Experience an enchanting evening of musical storytelling in collaboration with the Red Door Chamber Music Series. Jake Heggie’s monumental cycle Camille Claudel: Into the Fire drops us into the vivid and beautiful - yet troubled - mind of the famed French sculptor. Gregory Spears’ song cycle Walden, newly arranged for baritone and string quartet, brings to life the deep and reflective words of Henry David Thoreau in search of simple living, self-reliance, and nature. Together, this program explores important themes of human nature and how we relate to our environment.

A delightful cadre of artists shines in solo and ensemble songs celebrating the season of love. The all-German program recalls an era of intimate salon concerts shared amongst close friends and pays homage to Cincinnati’s deep cultural roots.

Journey through the rugged beauty and quiet mystery of the Nordic landscape in this evocative program. Songs in Norwegian and Swedish capture the region’s stark natural contrasts, folk traditions, and introspective lyricism—hallmarks of the uniquely Nordic aesthetic. From icy fjords to sunlit midsummer nights, these songs echo a culture shaped by nature and nuance.

The launch of Cincinnati Song Initiative’s tenth season brings us together with familiar stories of passion, pain, longing, nostalgia, and ecstasy. From cool, dew-filled mornings to warm summer Tennessee evenings, this evocative program features iconic twentieth century American giants alongside some of the greatest English and American composers of the next generation.

In its fifth year, Cincinnati Song Initiative proudly presents the world premieres by the 2024-2025 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Composer Mentorship Program mentees.

Join four singer-pianist duos as they work with the unparalleled soprano and arts leader Renée Fleming. Get an exclusive inside look into the perfection of not only song performances, but the collaborative process of interpretation between singers and pianists.

The ten fellows of The Fellowship of the Song take the stage for the second of two scintillating programs.

Today, art song is primarily experienced in niche or academic spaces, despite the noble efforts of many art song initiatives across the country. Modern American audiences crave accessibility, relevance, and participation, but most have never had the chance to experience art song up close. So what if we could get them out of their seats and bring them onto the stage from the comfort of their home?

The science is undeniable: our earth's climate is changing at alarming rates, and only we have the power to curb the effects it will have on our planet. The world premiere of Lisa Neher's monumental cycle confronts this reality while Ericsson Hatfield's award-winning cycle God's World celebrates the natural world that we must continue to cherish and protect.

Margo Garrett leads The Fellowship of the Song’s fourth and final song workshop in a program traversing the wonders of night - and the love and loss that come with it.

Love, in all its forms, can be found throughout nature and in each of us. Sometimes it's sensual, blissful, unconditional. Sometimes it's surprising, crazy, carnal. No matter the moment, love is everywhere - always.

Margo Garrett leads The Fellowship of the Song’s third song workshop in an all-French program.

Alex Fletcher, President of Fletcher Artist Management, provides a private lunch-and-learn session to illuminate the world of managers. From building a career based on artists’ passions, to how the client-manager relationship works, to whether management is right for every particular artist, this conversation covers topics tailored to the Fellows’ specific questions.

The ten fellows of CSI’s inaugural The Fellowship of the Song take the stage for the first of two scintillating programs.

CSI staff members Natasha Naik and Sam Martin avail themselves to the burning questions held by Fellows on how to bring their own unique projects to life. How do you write a grant? What paperwork do you file to start your own nonprofit organization? How do you go about organizing a community concert or event? Best practices for fundraising? It’s an open discussion at this lunch-and-learn event, tailored to whatever questions the Fellows have.

To be announced

Soprano LaToya Lain and pianist/conductor Casey Robards provide an informative guide for engaging with the rich Spiritual repertoire.

Margo Garrett leads The Fellowship of the Song’s second song workshop in a program of special requests by the Fellows.

Images of Asia have long sparked the European musical imagination. As described by European poets and composers, these images include exotic landscapes and fetishized female figures, stereotypes that remain even as the Asian diaspora has taken root and claimed citizenship all over the world.

With three newly-commissioned song cycles by Asian American composers Justine F. Chen, Melissa Dunphy, and Kamala Sankaram, this recital asserts Asian American lived experience from the perspective of those of us who live it. As contrasted with Maurice Ravel’s “Asie,” a prime example of European musical Orientalism, these new songs describe the joys, pains, contradictions, and pride we experience as Asians living in this land we call home.

-Jennifer Lien

CSI Artistic Director Samuel Martin moderates a roundtable discussion that illuminates the process of artists engaging and interacting with composers, from the conceiving and commissioning of a new work through the preparation of its premiere performance.

Margo Garrett leads The Fellowship of the Song’s first song workshop in an all-English program.

CSI joins forces with The Hartt School at the University of Hartford to create a multi-day festival of American song, with a spotlight concert featuring the songs of Kurt Erickson.

Cincinnati Song Initiative, in partnership with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, presents the second of two installments celebrating Jewish culture and history. Experience the story of Passover like never before through vibrant multi-genres, new works and arrangements, and the soulful and diverse Jewish musical traditions of the holiday.

Cincinnati Song Initiative, in partnership with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, presents the first of two installments celebrating Jewish culture and history. Harmonies of Heritage explores rarely-performed classical songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino languages for a powerful and unique evening of music.

Experience an enchanting evening of chamber music that beautifully intertwines nature and intimacy.

The combination of Leoš Janáček’s String Quartet No. 2 "Intimate Letters" and Gerald Finzi's song cycle By Footpath and Stile creates a tapestry of heartfelt reflection and deep emotional landscapes, inviting us to explore the complexities of human connection against the backdrop of the natural world.

CSI's second program dedicated to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - and the final in its German poets series The Belletrists - explores songs taken from the books of the great writer. The world of Wilhelm Meister offers notes of innocence, suffering, and longing, while The Book of Suleika brings out the interplay of passionate earthly love and transcendent, spiritual desire in a blend of Eastern and Western literary traditions.

To celebrate CSI's final season of its German poets series The Belletrists, Susan Youens delves into the profound contributions of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Known for his timeless poetry and dramatic works, Goethe's influence on the literary world is immeasurable. Through an exploration of love, nature, and the human experience that permeate Goethe's writing, Youens will illuminate how his insights remain viscerally relevant today.

Join four singer-pianist duos as they work with the renowned Scottish pianist and coach Iain Burnside. Get an exclusive inside look into the perfection of not only song performances, but the collaborative process of interpretation between singers and pianists.

Experience the magic of song in a concert celebrating the poetry of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of the most revered figures in literature. Often exploring the interplay between nature, the human spirit, and the quest for personal fulfillment, Goethe's text reflect a deep journey of self-discovery and emotional depth.