CSO Lookaround!

Saturday
This evening we attended an amazing, highly unusual event, taking place in Washington Park opposite Music Hall in downtown Cincinnati. The event was entitled Look Around, and was celebrating the upcoming 125th season of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra- it is one of only five orchestras in America to reach this milestone. More than 20 local ensembles were involved, ranging from the Symphony Orchestra, the May Festival Chorus, the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus, MUSE (a women’s chorus), to the Cincinnati Collaborative Ringing Project, an Indian choir, the Cincinnati Korean American chorale and Triiibe -True Representation of Intellectual Individuals Invoking Black Excellence. They all assembled in Ziegler Park and Washington Park, with the aim of inspiring us to “see each other and our world through music.” The title of the event was inspired by a poem called Lost Generation from co-curator, activist and Triiibe member Siri Imani. It began with a musical procession from Ziegler Park to Washington Park. Washington Park was divided into three zones, denoted by Red, Yellow and blue streamers, with different groups performing in the different zones simultaneously, culminating in a huge climax, bringing together many of the ensembles. It was somewhat confusing navigating your way around - everyone was given a map with the times of the different groups in the different zones - and clearly it was impossible to hear and see everything, but it was a wonderful statement of the wide cultural diversity and talent in the Cincinnati area, and a great reach out to the largely African American community which surrounds Music Hall. I was so impressed at the imagination, planning and implementation of this event, and so thankful for them, that it was such a beautiful evening. I have included an extra of the Korean American chorale - they looked so beautiful and colourful in their native dress!