Tag Archives: Cincinnati Arts Association

The Overture Awards Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony | Sat., March 11 | Aronoff Center

CAA_Overture Awards logoCINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is proud to present the 2017 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 $1,000. The program also provides a $2,500 Arts Educator Award for Excellence in Arts Instruction.

The Overture Awards Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater. Winners will be announced immediately following the competition.

This year, 476 students were nominated by their schools or studios 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 on January 21 at the Northern Kentucky School of Music at Immanuel, Northern Kentucky University, and Mount Saint Joseph University. The top 20 percent of competitors in each discipline advanced to the Semi-Finals, which were held at the Aronoff Center on February 10 and 11. Twenty-four finalists (four in each discipline) will compete in the Finals Competition at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater on March 11.

Now in its twenty-first year, The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation (now Duke Energy) and Leadership Cincinnati (a program of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce). 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 and manage the competitions, and nurture the program.

THE OVERTURE AWARDS ARE ENDOWED BY THE OTTO M. BUDIG FAMILY FOUNDATION.

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

Scholarship Sponsors:  Arthur Murray – Cincinnati, Doreen Beatrice, Douglas Beal, Bonita Brockert, Cincinnati Ballroom Company, Jozsef Parragh, Pebble Creek Group, Phoenix Rising Ballroom,  Summerfair Cincinnati, Josh Tilford, Western & Southern Financial Fund, The William O. Purdy, Jr. Foundation

Competition Sponsors:  Northern Kentucky School of Music at Immanuel, Northern Kentucky University, Mount Saint Joseph University

Printing Sponsor:  Crest Graphics

THE 2017 OVERTURE AWARDS FINALISTS

CREATIVE WRITING

  • Presley Hargis – grade 12, Conner High School
  • Hallie Menkhaus – grade 11, Taylor High School
  • Olivia Short – grade 12, Mother of Mercy High School
  • Jessica Sommerville – grade 12, William Mason High School

DANCE

  • Joseph Harrington – grade 12, School for Creative & Performing Arts/Just Off Broadway
  • Annika Hsi – grade 10, Walnut Hills High School/Northern Cincinnati Youth Ballet
  • Anna Robertson – grade 12, Bellbrook High School/McGing Irish Dancers
  • Ava Sine – grade 9, School for Creative & Performing Arts/Just Off Broadway

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

  • Cory Bargemann – grade 12, Walnut Hills High School
  • Calvin Huang – grade 11, St. Xavier High School/Inna Terekhov
  • Christina Nam – grade 9, Walnut Hills High School
  • Jiin Woo – grade 11, Sycamore High School

THEATER

  • Elsa Benson – grade 12, Sycamore High School/Karl Resnik Studio
  • Anthony Frederickson – grade 9, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy/McCready Voice Studio
  • Chandler Hoffert – grade 12, Fairfield High School/McCready Voice Studio
  • Morgan Reece – grade 12, Kings High School/Lincoln Chapman Studio

VISUAL ART

  • Ava Grannan – grade 12, Wyoming High School
  • Madyson Haynes – grade 12, Dixie Heights High School
  • Geneva Huffman – grade 10, School for Creative & Performing Arts
  • Sarah Kenkel – grade 12, Mother of Mercy High School

VOCAL MUSIC

  • Taylor Kay Baer – grade 12, School for Creative & Performing Arts /Wyant-Zenni
  • Reed Gnepper – grade 10, School for Creative & Performing Arts/Mary Ann Powers-Buyukisik
  • Katherine Sharp – grade 12, Indian Hill High School/The Music House (Anne Moss)
  • Nathaniel Wilkens – grade 12, St. Xavier High School/Melody Wallace Voice Studio

Arts Educator Award For Excellence in Arts Instruction 

The Arts Educator Award promotes and rewards excellence in arts instruction throughout Greater Cincinnati. An educator who teaches any of the following arts disciplines may be nominated: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. They can be a high school arts specialist, teaching artist working with high school students, or an arts professional or educator providing private lessons or instruction. Nominations for the award must come from students between the ages of 14-19 who are currently enrolled in high school. Nominations are made by submitting an on-line application with a three-minute video about why the nominee is an exemplary arts educator.

The winner of the 2017 award will receive $2,500, and two finalists will receive $500 each. The recipients of the Arts Educator Award may utilize the monetary award to strengthen their program or practice, e.g. an artist fee for a guest lecturer or master class, the purchase of equipment, or a professional learning opportunity  such as tuition assistance for either the educator or for students to study with the recipient or another professional.

Arts Educator Award Finalists

Becky Childs, UC-CCM Preparatory Department
Discipline: Musical Theater
Nominated by Annabel Forman

Susan Jung, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
Discipline: Theater
Nominated by Carter Jackson

Marion Peraza de Webb, Peraza Music Workshop
Discipline: Instrumental Music
Nominated by Beatrice Baker

Arts Educator Award Honorable Mentions

Hitomi Koyama, UC-CCM Preparatory Department
Discipline: Instrumental Music
Nominated by Chisato Fuji

Melody Wallace, Wallace Voice Studio
Discipline: Vocal Music
Nominated by Anna Greco

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 1.5 million students.

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

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ROCKTOPIA: A Classical (R)evolution | Sun., April 1 | Aronoff Center

ONE NIGHT ONLY!caa_rocktopia-logoROCKTOPIA ANNOUNCES CAST OF INAUGURAL NATIONAL TOUR

CO-CREATORS ROB EVAN AND MAESTRO RANDALL CRAIG FLEISCHER ASSEMBLE WORLD CLASS PERFORMERS FOR ROCKTOPIA CAST

Saturday, April 1, 2017 – 8:00 PM

Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 

Music from Mozart to U2, Beethoven to Pink Floyd, This Live Concert Is a
Powerful Fusion of Classical Music, Opera and Classic Rock   

Now a PBS-TV Special Filmed Live at the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest

CINCINNATI, OH  –RTT is thrilled to announce the cast of the inaugural live concert tour ROCKTOPIA: A Classical (R)evolution.   ROCKTOPIA Co-Creators, vocalist and recording artist Rob Evan, a member of the multi-platinum-selling rock band, Trans- Siberian Orchestra; and Maestro Randall Craig Fleischer, a national leader in the area of symphonic rock and world music fusion have collaborated to bring together a world class cast of vocalists and musicians. ROCKTOPIA LIVE will debut at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall for one night only on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 8:00 PM.

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

This groundbreaking live concert performance celebrating the combination of classical music and opera with classic rock features world-class vocalists and top rock musicians including renowned vocalists Rob Evan, Chloe Lowery, Kimberly Nichole, Tony Vincent, Ximena Borges and esteemed musicians Tony Bruno, Alex Alexander, Mat Fieldes and Henry Aronson. 

Accomplished actor, singer and producer Rob Evan’s 20 years in the entertainment profession includes seven leading roles on Broadway and performances at Presidential Inaugural Galas, World Series Celebrations, the Millennium World Forum and Monday Night Football.  A member of the multi-platinum-selling rock band, Trans- Siberian Orchestra, Rob has opened and performed with Sir Elton John, REM, Joe Walsh, Usher and Michael Crawford among others.  As co- creator of ROCKTOPIA he will be on stage with vocalist Chloe Lowery another member of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and featured on Yanni’s 2013, 2014 and 2016 releases: Truth of Touch, Inspirato, and Sensuous Chill.  Tony Vincent Broadway star of Rent who also originated the role of St. Jimmy in Green Day’s American Idiot and competed on NBC’s The VOICE on Team Ce-Lo joins Kimberly Nichole, another VOICE veteran as a winning finalist in Season 8. She has been described as an “Avant-Rock n Roll” song stylist and songwriter by VOGUE, Seventeen Magazine and MTV UK.  Classically trained Opera star Ximena Borges has traveled the world from the Lyon Conservatory in France to the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Germany to study under the tutelage of Opera’s most legendary teachers including Bill Schuman, Mariena Malas and more.   ROCKTOPIA musicians include lead guitarist Tony Bruno, guitarist for such musical giants as Enrique Iglesias, Rihanna, E K’naan, Karmin, Delta Goodrem and many others. Multi genre drummer and percussionist Alex Alexander who has recorded with an eclectic mix of performers Eminem, Chaka Kahn and Bruce Springsteen.  Grammy Nominated Bassist Mat Fieldes and Musical Director, Pianist Henry Aronson, one of the most in demand music directors in the Broadway theater and conductor of The Who’s Tommy and the Broadway run of Rock of Ages make up the ROCKTOPIA musicians roster.

This electric cast along with local orchestras and choirs will launch a 4-week national tour beginning  March 28 in Portland, Maine continuing to Reading, Pennsylvania March 29; Albany, New York March 30; Greensburg, Pennsylvania March 31; Cincinnati, Ohio April 1; Ft. Wayne, Indiana April 2; Davenport, Iowa April 4; Peoria, Illinois April 5; Kansas City, Missouri April 6; Joliet, Illinois April 7; Columbus, Ohio April 8; E. Lansing, Michigan April 9;  Buffalo, New York April 11, Detroit, Michigan April 12; Cleveland, Ohio April 13; Baltimore, Maryland April 14;  Charlotte, North Carolina April 15; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida April 18; Jacksonville, Florida April 19; Atlanta, Georgia April 20; Melbourne, Florida April 21; Tampa, Florida April 22 and Pensacola, Florida April 23.  Complete tour dates, venues and ticket information can be found on www.rocktopia.com.

ROCKTOPIA is an inspiring and uplifting entertainment spectacle that brings a whole new way of enjoying the best of classical music and classic rock to audiences.  ROCKTOPIA delivers one-of-a-kind musical arrangements blending Beethoven with Journey, Strauss with The Who, and more in musical mash-ups that surprise and delight.  Musically arranged by Maestro Randall Craig Fleischer, the concert showcases the works of classical composers as well as rock bands, including the music of Mozart, Journey, Handel, U2, Tchaikovsky, Heart, Beethoven, Styx, Foreigner, Rachmaninoff, Pink Floyd, Copland, The Who and more.  

ROCKTOPIA performances creates an incredible dynamic concert experience sure to blow audiences away as proven in Budapest at the State Hungarian Opera House, now a PBS TV special airing in cities across the United States.

For complete bios, tour and ticket information visit www.rocktopia.com. 

View/Download  Video here

View/Download Photos here 

About RTT
ROCKTOPIA is produced and presented by RTT.  The company is headed by William Franzblau, Rob Evan and Maggie Seidel-Law who collectively have been creating, producing and presenting national tours, Broadway shows and concerts worldwide for over 30 years.  William Franzblau has produced such award- winning shows as the Tony Nominated Best Play Say Goodnight Gracie, and the tour of LITTLE HOUSE on the PRAIRIE the Musical starring Melissa Gilbert.  Maggie Seidel-Law has spearheaded multiple tours and live entertainment events associated with PBS including the global phenomenon Celtic Woman.  ROCKTOPIA will be RTT’s first project and will tour through 20+ US cities in the spring of 2017.  Their offices are located in New York, NY and Nashville, TN.

About Rob Evan
Rob Evan is an accomplished actor, singer and producer with 20 years of professional experience in the entertainment industry.  During the span of his diverse career, he has performed in seven leading roles on the New York Stage including the original Broadway cast of Jekyll & Hyde, playing the title roles for three years and over 1,000 performances worldwide. As a vocalist and recording artist, Rob is a member of the multi-platinum-selling rock band, Trans- Siberian Orchestra. He can be heard on TSO’s The Lost Christmas Eve (Certified Double Platinum – Lava/Atlantic) and their latest release, Nightcastle, which debuted at #5 on Billboard’s Top 100 (currently certified Platinum – Atlantic Records). He has played in arenas across the country and the world for up to 20,000 people per show. Rob has toured Europe and the US with TSO as Beethoven in TSO’s Rock Opera, Beethoven’s Last Night. Rob has opened for and performed with Sir Elton John, Trisha Yearwood, Linda Eder, Phil Collins, REM, Bonnie Tyler, John Cougar Mellencamp, Joe Walsh, Usher and Michael Crawford, among others. He was also lead vocalist for Jim Steinman’s The Dream Engine and recently released the debut album for his progressive rock band, Menrva Realm.

About Randall Craig Fleischer
Mr. Fleischer has appeared as a guest conductor with many major orchestras in the United States and internationally including engagements with the Boston Pops, China Philharmonic Hong Kong Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Houston Symphony, Philly Pops, Moscow State Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Festival Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic) and many others.   “…There was purpose and meaning in the performance, and Fleischer let the lyricism of the music flow in seamless lines.” Deseret News – Salt Lake City, Utah.  As Music Director/Conductor of three symphony orchestras, Youngstown Symphony, Hudson Valley Philharmonic and the Anchorage Symphony, Mr. Fleischer has led each orchestra through a dramatic period of artistic growth, demonstrating his abilities as a proven orchestra builder. This sounds like a different symphony orchestra, and this season should be an exciting experience.“ Arizona Daily Sun 1998. “The HVP’s music director was heartily affirmed by the extended standing ovation.” Times Herald Record.

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DANCING FOR THE STARS 2017 | Sat., April 8 | JACK CASINO Ballroom

CAA_Dancing for the StarsCINCINNATI, OH – Who will be voted Cincinnati’s best celebrity dancer?  Which stars have the right moves to rule the dance floor?  Find out on Saturday, April 8, 2017 when the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) celebrates the eleventh season of its annual fundraiser DANCING FOR THE STARS at the JACK CASINO Ballroom (1000 Broadway Street in downtown Cincinnati) to benefit CAA’s Overture Awards – the nation’s largest locally-run high school arts scholarship competition – and Arts Education Programs.

Inspired by the hit ABC-TV show Dancing with the Stars, DANCING FOR THE STARS will feature eight Cincinnati celebrities paired with some of the area’s finest professional dancers in a competition program, at which the audience will vote for their favorite celebrity dancer. The competitive dance for the evening will be Foxtrot, and each dance pair will have ninety seconds to woo the crowd and the judges.

In addition, DANCING FOR THE STARS will feature:

  • Silent auction
  • Dance music by guest DJ “Rockin’ Ron” Schumacher, WGRR-FM
  • Pre-event reception and wine tasting
  • Open dancing before and after the competition
  • Lite bites provided by some of Cincinnati’s finest restaurants and caterers
  • Cash bar

In addition to the winner of the dance competition, DANCING FOR THE STARS will crown a Fundraising Champion – the celebrity dancer who raises the most revenue toward the event’s fundraising goal through table/ticket sales and donations. Fans may add a donation under their favorite celebrity’s name at the time of ticket purchase, or simply make a donation if they cannot attend the event. These direct donations (outside of the event ticket price)  will help one of the fans’ favorite celebrities win the Dancing for the Stars Fundraising Champion award – which will be announced the evening of the event – and are 100% tax deductible.

Tickets are currently on sale at the following levels (a portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible):

  • $150 – Patron (includes pre-event reception and two drink tickets)
  • $1,500 – Corporate Table (ten Patron level tickets and a half-page program ad)
  • $2,000 – Celebrity Circle Table (premium “first-row” viewing of competition area, ten Patron level tickets, full-page program ad, recognition on event signage)

RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION:

Tickets on sale February 1

THE STARS:

  • Alvin H. Crawford, MD (Honoris Causa, FACS, Professor Emeritus, Orthopaedic & Pediatric Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine)
  • Robin Creighton (Owner/Photographer, Robin McKerrell Photography/Mecca OTR/Cheapside Café)
  • Amal Daoud (Community Volunteer)
  • Mark Heidrich (Director of National Accounts, ProSource)
  • Rohan Hemani (Procter & Gamble Fabric Care Intrapenuer)
  • Allison Holzapfel, MD (Plastic Surgeon, Mangat-Holzapfel and Lied)
  • Joe Rozzi (Vice President of Sales, Rozzi Famous Fireworks)
  • Amy Tobin (Director, The Event Center at New Riff Distillery Event Center)

THE PROS (WITH STAR PAIRING):  

  • Doreen Beatrice (Independent Dance Instructor) – Rohan Hemani
  • Leigh Bradshaw (Cincinnati Ballroom Company) – Mark Heidrich
  • Bonita Brockert (Independent Dance Instructor) – Dr. Alvin Crawford
  • Desiree Mainous (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati) – Joe Rozzi
  • Jeremy Mainous (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati) – Dr. Allison Holzapfel
  • Jozsef Parragh (Independent Dance Instructor) – Amy Tobin
  • Josh Tilford (Independent Dance Instructor) – Amal Daoud
  • Alyenendrov (Lenny) Tsorokean (Phoenix Rising Ballroom) – Robin Creighton

THE HOSTS: Chris O’Brien & Janeen Coyle (“Married With Microphones,” 103.5 WGRR-FM)

THE JUDGES:   

  • Douglas Beal (Independent Dance Instructor)
  • Barbara Hauser (Manager, Ohio Community Relations, Procter & Gamble – Dancing for the Stars 2015 Celebrity participant)
  • Jamie Humes  (Vice President-Marketing, Traditions Group – Dancing for the Stars 2016 Fundraising Champion)
  • John Morris Russell (Conductor, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra)

EVENT COMMITTEE:  Terry Foster (co-chair, Dancing for the Stars 2010 Celebrity participant),  Joe Rigotti (co-chair, Dancing for the Stars 2012 Celebrity participant), Christina Bolden, Sue Gilkey, Jim Howland, Ginger Loftin, Rosemary Schlachter, Phil Schworer, and Tracey Skale.

EVENT SPONSORS:  Arthur Murray – Cincinnati; Cincinnati Ballroom Company; Crest Graphics, Inc.; Pebble Creek Group; Bonita Brockert; Jozsef Parragh; Phoenix Rising Ballroom; Josh Tilford.

TEN YEARS OF DANCING FOR THE STARS WINNERS:

  • 2007:     Dr. O’dell Owens (former Hamilton County Coroner)
  • 2008:     Jenell Walton (former WCPO-TV9 Anchor and Reporter)
  • 2009:     Phil Schworer (past President, Cincinnati Bar Association; Environmental Lawyer, Frost, Brown and Todd)
  • 2010:     Donna Speigel (Owner, The Snooty Fox)
  • 2011:     Tracey Skale (Chief Medical Officer, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services)
  • 2012:     Regina Russo (former Director of Marketing and Communications, Cincinnati Art Museum)
  • 2013:     Chris Seelbach (Cincinnati City Councilman)
  • 2014:     Neal Schulte (Founder & President, Schulte Financial Group, LLC)
  • 2015:     Johnny Chu (Owner, AmerAsia Kungfood Restaurant)
  • 2016:     Jay Lame (Financial Analyst, Lenox Wealth Management)

CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION’S ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS
CAA’s Education Department promotes life-long learning through its programs, which are diverse, multidisciplinary, and accessible to all ages and cultural groups. SchoolTime presents a series of programs that feature nationally-recognized artists at CAA’s two venues (the Aronoff Center and Music Hall), and Artists On Tour brings the finest local artists in the region to Tri-state schools for interactive arts experiences aligned with the curriculum.

The Overture Awards Scholarship Competition is the largest locally run arts scholarship competition in the country.  The program annually provides a $4,000 scholarship to six area high school students for education and training, with 18 finalists each winning a $1,000 scholarship. Each year, nearly 500 students are nominated by their schools to compete in one of six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art or Vocal Music. There are three levels of competition: Regional, Semi-Finals, and Final.

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.  Now in its 20th year, The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation and Leadership Cincinnati (a Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce program).

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 more than 600,000 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, including Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony/Pops Orchestras, May Festival, and Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati, presented by TriHealth. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached nearly 1.5 million students.

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DADAN 2017 | February 19 | Aronoff Center

caa_kodo-logoNorth American Premiere

Sunday, February 19, 2017 – 7:00 PM
Aronoff Center – Procter & Gamble Hall

Pre-show performance at 6:30 PM by Cincinnati Dayton Taiko
Otto M. Buding Lobby (Loge Level)

The World’s Supreme Taiko Drumming Troupe Brings Unparalleled Artistry and Athleticism to 22 American Cities, Celebrating a Sensational 35 Years

“Indeed, if there is such a thing as perfection in music, Kodo comes as near to it as any group in the world.” – Boston Globe

“Superlatives don’t really exist to convey the primal power and bravura beauty of Kodo.” –   Chicago Tribune

CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Arts Association is proud to present Kodo – the world’s foremost professional taiko company which has singularly played the most important role in popularizing modern taiko drumming. The acclaimed company, direct from Japan, will present its newest program, DADAN, in North America for the first time. The much-anticipated tour will play the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 7:00 PM. The event is part of CAA’s 2016-17 Season.

Tickets are $50, $40, and $30, and are on sale now at 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) 977-4157.  HALF-PRICE STUDENT DISCOUNT:  available in person at the Aronoff Center Ticket Office with a valid student ID (limit 2 tickets per student)

A pre-show performance by Cincinnati Dayton Taiko is scheduled for 6:30 PM in the Otto M. Buding Lobby (Loge Level). Cincinnati Dayton Taiko (CDT) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Japanese style taiko drumming through performance and education.  CDT performances are based on a traditional foundation, but emphasize the fun and community spirit of taiko.

Forging new directions for the traditional Japanese drum, Kodo will bring a display of their raw athleticism and rhythmic mastery back to the U.S. with this cutting-edge and ever-evolving production, featuring the men of Kodo in a bold portrayal of the essence of drumming through this vibrant living art form.
Simultaneously raw and refined, DADAN was created by artistic director and Japanese “Living National Treasure” Tamasaburo Bando. Simply meaning “Drumming Men,” DADAN features only the company’s young male members and is unique among Kodo’s programs in its absence of singing, dancing, flutes, and female performers. Instead, this production exclusively uses taiko drums of all shapes and sizes, as well as other forms of percussion.

The climax of DADAN features a succession of compelling solos, and with each new drummer’s relentless and rhythmic pounding of the hirado o-daiko (big low drum), the reverberations build to soul-stirring heights. The solos then crescendo into a round of rousing ensemble pieces, completely immersing the audience in sound as they watch the taiko soar to new levels. More than any other piece in the Kodo repertoire, DADAN simultaneously challenges the limits of the player’s physical, technical, psychological, and spiritual talents.

DADAN saw its world premiere in Tokyo in September 2009, and its foreign debut at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France, with four sold-out performances in 2012. The production toured across Japan in 2012 and was showcased twice at the “Earth Celebration” annual international performing arts festival on Sado Island. Tours of Spain and France followed during 2014, and in October 2015, DADAN was performed in Hong Kong – a first in Asia outside of Japan. The South American debut took place in March of 2016 in Brazil, and the 2017 DADAN performances will be its first North American tour.

For a preview of DADAN, click here.

About Kodo
In Japanese, the word “Kodo” holds a double meaning. It can be translated as “heartbeat,” the primal source of all rhythm. If read in a different context, however, Kodo can also mean “children of the drum,” which reflects the group’s desire to play the drums with the simple heart of a child. Since the group’s debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, Kodo has given 5,800 performances in 49 countries on five continents (this figure includes 3,900 performances under the “One Earth” banner). The ensemble also participates in a wide range of projects and events, which includes headlining major international festivals, contributing to motion picture soundtracks, and collaborating with a wide variety of global performing arts leaders.

Kodo’s members, staff, and apprentices live in Kodo Village, a 33-acre, self-contained section of the Ogi Peninsula on Sado Island in the Sea of Japan, isolated from the rest of the island’s residents. Since 1971, Sado Island has been the home to Kodo, some of the most disciplined performers in the world, whose work and artistry transcends borders, genre, and time. In this beautiful natural environment, Kodo developed their extraordinary compound, devoted to creativity, education, and exchange, which includes a central office building, a rehearsal hall, residential building and guest house, a workshop, a recording studio, and the legendary Kodo Apprentice Center.

For more information about Kodo, visit www.kodo.or.jp/index_en.html.

About Tamasaburo Bando
Tamasaburo Bando is a leading Kabuki actor, and the most popular and celebrated onnagata (actor specializing in female roles) currently on stage. His theatrical directing credits include Romeo & Juliet and Kaijin Besso, and he has directed the films GekashitsuYume no Onna, and Tenshu Monogatari. Bando accepted the invitation to become Kodo’s artistic director from 2012 through 2016, and was recognized as an Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder (“Living National Treasure”) in Japan. In 2013, he was decorated with the highest honor – Commander – of France’s Order of Arts and Letters.

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS 

Season SponsorsAMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), FIFTH THIRD BANK (Lifetime Endowment Partner), FURNITURE FAIR, LOCAL12 WKRC, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  21C Museum Hotel, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Heidelberg Distributing, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Macy’s, Pepsi, Skyline Chili, TriHealth, Ultimate Air Shuttle, Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA

Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management 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 1.4 million students.  www.CincinnatiiArts.org

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THERESA CAPUTO LIVE! THE EXPERIENCE From TLC’s”Long Island Medium” on March 27

caa_theresa-caputo-live-logoAronoff Center for the Arts
March 27, 2017 – 7:30pm

Tickets Go On-Sale Friday, Dec. 16 at 10am

Cincinnati, OH – Theresa Caputo, from TLC’s hit show, Long Island Medium, will be appearing live at the Aronoff Center on Monday, March 27 at 7:30PM. Theresa will share personal stories about her life and explain how her gift works. She will deliver healing messages to audience members and give people comfort knowing that their loved ones who passed are still with them, just in a different way.

Tickets go on-sale Friday December 16 at 10:00AM and can be purchased at cincinnatiarts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Tickets start at $39.75 (plus applicable service charges) and are subject to change. Purchasing a ticket does not guarantee a reading.

“The Experience” brings Theresa face-to-face with her fans, as she lets spirit guide her through the audience. A video display ensures everyone in the venue has an up-close-hands-on experience regardless of seat location.

“The experience isn’t about believing in mediums. It’s about witnessing something life-changing” says Theresa Caputo. “It’s like Long Island Medium live, witnessing first-hand spirit communication.”

The highly-rated show Long Island Medium follows Theresa’s life as a typical Long Island wife and mom with one very big difference…she can communicate with the dead. Since she cannot “turn off” this gift, messages from departed loved ones can come through at any time, which lead to spontaneous readings with those she encounters. The new season of Long Island Medium is scheduled to premiere Sunday, February 19, 2017 on TLC.

Theresa has appeared on such programs as “Jay Leno,” “Jimmy Fallon,” “Steve Harvey,” “Live with Kelly and Michael,” “Dr. Oz,” & “The Today Show.” Theresa’s second book titled “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” was released in September 2014 and debuted at #9 on The New York Times Best Seller List. Her first book titled “There’s More to Life Than This” debuted in the fall of 2013.

Theresa has been a practicing medium for over fifteen years. She helps individuals find closure by delivering healing messages. For Theresa, this is not just her job… this is her life.

Learn more about Theresa at www.theresacaputo.com.

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