warp Records-style scenes. Festival residencies have featured ensembles connected to Metropolis Ensemble and conductors with credits at Glyndebourne and Spoleto Festival USA.

Recordings and Releases

Recordings stemming from festival commissions have appeared on labels linked to contemporary music such as Nonesuch Records, Decca Records, ECM Records, New Amsterdam Records, and special releases through local indie imprints akin to Ghostly International. Live recordings, studio premieres, and collaborative albums have involved producers affiliated with Tzadik Records and engineers who have worked with Brian Eno and Steve Albini. Some commissioned works have been incorporated into album projects by ensembles like Kronos Quartet, Eighth Blackbird, and artists connected to Sufjan Stevens and Ben Frost, appearing on releases distributed through major distributors used by Sony Classical and independent distributors partnered with Bandcamp-style platforms.

Reception and Impact

Critics and cultural institutions have noted MusicNOW's role in elevating contemporary composition in the Midwest, with coverage in outlets that review programming by The New Yorker-style cultural critics, The New York Times-affiliated reviewers, and regional publications tied to Cincinnati Magazine. The festival has influenced commissioning practices of organizations including San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra initiatives, and programming at festivals like Bang on a Can Marathon and Spoleto Festival USA. Alumni composers and performers frequently receive subsequent recognition through awards such as the Pulitzer Prize for Music, Grammy Awards, Guggenheim Fellowship, and MacArthur Fellowship. MusicNOW's collaborative model has been cited in grant proposals to organizations like National Endowment for the Arts and foundations supporting contemporary arts programming.

Category:Music festivals in Ohio