Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble Announces 2026–2027 Season
CINCINNATI, OH (September 10, 2026)—Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble (VAE) has announced its 2026–2027 season, which marks Music Director Joe Miller’s second season leading the ensemble. Building on VAE’s commitment to bring exceptional choral artistry to Cincinnati, this season will feature innovative concerts that connect the community through song. The season opens with a program that weaves three centuries of music together exploring the pursuit of kindness through a meditative journey. Then, Miller leads VAE through a multisensory holiday tradition, “A Candlelit Christmas with VAE,” featuring the historic Cincinnati Verdin Bell. The season concludes with a performance featuring a commission by Cincinnati composer Ben Owen that showcases the power of text and music with a special connection to Cincinnati’s own Rhinegeist Brewery.
On Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10 at The Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel at the Summit Country Day School Miller leads VAE through their first performance “The Deer’s Cry: A Meditative Journey.” Surrounded by candlelight, the Ensemble blends music from the 16th, 17th and 21st centuries built on the themes of kindness and meditation. Arvo Pärt’s The Deer’s Cry and The Woman with the Alabaster Box are juxtaposed with Josquin’s Missa Pange Lingua and movements of Schütz’s iconic St. Matthew Passion for a performance that will lead the audience through a contemplative journey. The concert also features award-winning Cincinnati and Mercantile Library poet laureate emerita Yalie Saweda Kamara, reading Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye.
This December, Miller and VAE present “A Candlelit Christmas with VAE” at Christ Church Cathedral. Expanding access to the annual holiday favorite, VAE will perform three concerts this year, with one concert on Friday, December 18 and two concerts on Saturday, December 19. Using the entire Cathedral, VAE welcomes guest ensembles and soloists throughout the performance, including the Cincinnati Boychoir and organist Michael Unger. The performances feature works that showcase voices combined with brass fanfare and the powerful and symbolic Cincinnati Verdin Bell, which will be highlighted for the second year.
On Friday, February 19, VAE performs at Rhinegeist Brewery for “Liedertafel: Prose & Prost with VAE.” The performance showcases the power of text and music through VAE’s local connection to Cincinnati by featuring a series of pieces based on poetry used for Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist Brewery commissioned by VAE and written by Cincinnati native Ben Owens. The voices of the Ensemble take the audience on a historical journey of Cincinnati through music.
New this year, tickets to A Candlelit Christmas with VAE and Liedertafel: Prose & Prost with VAE will be on sale with the All-Access 2027 May Festival Season Pass in October. Tickets for Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble’s first performance, The Deer’s Cry: A Meditative Journey, can now be purchased online or by calling 513.381.3300. Buy your tickets to VAE's October concert to unlock discounted tickets to remaining VAE performances and be first to purchase the new All-Access May Festival Season Pass. For more information, visit VAE’s website.
VOCAL ARTS ENSEMBLE
Founded in 1979, the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati (VAE) is Greater Cincinnati’s premier professional vocal ensemble, committed to the presentation of innovative choral works and the development of modern chamber music that raises and nurtures the public’s appreciation of the choral arts. Earning a reputation for artistic excellence, VAE presents rich, passionate performances of a broad variety of choral works with precision and unparalleled virtuosity. VAE’s recent album recording of Kile Smith’s Canticle, conducted by Craig Hella Johnson, helped to propel Blanton Alspaugh’s Grammy nomination and win for Producer of the Year in 2020.
Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble gratefully acknowledges annual support from:
The John C. Griswold Foundation
Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation
Music Director Joe Miller, Sponsored by John & Susan Tew in honor of Susan Tew
The Vocal Arts Ensemble 2026-2027 Season follows:
The Deer’s Cry: A Meditative Journey
Friday, October 9, 2026 | 8 PM
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 8 PM
Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel at The Summit Country Date School
Joe Miller conductor
Yalie Saweda Kamara poet
Specializing in atmospheric concert design, the first performance of the year is built entirely on themes of meditation and kindness. Set in an intimate chapel, surrounded by candlelight and wrapped in shades of dusk, the stunning voices of VAE combine with meditative texts and poems to lead you through a contemplative journey.
A Candlelit Christmas with VAE
Friday, December 18, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 19, 2026 | 2 PM & 7:30 PM
Christ Church Cathedral
Joe Miller conductor
Step out of the holiday frenzy and into the true sounds of the season with Joe Miller’s beautifully curated Christmas concerts. Each song and carol is selected to showcase the extraordinary talents of VAE’s professional singers while filling your soul with much-needed joy. This year, special guests include organist Michael Unger and the youthful voices of the Cincinnati Boychoir, creating the perfect family tradition for years to come.
Liedertafel: Prose & Prost with VAE
Friday, February 19, 2027 | 7:30 PM
Rhinegeist Brewery
Joe Miller conductor
Don’t miss this unique celebration of brewing and singing culture, deep at the heart of Cincinnati’s history. For the first time, experience Rhinegeist beer and the poetry behind the prost brought to life through the talented voices of Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble. VAE teams up with local composer Ben Owen to write new music on poetry and texts inspired by the legacy of Cincinnati’s historic Rhinegeist Brewery. Stay tuned for more on this unique concert and beer experience.
VAE at the 2027 May Festival: Reveal Coming Soon!
All programs, artists, and dates are subject to change.
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