From Scratch
The From Scratch program is a long-term creative music education endeavor executed in conjunction with the students of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI) and the Cincinnati Symphony’s Youth Orchestra and Nouveau programs. Guided by the philosophy that the students are already experts in their own creativity, co-directors Hannah Christiansen and Joseph Bricker provide a series of group and individual workshops to introduce the students to writing for their own and other instruments and ultimately commission them to write brand new works for any combination of violin and percussion. At the end of the workshops, the students oversee a professional recording of their work, and then introduce the live premiere of their pieces at a performance event which also includes an experimental live-group composition/performance: audience members learn principles of non-standard notation and engage with new work to be interpreted on the spot, creating a uniquely personal and empowering connection to contemporary music. Since 2019, more than 40 new works have been written through this program. From Scratch also participates in numerous collaborations with other arts organizations; in 2025, The Well’s Mindful Music Moments program will incorporate student works into general music curricula for more than 100,000 students across the country, in addition to commissioning From Scratch to lead a city-wide student composition from 300 students in Cincinnati. In March 2025, in collaboration with the Cincinnati Ballet, CB2 will perform a new work choreographed by Taylor Carrasco, featuring student compositions as a part of a new initiative to provide inter-arts professional development. You can learn more about the program by visiting cincinnatifromscratch.com
concertnova
concertnova, founded in 2007, is an interdisciplinary chamber music organization in Cincinnati. cn produces classical music events with collaboration from a wide variety of professionals; events have included projected brain scans synced to a performer, multi-course meals with chefs, guided scent-music experiences, rock-operas, and many others. In 2024-25, events include, among others:
a guided mindfulness session with former NFL player Soul Cole, accompanied by a new participatory score by Joe Bricker. View video recap here.
during Cincinnati’s BLINK Festival, 270º projection art by XUAN alongside works by Bobby Ge and Philip Glass. View review here.
a concert curated by composer Sarah Hennies exploring LGBTQ+ identity, with two new works by Hennies and OGA
an immersive photo installation with photographer Asa Featherstone IV examining the Black Midwestern experience, alongside works by Black Midwestern composers. This event is in collaboration with Asa’s new photo publication, MIDTONES.
a celebration of Ysaÿe’s influence in Cincinnati, with violinist Benjamin Beilman and the Guarneri Del Gesu “Ysaye” violin
a nature walk celebrating the legalized use of recreational cannabis in Ohio, coupled with the 50th anniversary of John Cage’s work “Child of Tree” for amplified cactus, featuring a new participatory version of the work for audience interacting with cactus-robots, designed by Nathan Prillaman