Tag Archives: Cincinnati Arts Association

THE ADVENTURES OF ALVIN SPUTNIK:
DEEP SEA EXPLORER

May 1-2, 2026
Aronoff Center – Fifth Third Bank Theater

[Cincinnati, OH] – The deeply affecting, multi-award-winning, one-man micro-epic puppet show, The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer, that melds technology and multimedia into a touching story of enduring love and the end of the world, makes its Cincinnati debut at the Aronoff Center’s Fifth Third Bank Theater on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, May 2 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM. The show is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s CAA PRESENTS! 2025-26 Season.

Tickets are on sale now www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Group discount tickets for 10 or more are available by calling (513) 977-4155.

Created by Tim Watts, The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer is a visually inspired solo show. Employing a unique blend of puppetry, live and recorded music, and animation, the show presents an exploration of the next and oldest frontier: the deep blue sea.

The seas have risen, billions have died, and those who are left live on farms atop skyscrapers, atop mountains. The scientists have tried everything. Floating islands sank, space probes found nothing, and effort to refreeze the icecaps failed. Now, science and humanity are turning to the oceans themselves. A last-ditch effort to save the human race requires journeying down through the mysterious depths of the deep blue sea to find a new place for us to live.

Alvin Sputnik, who has just lost his wife, accepts this perilous mission so that he may follow her soul down to the underworld to be together once more.

This exquisite one-man show is a unique and charming performance that is emotional, uplifting, touching, and funny – a heart-warming and beautiful experience that’s a remarkable pocket masterpiece of invention, staging, and performance.

Watts debuted The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer at Perth’s (Australia) Blue Room Theatre in May 2009 before presenting a highly successful season at the New York International Fringe Festival, where it was awarded “Outstanding Solo Show” and received rave reviews. The show has been performed over 400 times across the world including Korea, China, New Zealand, America, Canada, and the UK. Alvin is a very moving and touching piece, which has a deep emotional resonance with those who’ve seen it.

TIM WATTS (Show Creator/Performer)
Tim Watts is a performer, deviser, director, puppeteer, improvisor, and animator from Perth, Western Australia. He is a founding member of The Last Great Hunt and a Sidney Myer Fellowship recipient. He has a passion for creating and performing original, imaginatively engaging theatrical experiences born from improvisation and experimentation.

Since graduating from Notre Dame University, Fremantle, Western Australia, with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2005, he has participated in international workshops, including studying clown and physical comedy with Dell’Arte International in Blue Lake, CA, as well as Puppetry workshops with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre in Fremantle and Blind Summit in the UK. He has co-created and performed in a plethora of shows, some of which won awards and toured all over the world. These include: The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer (2009), It’s Dark Outside (2012), BRUCE (2014), Monroe and Associates (2015), New Owner (2016), The Irresistible (2017), Stay With Us (2018), Lé Nør [The Rain] (2019), Whistleblower (2021), and Cicada (2022).

Audience age range recommendation: 10+. Content advisory: themes of loss and death. While Alvin is suitable for (and enjoyed by) ages 10+, it’s not just for kids. It’s a show loved and enjoyed by adults and kids alike, combining childlike wonder and emotional complexity into a whimsical yet poignant experience for all ages.

“…akin to a theatrical Wall-E.” – The New York Times

“…an ingenious and beguiling blend of live action, puppetry, animation, music and film to tell a story of love, loss and quiet heroism…” – The Guardian (UK)

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

Season Sponsors:  AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), MIAMI UNIVERSITY, ARTSWAVE, LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, TRIHEALTH

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  21C Museum Hotel, altafiber, Bahl & Gaynor, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Fairfield Inn & Suites Cincinnati Uptown/University Area, Harlan Graphics, Heidelberg Distributing, Kinley Cincinnati, Pepsi, Summerfair Cincinnati

#  #  #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer

WHEN:                Friday, May 1, 2026 – 7:00 PM

Saturday, May 2, 2026 – 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Fifth Third Bank Theater

PRICE:                 $25, inclusive of all fees. Subject to change.

INFO:                   Created by Tim Watts, The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer is a visually inspired solo show. Employing a unique blend of puppetry, live and recorded music, and animation, the show presents an exploration of the next and oldest frontier: the deep blue sea. This unique and charming performance is emotional, uplifting, touching, and funny – a heart-warming and beautiful experience that’s a remarkable pocket masterpiece of invention, staging, and performance.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

• www.CincinnatiArts.org
• (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
• Aronoff Center Ticket Office
• Group sales (10 or more): (513) 977-4155

OUTLANDER IN CONCERT:
ECHOES THROUGH THE HIGHLANDS

Comes to Cincinnati Following the Upcoming
Sold-Out World Premiere in Scotland

October 30, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

Tickets on sale Friday, March 27 at 10:00 AM

[Cincinnati, OH] – GEA Live and Sony Pictures Television today announced the global tour dates for Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands, launching this fall to more than 75 cities across the United States and Europe, including a stop at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM. The announcement comes ahead of the concert’s sold-out world premiere in Scotland on May 30 and on the heels of the final season currently airing on STARZ (US) and MGM+ (UK). The live experience features stunning cinematic visuals from all eight seasons of the global phenomenon Outlander presented on a large HD cinema screen, paired with the iconic Celtic score by Emmy® Award–winning composer Bear McCreary.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 27 at 10:00 AM at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For group sales (10 or more), call (513) 977-4155. Prices include all applicable fees and taxes and are subject to change.

Executive producer and showrunner Matthew B. Roberts collaborated with McCreary to create a concert experience for fans with a specially curated set list and scenes from the show, including footage from the highly anticipated eighth and final season that premiered on STARZ (US) and MGM+ (UK) earlier this month. A live ensemble of musicians and vocalists will perform with traditional Scottish instruments including bagpipes, fiddles, and the hurdy-gurdy.

The music of Outlander has achieved remarkable acclaim, led by McCreary, whose work also includes the television series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and the video game “God of War.” Across seven successful soundtracks, the franchise has generated 500 million streams in 236 territories, with its iconic theme, “Outlander – The Skye Boat Song,” surpassing 49 million plays. The Outlander soundtrack stands as the best-selling title in Sony Pictures Television’s entire catalogue, underscoring the series’ enduring cultural impact on both screen and sound.

The score has long been central to the series’ emotional power, helping carry the soul of the story for fans worldwide. That global appeal is already clear, with concertgoers set to travel from 40 countries to experience Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands in Scotland. On stage, the music and visuals combine to create a cinematic live event that is both immersive and unforgettable.

The Outlander television series is based on Diana Gabaldon’s internationally best-selling books, which have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide, with all nine novels gracing The New York Times Best Seller list. The global success of the Outlander TV franchise also sparked prequel Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which premiered last fall and is set to return for a second season. Previous seasons of Outlander along with Outlander: Blood of My Blood are available to stream on the STARZ app in the US and MGM+ in the UK.

Outlander is produced by Sony Pictures Television and stars Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser, Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser, Sophie Skelton as Brianna MacKenzie, Richard Rankin as Roger MacKenzie, John Bell as Young Ian Murray, David Berry as Lord John Grey, Charles Vandervaart as William Ransom, Izzy Meikle-Small as Rachel Hunter Murray, and Joey Phillips as Denzell Hunter. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries, and Jim Kohlberg serve as executive producers. Balfe and Heughan also serve as executive producers.

For more information, visit www.outlanderinconcert.com and follow #OutlanderinConcert, @outlander_starz, and @sonypicturestv.

About Bear McCreary
Award-winning composer and recording artist Bear McCreary began his career as a protégé of legendary film composer Elmer Bernstein, before bursting onto the scene scoring the revered series Battlestar Galactica in 2004. Since then, McCreary has won three Emmy® Awards, including two for Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and one for his theme for Da Vinci’s Demons, a musical palindrome, and has won twelve International Film Music Critics Association Awards, including the award for Score of the Year in 2024, his second. Named the 23^rd Most Definitive Bear in Popular Culture (The Ringer), he’s also been the subject of a clue on Jeopardy! Project highlights include The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Amazon); Foundation (Apple TV); the beloved series Outlander (STARZ); Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures); The Walking Dead (AMC); and Netflix’s Academy Award®–nominated documentary Crip Camp (produced by Barack and Michelle Obama). McCreary’s celebrated scores for Sony PlayStation’s blockbusters God of War and God of War Ragnarök have earned him two BAFTA Awards and two Grammy® nominations. In 2024, McCreary released The Singularity, a hard-rock concept album featuring legendary rock talent including Slash, Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Rufus Wainwright, and more. McCreary has collaborated with artists from across the musical spectrum, including Hozier, Fiona Apple, Shirley Manson (Garbage), and the late Sinéad O’Connor. In 2014, Maestro Gustavo Dudamel conducted a suite of McCreary’s music with the L.A. Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.

About Matthew B. Roberts
Matthew B. Roberts is a writer, executive producer, and director, currently serving as showrunner on both Outlander and Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the prequel series he created. Outlander: Blood of My Blood premiered in 2025 and has wrapped filming on its second season. Under an overall term deal with Sony Pictures Television, Roberts is developing multiple dramatic series. His acclaimed television career spans multiple genres, and his innovative approach to period drama has garnered both critical acclaim and a devoted global audience.

About GEA Live
GEA Live has established itself as the premier partner in location-based entertainment, combining creativity, excellence and credibility to deliver unforgettable events that bring iconic brands to life in all their glory. Working with renowned IPs from TV, film, theatre, music, gaming, and anime, GEA Live designs, produces, and distributes everything from symphonic and film concerts to immersive exhibitions and stage shows. With a vast portfolio of shows spanning more than forty countries, GEA Live has collaborated with world-class brands like PlayStation, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Twilight, Dirty Dancing, Our Planet, and Demon Slayer, in addition to exclusively representing the legendary Ennio Morricone. As a trusted pillar of Sony Music’s Masterworks Live division, GEA Live has partnered with entertainment giants like Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, Viacom, and Warner Brothers, among others, delivering unparalleled value for licensors while further elevating the world’s most cherished brands.

About RoadCo
RoadCo Entertainment, formed in 2020, is a producing and distribution agency specializing in live entertainment experiences. A collaboration between Sony Music Entertainment and independent touring entrepreneurs Stephen Lindsay and Brett Sirota, RoadCo represents a broad roster of live events based on popular brands and intellectual properties, as well as all-new immersive and interactive attractions for audiences of all ages.

About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing, distributing, and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows, and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating a robust portfolio of wholly owned and joint-venture production companies across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. SPT is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS 

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

Season Sponsors:  AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), MIAMI UNIVERSITY, ARTSWAVE, LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, TRIHEALTH 

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  21C Museum Hotel, altafiber, Bahl & Gaynor, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Fairfield Inn & Suites Cincinnati Uptown/University Area, Harlan Graphics, Heidelberg Distributing, Kinley Cincinnati, Pepsi, Summerfair Cincinnati

#  #  #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:                Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands
WHEN:                Friday, October 30, 2026 – 7:30 PM

WHERE:              Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICE:                 Ticket prices start at $47.25, inclusive of all fees.

INFO:                 This concert experience for Outlander fans, with a specially curated set list and scenes from the show, includes footage from the highly anticipated eighth and final season of the popular series that premiered on STARZ (US) and MGM+ (UK) earlier this month. A live ensemble of musicians and vocalists will perform with traditional Scottish instruments including bagpipes, fiddles, and the hurdy-gurdy.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, March 27 at 10:00 AM

• www.CincinnatiArts.org
• (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
• Aronoff Center Ticket Office
• Group sales (10 or more): (513) 977-4155

THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY
April 1, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

[Cincinnati, OH] – Relive the magic of the legendary folk-rock duo! The internationally acclaimed hit, The Simon & Garfunkel Story, returns to the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM for one show only. The immersive concert-style tribute show, complete with nostalgia-inducing, unforgettable hits, will recreate the magic and authenticity of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel live on stage and chronicles the amazing journey of the iconic, Grammy Award-winning act. The event is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2025-26 Season.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], or the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For group sales (10 or more), call (513) 977-4155. Prices include all applicable fees and taxes and are subject to change.

Fans aren’t the only ones blown away by The Simon & Garfunkel Story. Earlier this year, immediately following a performance in Long Island, Art Garfunkel himself rushed the stage, grabbed the microphone, and declared, “What a great f—— show!” before leaving the audience in awe once again. If the legend himself is a fan, you know this is a tour you won’t want to miss.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story covers the duo’s humble beginnings as Tom & Jerry to their incredible success as one of the best-selling music groups of the ‘60s, as well as their dramatic split in 1970. The Simon & Garfunkel Story culminates with the pair’s famous “The Concert in Central Park” reunion in 1981 which had more than half a million fans in attendance. The show features a set list of nearly thirty songs and uses state-of-the-art video projection, photos, and original film footage. A full live band will perform all the hits including “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound,” and many more, complete with the unmistakably perfect harmonies that will transport audiences down memory lane.

With more than 100 million album sales since 1965, Simon & Garfunkel’s unforgettable songs and poetic lyrics poignantly captured the times and made them one of the most successful folk-rock duos of all time. Over the years, they won ten Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1977, the Brit Awards honored their “Bridge Over Troubled Water” album with Best International Album. In 2003, Simon & Garfunkel were awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the following year saw their “The Sound of Silence” awarded a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.

For tour dates, tickets and more information about The Simon & Garfunkel Story, visit www.thesimonandgarfunkelstory.com.

ABOUT RUCKUS ENTERTAINMENT (Producers)
Ruckus Entertainment, based in Los Angeles and formed in 2022, brings together veteran entertainment producers Alison Spiriti, Justin Sudds, Dean Elliott, and Ralph Schmidtke who are collectively responsible for producing over 100 touring productions seen by millions around the world. Their burgeoning production company brings audiences world-class concerts and live events and is focused on celebrating the history and music behind iconic, globally recognized musical artists. Current productions include The Simon & Garfunkel Story, The Life and Music of George Michael, and The British Invasion.

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS

The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

Season Sponsors:  AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), MIAMI UNIVERSITY, ARTSWAVE, LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, TRIHEALTH

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  21C Museum Hotel, altafiber, Bahl & Gaynor, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Fairfield Inn & Suites Cincinnati Uptown/University Area, Harlan Graphics, Heidelberg Distributing, Kinley Cincinnati, Pepsi, Summerfair Cincinnati

media ParTNer:  103.5 wgrr-FM

#  #  #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:             The Simon & Garfunkel Story

WHEN:            Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – 7:30 PM

WHERE:             Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICE:                Ticket prices start at $52.50, inclusive of all fees.

INFO:               This immersive, concert-style theater show chronicles the amazing journey shared by the folk-rock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. It tells the story from their humble beginnings as Tom & Jerry to their incredible success as one of the best-selling music groups of the ‘60s to their dramatic split in 1970. It culminates with the famous “The Concert in Central Park” reunion in 1981 with more than half-a-million fans in attendance.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

• www.CincinnatiArts.org
• (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
• Aronoff Center Ticket Office
• Group sales (10 or more): (513) 977-4155

TOMORROW’S STARS

FINALS COMPETITION and AWARDS CEREMONY
March 14, 2026
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

Tickets on sale now

[CINCINNATI, OH] – The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is proud to present the 2026 Overture Awards Finals Competition. The Overture Awards provides $4,000 to six area high school students for education and training expenses, with eighteen finalists each winning $1,500. The program also includes an Arts Educator Award for Excellence in Arts Instruction totaling $2,000.

The Overture Awards Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater. Winners will be announced immediately following the competition. The Visual Art Finalists Exhibition will be showcased in the Aronoff Center’s Center Stage Room (adjacent to the Weston Art Gallery on 7th Street) from Tuesday, March 10 – Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.

This year, 189 students applied to compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. The Overture Awards was developed to recognize, encourage, and reward excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12. It also provides students an opportunity to share their talents and interests among their peers in a supportive environment outside of their individual schools. There are three levels of competition: Regional, Semi-Final, and Final.

The Overture Awards Regional Competitions were held virtually in January 2026. The top twenty to thirty percent of competitors in each discipline advanced to the Semi-Finals, which were held at the Aronoff Center from February 5-12. Twenty-four finalists will compete in the Finals Competition at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater on March 14.

Now in its 30th year, The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation (now Duke Energy) and Leadership Cincinnati (a program of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber). The Overture Awards is funded and administered by the Cincinnati Arts Association, which operates and manages the Aronoff Center and Music Hall. The Overture Awards also relies on hundreds of volunteers from the community who help raise funds, adjudicate, manage the competitions, and nurture the program. 

The Overture Awards are endowed by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

THANK YOU to the following generous supporters of the Overture Awards and Dancing for the Stars (CAA’s annual fundraiser which benefits the Awards):

Accent on Cincinnati, Ryan Anderson, Arthur Murray-Cincinnati, Arthur Murray -West Chester, Baru, Douglas Beal, Doreen Beatrice, Karla Boldery,  James Branham, Bonita Brockert, Carri Chandler, Bill Chappie, Dance Manor, DelightMore, eat well celebrations & feasts, Maura Garuccio, Heidelberg Distributing Company, KungFood AmerAsia, Lasting Impressions Event Rentals, Desiree Mainous, Erin Mignano, Moerlein Lager House, Dylan Morton, Jozsef Parragh, The Party Source, Pepsi, Prime Cincinnati, Punky’s Pixel’s,  Stacy Sims, Sebastian Bakehouse, Street City Pub, Skyline, Josh Tilford, Alyenendrov Tsorokean, Vintage on Race, Willow Run Custom Bourbons

Chris O’Brien and Janeen Coyle (former hosts of “Married with Microphones,” 103.5 WGRR-FM), JD Hughes (popular DJ and 103.5 WGRR-FM personality)

Overture Scholarship Sponsors: The Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee; Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.; Otto M. Budig Family Foundation; Summerfair Cincinnati; TriHealth

Printing Sponsor:  Harlan Graphics 

2026 Overture Awards Finalists 

CREATIVE WRITING

• Lauren Ashelman, grade 12, Springboro High School
• Devi Kool, grade 11, Wyoming High School
• Olivia Landry, grade 11, Villa Madonna Academy
• Angela Tang, grade 11, William Mason High School

DANCE

• Brinkli Cox, grade 10, Homeschool/Studies with Hairston School of Dance
• Nora Doyle, grade 11, School for Creative and Performing Arts/Studies with Just Off Broadway
• Easton Gliebe, grade 11, Ohio Virtual Academy/Studies with Just Off Broadway
• Riley Neugebauer, grade 12, Turpin High School/Studies with Just Off Broadway 

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

• Autumn Rinaldi, grade 11, Cincinnati Country Day School/Studies with Dr. Sarah Kim
• Sophia Suwiryo, grade 11, Summit Country Day School/Studies with Professor Alvin Chow
• Mario Agustín Ynga Orellana, grade 10, Walnut Hills High School/Studies with Dr. Laura Sabo
• Grace Yu, grade 12, Indian Hill High School/Studies with Joyce Grabell

THEATER

• Maeve Bachman, grade 12, Sycamore High School/Studies with Andrea Davies
• Avery Fox, grade 12, Homeschool/Northern Kentucky University/Studies with Xan Jeffery
• Elliot Martin, grade 11, Highlands High School
• Jai’Den Pritchett, grade 11, Sycamore High School/Studies with Musical Arts Center 

VISUAL ART

• Edie Anderson, grade 12, School for Creative and Performing Arts
• Jinming Gu, grade 11, Indian Hill High School/Studies with Yinyan Studio
• Riley Judd, grade 12, School for Creative and Performing Arts
• Ronan Wolfer, grade 12, Loveland High School

VOCAL MUSIC  

• Genevieve Howard, grade 12, Newport Central Catholic High School/Studies with Talia Zoll Studio of Music
• Ray Muenzer, grade 12, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy/Studies with Musical Arts Center
• Sahana Siddharth, grade 10, Seven Hills School/Studies with Allison Highland
• William Wittekind, grade 12, Saint Xavier High School/Studies with Musical Arts Center

Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of two of the Tri-state’s finest performing arts venues – the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall – and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of 700,000 people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached more than two million students and adults.

CAA is proud to be a member of Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Greater Cincinnati Alliance for Arts Education, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce.

# # #

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:          2026 Overture Awards – Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony

WHERE:        Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater

WHEN:          Saturday, March 14, 2026 – 1:00 PM

TICKETS:       $15 • $10

INFO:            The 2026 Overture Awards Competition provides $4,000 to six area high school students for education and training expenses with eighteen finalists each winning $1,500. Students compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. The program also includes Arts Educator Awards for Excellence in Arts Instruction totaling $2,000. The Overture Awards was developed to recognize, encourage, and reward excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12.

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now

• www.CincinnatiArts.org
• (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
• Aronoff Center Ticket Office