CINCINNATI MAY FESTIVAL DIRECTOR AND FIVE-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER RENÉE FLEMING TO HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS

CINCINNATI, OH (April 22, 2025)—The Cincinnati May Festival announced that Festival Director Renée Fleming will host two additional events next month, as part of the 2025 May Festival. A 2013 National Medal of Arts recipient, five-time Grammy Award winner and second-ever Festival Director for the May Festival, Renée Fleming will host two rare learning opportunities open to the public: a panel discussion called Music and Mind: Conversation with Renée Fleming on May 20 as well as a special masterclass for young professional singers and pianists on May 21. The community is encouraged to attend both unique experiences. 

As Festival Director, an annual position designed to infuse the May Festival with artistic innovation and exciting new collaborations, Fleming brings her passion and advocacy for research at the intersection of arts, health and neuroscience in addition to her consummate artistry as a performer. She has led the groundbreaking Sound Health initiative, a collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and the National Endowment for the Arts, bringing together neuroscientists, music therapists and arts practitioners to explore the impact of the arts on mental and physical well-being.  

Inspired by this work, Fleming created Music and the Mind, a presentation and discussion which delve into topics such as music therapy and cognitive neuroscience. Since 2017, Fleming has presented to over 60 cities globally, earning the Research!America Rosenfeld Award for her contributions to the public understanding of these vital connections. She brings the panel discussion to Cincinnati on May 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Ballroom at Music Hall, joined by founder Stacy Sims (The Well), researcher Betsey Nuseibeh (UC Osher Center for Integrative Health), early childhood music specialist Donna Dirksing Doran (The Summit Country Day School), and clinical psychologist Sian Cotton (University of Cincinnati College of Medicine). 

In addition, Fleming will hold a special masterclass for select young professional singer and pianists on May 21 at 5 p.m. at Memorial Hall. Presented in collaboration with the Cincinnati Song Initiative, the masterclass will give participants the chance to learn from the artistry and expertise of Renée Fleming, one of the world's most celebrated singers, as she shares her insights on vocal technique, performance and interpretation. This opportunity, open to the public, provides an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the discipline and artistry required to succeed in the classical music world.  

TICKETS 

Music and Mind: Conversation with Renée Fleming will take place at Music Hall on May 20 at 5:30 p.m. The masterclass is scheduled for May 21 at 5 p.m. at Memorial Hall. Tickets for both unique opportunities can be purchased online. A full list of the May Festival events can also be found online. 

BIOGRAPHIES: Renée Fleming, May Festival