CSO Look Around is “a musical experience for you to explore” which inspired us to see each other and our world through music. This new event kicked off the CSO's 125th anniversary season by transforming Ziegler and Washington Parks into a musical celebration of our city. More than 600 local artists from 20+ local ensembles participated in this event, which was co-curated by Shara Nova, Mark DeChiazza, Siri Imani, the CSO and YOU.

The title “Look Around” was inspired by Siri Imani’s poem, “Lost Generation.” Siri is a local hip-hop artist, activist and poet, and her poem also inspired the piece for full orchestra that Shara Nova has composed especially for this event.

“I need you to care not about yourself or obtaining your wealth /
I need you to look around.”

Shara Nova wrote nearly all of the music for this event based on stories she heard from talking and working with artists from our community. 

When the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra reaches its 125th birthday in 2020, we will be one of only five orchestras in the country to have achieved this milestone. We are kicking off our 2019-2020 season by bringing the community together to celebrate with an event for and by the community.

The event took place at 7 pm on Saturday, August 3, 2019, simultaneously in Ziegler Park and Washington Park. 

Composer and co-creator Shara Nova wrote nearly all of the music you will hear at CSO Look Around—more than three hours of music for the CSO and nine choirs. Nova composed the music based on the stories she heard in interviews with local residents and artists. The words of Siri Imani's poem Lost Generation were also set to music by Nova. Hear something you like? See our Song Finder.

Composer Nathan Thatcher wrote the music the CSO premiered at 8:27 pm on the Blue Zone stage. The event also featured traditional music from Indian and Korean cultures. 

Use our Artist Finder tool to find out when/where specific artists and ensembles performed.

You are encouraged to post photos from CSO Look Around on social media with the hash tags #csolookaround and #lookaroundcincy. Please also feel free to tag Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on Facebook and @cincysymphony on Instagram. 

We'd love to hear about your experiences at CSO Look Around! Take our brief survey.

If you prefer to talk with a staff member, please call the CSO Box Office at 513.381.3300 or email us at [email protected] 

“I have grown to so deeply, deeply love this city,” says [Shara] Nova, a singer-songwriter-instrumentalist who leads the band My Brightest Diamond. “What continues to astound me is the richness and the musicality of this place. It really is unprecedented. From the smallest venues to the biggest ones, Cincinnati is enormously culturally rich.”

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"With a title inspired by a poem from co-curator, activist and Triiibe member Siri Imani, the event begins with a musical procession from Ziegler Park to Washington Park featuring the likes of Pones Inc., Napoleon Maddox and the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus." 

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"For 125 years, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has been a staple in our community. We talk with two artists who are helping the CSO celebrate this milestone with a very special musical celebration event." 

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"The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is launching its 125th anniversary season with a flash mob of performances. CSO Look Around is an immersive experience of music with more than 600 artists from 20 local ensembles performing in Cincinnati's Washington Park and Ziegler Park."

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Kathrine Nero interviews Shara Nova and Mark DeChiazza in a preview of CSO Look Around. 

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"The CSO look around takes over Washington Park Saturday evening." WLWT's Randi Rico interviews CSO Look Around Co-Creators Siri Imani, Shara Nova and Mark DeChiazza. 

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"'CSO Look Around,' which kicks off the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's 125th anniversary, will be an experience like no other."

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"CSO Look Around showcases 600 artists and 20 local ensembles"

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WLWT interviews Look Around Co-Creators Shara Nova, Siri Imani and Mark DeChiazza. 

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