On stage, in the community and through the stories that touch our lives, the Orchestra continually seeks to share inspiration with our entire Cincinnati community.

The CSO’s outgoing music director speaks with Ken Smith about what he looks for in auditions.

Richard Strauss took representational music to new heights with his instrumental tone poems.

On November 21, 1917, the day before the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was due to take the stage with conductor Ernst Kunwald at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Director Charles S. Hubbard of the Department of Public Safety, at the urging of the Daughters of the American Revolution, issued the following statement that “all German music should be excluded from the program, and that Dr. Kunwald must not appear as the conductor.

From full concerts at Music Hall to small pop-up performances in local neighborhoods and everything in between, our generous and dedicated donors, sponsors and concertgoers make it all possible. This article shares the special stories behind why our donors give to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops—each reason is different, but their passion for this Orchestra is a constant. Our donors and their inspiring stories will ensure that the unique sound of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops will always resound.

When the sounds of pre-concert warm-up subside, either violinist Stefani Matsuo or Felicity James stands and gives Principal Oboe Dwight Parry a nod to play the familiar concert “A” pitch for final tuning: first the winds and brass and, finally, the strings.

“For a lot of years, we didn’t make many changes here,” says Steven Sunderman, the May Festival’s executive director. “But with this—our new artistic model—I think we are making a real statement for our future.”

Read the full March & April 2024 Fanfare Magazine issue.