in a Festival experience powered by the beauty of hundreds of voices MAY 1 5 -23 !
Julia Bullock 2026 Festival Director
WELCOME TO THE 2026 MAY FESTIVAL
It is with gratitude that I welcome you to the 2026 May Festival. This year, we come together to celebrate the rich history of Cincinnati and the legacy of this extraordinary festival — one of the oldest choral traditions in the country. As we honor the past, we also look forward and evolve the tradition by capturing the ethos of collaboration and community that are central to the Festival.
The May Festival has long been a place to celebrate a vast range of choral and orchestra repertoire and this year we will continue that tradition while embracing the music of composers and performers who were, for years, excluded from contributing their voices to the world’s stages. We will also shine a bright light on the vibrancy of the local arts scene. These themes are not only essential to the cultural fabric of this city, but they also reflect my curatorial approach: to foster dialogue across arts practices, and to create space for reflection, joy and embodied musical expression!
Music has the power to reveal and to connect — it can also be healing, if intentions are clearly set. Through this Festival, we hope to share the resonance of our collective history, the urgency of the present, and the promise of a future that recognizes, represents and respects us all.
I so look forward to finding our voices as we come together to experience the inspiration, power and beauty of the music that connects us!
Julia Bullock 2026 Festival Director
“Our Festival Director Julia Bullock’s boundless creativity, artistry and curiosity have shaped a truly inspiring Festival and I can’t wait for the entire Cincinnati community to experience her fresh perspective, building on the rich traditions of the May Festival.”
Matthew Swanson Director of Choruses
WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING
“Every year we leave the May Festival and say ‘I think this year may have been the best one yet.’ Keeps getting better!"
“From the pre-concert entertainment, to the talk in Corbett Tower, to the performance itself, it was all amazing. A wonderful night out!”
“This will remain at the top of my own musical experiences for life. Bravissimo, Cincinnati!”
“I am so excited that the May Festival has a di erent Festival Director each year to keep things fresh, new and exciting!"
PRE-CONCERT
AN ECLECTIC OPENING NIGHT
FRI MAY 15 7:30 PM | MUSIC HALL
Cristian M ˘ acelaru conductor
Julia Bullock soprano
Jason Alexander Holmes preacher
Carlos Simon hammond organ
May Festival Chorus
Matthew Swanson director
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Join us for an unforgettable opening night of the May Festival!
Bruckner’s Psalm 150 sets the tone with a fanfare of voices, then anchored by the words of Langston Hughes and fellow Harlem Renaissance poets, the evening traverses spiritual depths, culminating in a work of the May Festival’s own design — the “Eclectic Mass” — a collection of pieces from the sacred music tradition, including a vibrant new Sanctus from Grammy-nominated composer, Carlos Simon. Combined, this concert is a powerful celebration of music from across centuries and genres, reflecting the Festival’s storied past while boldly stepping into its future.
OPENING NIGHT PARTY
DETAILS TO COME!
Poème d’Automne from Songs of the Season
Winter Moon from Songs of the Season April Rain
ECLECTIC MASS
Selections from:
Carlos Simon Good News Mass and Sanctus
Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina Missa Assumpta est Maria
Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata No. 191
Margaret Bonds Credo
George Frideric Handel arr. Mounsey “Soulful Hallelujah”
Cristian M ˘ acelaru
Carlos Simon
Jason Alexander Holmes
Julia Bullock
THE WATER’S JOURNEY
SAT MAY 16 7:30 PM | MUSIC HALL
Cristian M ˘ acelaru conductor
May Festival Chorus
Matthew Swanson director
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Explore the elemental power of water through two bold visions. Duke Ellington’s jazz-infused The River flows with elegance and swing, portraying the river’s journey from tranquil beginnings to its powerful arrival at the sea. Its momentum leads into Ralph Vaughan Williams’ monumental A Sea Symphony, which sets the poetry of Walt Whitman in a choral celebration of the ocean’s mystery and majesty — part hymn, part voyage into the unknown. Together, these works invite us to listen deeply — to the pull of tide and current, and to the human longing for connection and discovery.
Duke Ellington The River
Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 1, A Sea Symphony
Cristian M ˘ acelaru
ON LOVE AND LUST
THUR MAY 21 7:30 PM | MUSIC
HALL
Matthew Swanson conductor
Victoria Okafor soprano
Sara Couden contralto
Nicholas Phan tenor
Yannis François bass-baritone
May Festival Chorus
Matthew Swanson director
Members of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company
Yoshihisa Arai choreographer
Raw, rhythmic and electrifying — featuring dancers from Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company, this one-in-a-lifetime concert experience fuses music and movement in a visceral exploration of lust, ritual and desire. Stravinsky’s Les noces pulses with primal energy as it reimagines a Russian village wedding through driving percussion, voices and riveting choreography by Yoshihisa Arai. Or ’s Carmina, drawn from the ancient poetry of Catullus, blazes with sensuality and irony, turning themes of passion and heartbreak into a bold, theatrical spectacle.
Igor Stravinsky Les noces (“The Wedding”)
Carl Orff Catulli Carmina (“Songs of Catullus”)
This program contains adult themes and language which may not be appropriate for all audiences. Audience discretion is advised.
Matthew Swanson
Cincinnati Ballet's Second Company
PORGY AND BESS FESTIVAL FINALE
SAT MAY
23
7:30 PM | MUSIC HALL
Anthony Parnther conductor
Julia Bullock soprano
Alfred Walker bass-baritone
May Festival Chorus
Matthew Swanson director
May Festival Youth Chorus
Jason Alexander Holmes director
Classical Roots Community Choir
Jason Alexander Holmes resident conductor
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
In a finale that reimagines and uplifts iconic American music, 2026 Festival Director Julia Bullock takes center stage as Bess in her own deeply personal and poignant curation of Gershwin's legendary opera, Porgy and Bess. William Grant Still’s Plain-Chant for America issues a stirring call for unity and resilience, while Stephen Paulus’s Prayers & Remembrances seeks to impart hope and healing, before a celebratory finale of Bernstein’s radiant “Make Our Garden Grow” from Candide. Finally, we close the 2026 Festival with what has become a beloved May Festival tradition, singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” together as one.
The Gershwins’® Selections from Porgy and Bess® by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward and Ira Gershwin
William Grant Still Plain-Chant for America
Stephen Paulus Selections from Prayers & Remembrances
Leonard Bernstein “Make our Garden Grow” from Candide George Frideric Handel “Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah
Porgy and Bess is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com
Anthony Parnther
Alfred Walker
The May Festival celebrates
music inspired by the one instrument that connects us all – the human voice.
The lineup this year includes so many more opportunities to celebrate and build your own personal Festival itinerary! Stay tuned for the reveal of these exciting o erings to enhance your Festival experience:
Julia Bullock in Recital: “A Dream Deferred”
In an intimate setting, Julia Bullock and friends perform works inspired by texts of Langston Hughes.
Vocal Arts Ensemble: Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle
In collaboration with VAE & new VAE Music Director Joe Miller, experience the mastery of this entertaining cultural treasure.
Pre-Concert Talks
Join Associate Director Jason Alexander Holmes along with his guest speakers for enriching, inviting and inspiring stories behind the music.
Pre-Concert Performances
Before each concert at Music Hall, arrive early to sample everything from atmospheric amuse-bouches highlighting our talented community choir partners, to a full feature of the May Festival Youth Chorus with the Cincinnati Boychoir.
Opening Night Party
Stay tuned for details and prepare for a magical soirée to toast the opening of the Festival with true flair and fanfare!
The Betsy Young Amen Party
A beloved May Festival tradition, celebrate in splendid fashion with artistic leaders, vocalists, soloists, musicians and Festival Director Julia Bullock!
Young People’s Concert
With a passion to share music with the next generation, Festival Director Julia Bullock pairs her devotion with the forces of the May Festival education team to present an immersive vocal concert in Music Hall –filled with students of Cincinnati Public Schools. While not open to the public, a portion of Festival Pass sales go to support this important initiative.
NEW THIS YEAR FESTIVAL PASS!
The easiest way to experience all the inspiration the May Festival has to o er is to purchase a Festival Pass!
A Festival Pass guarantees you access to all public events, the added benefits below:
First access and discounts to exclusive artist socials, parties and bonus events
FREE invitation to the Betsy Young Amen Party
20% savings on all four Festival performances at Music Hall
Access to the best seats before individual tickets go on sale
• Option to purchase guaranteed, pre-paid parking in the Washington Park Garage
• $5 o additional tickets for friends and family
• Discounts and specials at OTR restaurants and bars
Pass prices include a 3.5% facility fee for the ongoing maintenance of historic Music Hall.
Interested in just 2 or 3 concerts?
Festival Flex Passes can be purchased online! Pricing will vary based on selections.
Order your Festival Pass by DEC 4 before prices increase!
