Greetings from the Board Chair and Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Christy Horan and Steven Sunderman

After two years of limited engagements, we are overjoyed to be able to say: Welcome to May Festival 2022 with full chorus, full orchestra and a full house!

The May Festival exists to engage, energize and connect our community with the highest quality performances of great choral music. In 2021, our efforts to fulfill this mission were recognized by BBC Music Magazine proclaiming the May Festival as, “One of the Best Classical Music Festivals in the USA and Canada.” And this year’s Festival will be no different, as we come together in full force to celebrate the magic of music that reunites and brings us joy.

Our core artistic assets are the May Festival Chorus and the May Festival Youth Chorus, and we are thankful to our chorus members, who have remained committed to singing—and singing together—through the past two years in the face of significant challenges. Each chorus has much to celebrate this year. The May Festival Chorus welcomed 30 new members, a record number of new singers, and the May Festival Youth Chorus turns 35 this season! Without the dedication, energy and incredible musicianship of our chorus membership, none of what we do would be possible. In this issue, David Lyman takes us behind the stage for a glimpse into the experience of a May Festival Chorus member (pp. 16–17) and David Lewellen’s story examines the past, present and future of the May Festival Youth Chorus (pp. 14–15).

We are equally fortunate in our artistic leadership, who superbly prepare the choruses and orchestra for each performance. Juanjo Mena, Principal Conductor, returns with guest conductors John Adams and Katharina Wincor for this season. In his 33rd year with the May Festival, Director of Choruses Robert Porco leads Chorus rehearsal each week, and Matthew Swanson, Director of the May Festival Youth Chorus brings together and guides some of the most talented young singers in the region. Both led a sold-out Basilica concert in April.

Hannah Edgar’s article, “Finally, a May Festival in Full Bloom,” dives into the stories behind May Festival 2022. Edgar speaks with Jessie Montgomery about I Have Something to Say, which is a May Festival co-commission and premiere; uncovers the story of El Niño with composer John Adams; and addresses the idea of freedom with Juanjo Mena (pp. 6–13).

The May Festival takes a village. From the Chorus, Orchestra, artistic leadership, crew, staff and soloists to you—our audience, sponsors and donors—all play an integral role in this beloved Festival. We are deeply grateful for each of you and thank you for attending and supporting the May Festival.

Looking ahead to May 2023, the May Festival celebrates its 150th anniversary, and we are gearing up to discover the voice in everything! Details of the Festival will be announced very, very soon, but you don’t have to wait until then to hear the Chorus. We kick off our 150th anniversary season with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in Gustav Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony in September 2022, and throughout the season, the Chorus will also sing Gustav Holst’s The Planets and Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt with the CSO and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with Cincinnati Ballet.

It’s a joy to present choral music in this annual tradition. Enjoy this year’s May Festival, and see you next year!

Christy Horan, Chair, Board of Directors
Steven Sunderman, Executive Director