James Conlon has captivated May Festival audiences with his artistic leadership for more Festivals than any other Music Director in our 136-year history.

James Levine, music director.  Soloists:  John Alexander, Kathleen Battle, John Cheek, Philip Creech, Justino Diaz, Mignon Dunn, Jerome Hines, Leona Mitchell, Vern Shinall, pianist; James Levine, pianist; Thomas Peck, director of choruses; James Conlon, guest conductor.

James Conlon, music director. Soloists:John Aler, Kathleen Battle, Mary Burgess, Jan DeGaetani, Hakan Hagegard, Tom Krause, Douglas Lawrence, Shirley Love, Johanna Meier, Benita Valente, Beverly Wolff. John Leman, director of choruses; John Nelson, guest conductor.

Festival cantata, Rejoice in the Lamb;
"Nicholas Devotes Himself to God" from St. Nicholas

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists:  Brad Adrien, John Aler, John Cheek, Nadine Denize, Justino Diaz, Marilyn Horne, David Marshman, Florence Quivar, Neil Schicoff, John Shirley-Quirk, Benita Valente, Teresa Zylis-Gara.  Robert Schaffer, organist; John Leman, director of choruses; James Levine, guest conductor.  Festival included a lecture by John Ciardi on Dante's Divine Comedy.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists:  John Aler, Martina Arroyo, Carlo Bini, Vinson Cole, Justino Diaz, Brent Ellis, Tom Fox, Demitri Kavrakos, Cornell MacNeil, Seth McCoy, Roger Miller, Diana Montague, Karin Pendle, Florence Quivar, John Shirley-Quirk, Tatiana Troyanos, Benita Valente, Mira Zakai. John Leman, director of chourses; Andrew Davis, guest conductor. Festival included a lecture by James Conlon on Simon Boccanegra.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists:  Brad Adrien, John Aler, Martina Arroyo, Mary Burgess, Claudine Carlson, Richard Cassilly, Vinson Cole, Mignon Dunn, Ryan Edwards, Tom Fox, Tom Krause, Benjamin Luxon, Natalie Rom, John Shirley-Quirk, Benita Valente. John Leman, director of choruses; Klaus Tennstedt, guest conductor. Festival included a lecture by Robert Arner on The Bells.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: John Alexander, Phyllis Brun-Julson, Michael Burt, Brent Ellis, Tom Fox, Jon Humphrey, Elizabeth Mannion, Slylvia McNair, Daisy Neman, Paul Plishka, Florence Quivar, Curtis Rayman, Richard Stilwell, David Thomas, Benita Valente. John Leman, director of choruses; Robert Shaw, guest conductor.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists:  John Aler, Martina Arroyo, Kathleen Battle, Mary Burgess, Mignon Dunn, David Hagar, Dimitri Kavrakos, Tom Krause, Cornell MacNeil, Thom Mariner, James McCracken, Roger Miller, Karin Pendle, Forence Quivar, Natalia Rom, Michael van Engen. John Leman, director of choruses; Max Rudolf, music director emeritus, guest conductor; Maxim Shostakovich, Klaus Tennstedt, guest conductors.

James Conlon, music director. Soloists: John Aler, David Arnold, Diane Curry, Jan DeGaitani, Justino Diaz, Lorna Haywood, Sergei Koptchak, Gary Lakes, Randolph Locke, Marvis Martin, Seth McCoy, James McCracken, Roger Miller, John Shirley-Quirk, Klara Takacs, Benita Valente, Michael van Engen. John Leman, director of choruses.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: John Aler, Roberta Alexander, Claudine Carlson, Diane Curry, Susan Dunn, Brent Ellis, Lorna Haywood, Linda Kelm, Artur Korn, Gary Lakes, Peter Lindroos, Marvis Martin, James Morris, Karin Pendle, Florence Quivar, John Shirley-Quirk, David Small, Benita Valente, Jon Fredric West. John Leman, director of choruses. Michael Tilson Thomas, guest conductor.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: Howard Bender, Vinson Cole, Diane Curry, Susan Dunn, Jon Garrison, Alfreda Hodgson, Henry Kiichli, Benjamin Luxon, Cornell MacNeil, James McCracken, Faye Robinson, James Schwisow, David Small, Benita Valente. John Leman, director of choruses; Andrew Davis, guest conductor.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: Luctrician Booth, Paolo Coni, Justino Diaz, Herbert Eckhoff, Colenton Freeman, Jose Garcia, Ben Hold, Isola Jones, Catherine Keen, Alessandra Marc, Marvis Martin, Silvia Mosca, Michael Myers, Daisy Newman, Dennis O’Neill, Herbert Perry, Paul Plishka, Florence Quivar, Alburtt Rhodes, Arthur Woodley, Dolora Zajic. John Leman, director of choruses; Gunther Schuller, guest conductor.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: John Aler, John Brandstetter, John Cheek, Philip Cokorinos, Diane Curry, Susan Dunn, Ben Heppner, Peter Kazaras, Catherine Keen, Gary Lakes, Thomas Paul, Vladimir Popov, Natalia Rom, Marietta Simpson, Benita Valente, Dolora Zajick. John W. Williams, director of choruses; Robert Shaw, guest conductor.

James Conlon, music director. Soloists: Gary Bachlund, William Burden, Philip Creech, Vernon Hartman, Carolyn James, Gary Lakes, Kevin Langan, Alexandrina Milcheva, Timothy Noble, Jeanne Ommerle, Paul Plishka, Patricia Schuman, Christine Seitz, Benita Valente, Blythe Walker, Max Wittges; David Golub, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: John Aler, Karl Dent, Jon Garrison, Gordon Hawkins, Rosa Lamoreaux, Marvis Martin, Susanne Mentzer, Thomas Paul, Benita Valente, Andrew Wentzel. Robert Porco, director of choruses; Kenneth Jean, guest conductor; Robert Shaw, guest conductor; Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, guest choir.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: Kathleen Battle, Jane Bunnell, John Cheek, Dwayne Croft, Richard Croft, Michael Myers, E.G. Marshall, Nancy Maultsby. Robert Porco, director of choruses.

James Conlon, music director. Soloists: John Aler, Susanna Anselmi, Deng, Susan Dunn, Dimitri Kavrakos, Marvis Martin, Timothy Noble, William Stone, Deborah Voigt, Dolora Zajick; David Golub, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses; Thomas Merrill, youth chorus director; Robert Shaw, guest conductor; guest choirs: Vocal Arts Ensemble, CCM Children’s Choir, Indianapolis Symphonic Choir.

James Conlon, music director. Soloists: Barbara Daniels, Deng, Jerry Hadley, Catherine Keen, Richard Margison, Kevin McMillan, Timothy Noble, Roberta Peters, Paul Plishka, Florence Quivar, Jennifer Ringo, Benita Valente, Scot Weir, Margaret Jane Wray; Thomas Muraco, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses; Thomas Merrill, youth chorus director; guest choirs: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chamber Choir, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chorale, Cincinnati Boychoir.

Excerpts from Candide; Chichester Psalms; "Maria" from West Side Story

James Conlon, music director. Soloists: John Aler, John Cheek, John Daniecki, Paul Groves, Charlotte Hellekant, Bridgett Hooks, Ying Huang, James Michael McGuire, Mack C. Miles, Timothy Noble, Jennifer Ringo, Valerie Saalbach, Marietta Simpson; Thomas Muraco, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses; Thomas G. Merrill, youth chorus director; guest choirs: CCM Children’s Choir, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chamber Choir, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chorale, Cincinnati Boychoir.

James Conlon, music director. Soloists: Charles Austin, John Cheek, Bridgett Hooks, Ying Huang, Donald Kaasch, Gary Lakes, Victoria Livengood, Marvis Martin, Robert McFarland, Craig Phillips, Steven Tharp; Thomas Muraco, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses, Thomas G. Merrill, youth chorus director; guest choirs: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chamber Choir, CCM Chorale, Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Vocal Arts Ensemble, CCM Children’s Choir.

Aria and Chorus from Don Pasquale

James Conlon, music director. Soloists: Thomas Baresel, Teresa Buchholz, Janice Chandler, John Cheek, Deng, Haijing Fu, David Gordon, Nathan Gunn, Ying Huang, Phyllis Pancella, Florence Quivar, Jennifer Ringo; Heather MacPhail, pianist; Thomas Muraco, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; guest choirs: Cincinnati Boychoir, VocalPoint.

Canticle of Freedom

James Conlon, music director. Soloists: John Aler, Brian Banion, Kathleen Battle, John Cheek, Matthew DiPattista, Ruth Falcon, Richard Margison, Jessye Norman, Stanford Olsen, Paula Rasmussen, Robynne Redmon, Jennifer Ringo, Youngok Shin, William Stone; Thomas Muraco, pianist.  Robert Porco, director of choruses;  James Bagwell, youth chorus director; Cincinnati Boychoir, guest choir.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: John Aler, Thomas Baresel, John Cheek, Paula Delligatti, Jonathan Eaton, Ruth Falcon, Dominique Labelle, Victor Ledbetter, Suzanne Lommler, Keith Olsen, Florence Quivar, Benita Valente; Thomas Muraco, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; guest choirs: Cincinnati Boychoir; CCM Children’s Choir.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: Jane Adler, John Aler, John Cheek, James Danner, Richard Paul Fink, Bridgett Hooks, Kristine Jepson, Sumi Jo, Donald Kaasch, Catherine Keen, William McGraw, Makiko Narumi, Florence Quivar, Steven Richards, Valerie Saalbach, Thomas Stewart, Sharon Sweet, Jon Fredric West; Thomas Muraco, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; guest choruses: Concert Chorus of the City of Düsseldorf, Children’s Choir of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Boychoir.

The Creation

James Conlon, music director. Soloists: Donnie Ray Albert, John Aler, John Cheek, Pamela Coburn, Theodora Hanslowe, Stanford Olsen, Florence Quivar, Paula Rasmussen, Jennifer Ringo, Kristinn Sigmundsson; Thomas Muraco, pianist; Edward Stern, stage director; D. Lynn Meyers, stage director; Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; Children’s Choir of Greater Cincinnati, guest choir.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists:  Donnie Ray Albert, John Aler, Andrew Barnhart, Pamela Coburn, Clifton Davis, Richard Paul Fink, Calvin Harper, Cynthia Haymon, Bridgett Hooks, Kristine Jepson, Gary Lakes, Maureen O’Flynn, Florence Quivar, Desirée Rancatore, Jame Bernstein Thomas, Mark Whatley, Raven Young, Thomas Young, Lawrence Zazzo; Michael Chertock, pianist; Claude Frank, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; guest choirs: Central State University Chorus, Cincinnati Children’s Choir.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists:  Donnie Ray Albert, John Aler, Gustav Andreassen, Teresa Buchholz, John Cheek, Marianne Cornetti, Kallen Esperian, Liza Forrester, Cynthia Haymon, Kristine Jepson, Katie Johnson, Frank Lopardo, William McGraw, James Morris, Sheila Nadler, Jennifer Ringo, Stacey Rishoi, Marietta Simpson, Jeffrey Thompson; Michael Chertock, pianist. Edward Stern, stage director; Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; guest choirs: Cincinnati Boychoir, Cincinnati Children’s Choir, School for the Creative and Performing Arts Choruses; guest ensembles: Starling Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, Walnut Hills High School Percussion Ensemble, Canticle Bells from Crestview Presbyterian Church.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists:  Donnie Ray Albert, John Aler, Christine Brewer, John Cheek, Vinson Cole, Clifton Forbis, Jill Grove, Cynthia Haymon, Bridgett Hooks, Jyrki Korhonen, Gary Lakes, Nancy Maultsby, James Morris, Heidi Grant Murphy, Jennifer Ringo, Stacey Rishoi, Deborah Voigt; Michael Chertock, pianist. Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; guest choirs: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chamber Choir, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chorale, Cincinnati Boychoir, Cincinnati Children’s Choir, Vocal Arts Ensemble.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: John Aler, Lioba Braun, John Cheek, Rodrick Dixon, Eric Halfvarson, Cynthia Haymon, Ben Heppner, Segei Koptchak, William McGraw, Elena O’Connor, Tatiana Pavlovskaya, Matthew Polenzani, Marietta Simpson Deborah Voigt; Cliff Jackson and Michael Chertock, pianists.  Guest conductor: James Levine. Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; guest choirs: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chamber Choir, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chorale.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists:  Donnie Ray Albert, John Aler, Norah Amellem, Janice Chandler-Eteme, Rodrick Dixon, Mary Dunleavy, Matthew Garrett, Cynthia Haymon, Matthias Klink, Lester Lynch, Amanda Pabyan, Phyllis Pancella, Morris Robinson, Valerie Saalbach, Michael York; Michael Chertock, pianists. Guest conductor: James Levine. Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; guest choirs: The Brazeal Dennard Chorale, Cincinnati Children’s Choir.

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists:  Donnie Ray Albert, John Aler, Marianne Cornetti, Ellie Dehn, Michelle DeYoung, Rodrick Dixon, Franco Farina, Michele Losier, William McGraw, Brian Mulligan, David Pittsinger, Sondra Radvanovsky, Morris Robinson, Anthony Zoeller; Michael Chertock, pianists. Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director.

Symphony No. 9

James Conlon, music director.  Soloists: Donnie Ray Albert, John Aler, Angela Brown, Marco Caria, Ellie Dehn, Rocrick Dixon, Catherine Keen, Isabel Leonard, Salvatore Licitra, William McGraw, Carrie-Ann Matheson, Julie Ann Miller, Earle Patriarco, Morris Robinson, Maghan Stewart, Darren Stokes, Yulia Van Doren, Yohan Yi; Michael Chertock, pianists. Robert Porco, director of choruses; James Bagwell, youth chorus director; guest choir: Cincinnati Children’s Choir.

Hallelujah from Christ on the Mount of Olives