Artists


2017 ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE
SCROLL FOR FULL 2017 FESTIVAL LINEUP
KANEZA SCHAAL // JACK&JILL
Kaneza Schaal is a New York City based artist. She came up in the downtown experimental theater community, first working with The Wooster Group, then with other companies and artists including Elevator Repair Service, Richard Maxwell/New York City Players, Dean Moss, Claude Wampler, Jay Scheib, Jim Findlay, New York City Opera, and National Public Radio. This work brought her to over 18 countries and venues including Centre Pompidou, Royal Lyceum Theater Edinburgh, REDCAT, The Whitney Museum, BAM, The Kitchen, St. Ann’s Warehouse, and MoMA.
Schaal received a 2016 Creative Capital Award to develop her next work, JACK&JILL. Schaal was an Artist-in-Residence at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, and received a 2014 Princess Grace Award grant, LMCC Process Space residency, Bogliasco Fellowship, Nathan Cummings Foundation grant, Foundation for Contemporary Art Emergency Grant, and Princess Grace George C. Wolfe Award. She was a member of Kara Walker’s 6-8 Months Space and her video work appeared in Visionaire.
JACK&JILL is a comedy of errors structured on social codes and trainings from prison re-entry programs to debutante balls. The performance considers the metric-less damages of being in prison; not the time one has served but the measure of one’s dreaming that is given to the state. Aspirational class stories found in 1950’s sitcoms like the Honeymooners and Amos and Andy intersect with real and imagined entering-society ceremonies like debutante balls. Directed by Kaneza Schaal and starring Cornell Alston, the artists explore markers of transition and transformation, and the liminal ritual spaces that bridge worlds. MYCincinnati musicians will collaborate with Schaal to present an in-progress performance. The complete work will be premiered at the Contemporary Arts Center during the 2017-18 Black Box Performance Series season.
http://www.kanezaschaal.com/

ELESE DANIEL // CALLER ID
Elese Daniel is a poet. She is a board member of Chase Public and currently the Writer in Residence at WordPlay Cincy. She often rides a bicycle, mostly to play bike polo. She has three poems forthcoming in soft magazine.
Caller ID is a poetic concert discussing identity, culture and communication through family relationships, inquiry and (re)discovery. Local poet Elese Daniel and MYCincinnati musicians will collaboratively weave through a poetic narrative and soundscape inviting us into their worlds and our own. Knowing more about ourselves and others can often start with hello.

INTERMEDIO // ZEITGEBER
Intermedio is a trio of interdisciplinary artists including Eric Blyth, Sam Ferris-Morris, and Justin West. Often taking on multiple roles as artists, architects, designers, musicians, and programmers, the members of Intermedio collaborate to design and realize immersive environments, performances and installations. Their work has been made for a wide range of events and venues, including museums, DIY spaces, festivals, residential installations, and Maker Faires. Rooting their practice in music composition, they often collaborate with ensembles and individuals to develop interdisciplinary performances which consider and expand the traditional concept of concert experiences.
A Zeitgeber is an environmental cue, such as light, which influences the timing of internal biological clocks that regulate all of the body’s functions. This piece juxtaposes biological time with machine time and explores what happens when they intersect.
Performed in a darkened room, each performer is paired with a free-standing light. The light’s purpose is twofold: to be a visual connection to the music and to react and communicate musical ideas across the ensemble. The light patterns are controlled both by the computer and by the performers generating the musical form through rules which utilize the light as a visual score. Suite-like in conception, different rules will delineate a set of pieces which generate totally new musical features with each performance. The result is an immersive audio and visual experience for both performers and audience.
http://www.intermedio.io
https://www.facebook.com/intermedioio/
https://twitter.com/Intermedio_io
https://vimeo.com/intermedioio
https://soundcloud.com/knee-play

SIRI IMANI // LOST GENERATION
Siri Imani is quickly emerging as one of the Midwest’s young, black voices. Her poetry is infused with hard truths, tough love and visions of a better tomorrow.
Never has an artist been more open and honest on the stage than Siri Imani. She weaves together song and poetry to tell powerful stories of love and liberation; state and personal violence; social/ environmental/racial and sexual justice; women’s empowerment and human transcendence.
She openly, poetically reflects on her life as a lesbian, black, inner city youth and former college athlete. Siri Imani is a boundary-breaking soul sister who has sharpened her art as a tool for popular education, community organizing and personal transcendence. She is a warrior woman writer not afraid to tell her personal truths and making biting social commentary on the world we live in.
Lost Generation will be a mixed genre production using spoken word poetry, visual art, dance, and music. A frank, melodic exploration into the lives, stereotypes, and realities of what so many called a “Lost Generation” (millennials and generations Y & Z). Featuring a youth collective of poets, lyricists, dancers, and musicians, all under the guidance of Siri, the performance will explore issues of mental health, fluidity in sexuality, spirituality, bullying, homelessness, acceptance, and personal transcendence.
https://www.facebook.com/siriimaniartistpage
https://www.facebook.com/blvckseeds
https://www.instagram.com/siri_imani
https://www.instagram.com/blvckseeds/

JORDANA GREENBERG //
MUSIC & CHANGING THE WORLD
Jordana Greenberg is a multi-genre musician who has performed on five continents as a violinist and singer. Dubbed "one of the finest lyricists in the Americana world" (No Surf Review), Jordana is also the primary songwriter and founder of the internationally touring chamber-folk trio Harpeth Rising. She studied with Miriam Fried at both Indiana University and New England Conservatory in Boston. Jordana once won first place in her age division at a really hilly 5k race in Bedford, Indiana. She loves dogs, cooking and crocheting. A resident of of Price Hill since November 2016, Jordana already loves Cincinnati a LOT.
Music and Changing the World: Protest Songs from the Folk, Blues and Spiritual Traditions, Volume 1 // Music has been the sustaining life-force of peoples throughout history, and protest songs have served as a reminder that whatever else is taken from us, our voices will find a way. This program strives to celebrate the music of several different cultures and social movements - songs that inspired action, soothed violence, facilitated discussion, and which continue to influence our lives and our approach to the current world. From condemnation of the government to the demand for freedom to the celebration of life, we examine what it means to stand up for an idea through the power of music.
www.facebook.com/harpethrising
www.harpethrising.com
COMPLETE SCHEDULE TBA
2017 FESTIVAL ARTISTS




MORE ARTISTS TBA
2016 ARTISTS-in-RESIDENCE
NAPOLEON MADDOX
SAT. JULY 30th // 7:15 - 8:00 PM @ WARSAW AVE FIREHOUSE
A "pillar of positivity" (CityBeat), Napoleon Maddox is a true Hip-hop ambassador. As a producer, human beatbox artist, vocalist, DJ and leader of a Hip-hop band called ISWHAT?!, Napoleon has created and performed music for cable and Public Television programs in the US and for The Arte network in Europe, North Africa and Middle East. He has worked with highly respected Hip-hop, Rock, Jazz and Classical musicians including Chuck D, DJ Spinna, DJ Logic, Archie Shepp, Vernon Reid and Les Paul. He has worked with the US Embassy and Departments of Cultural Affairs in England, France, Estonia, Serbia, Germany and Morocco.
www.napoleonmaddox.com
"Recent Sightings of Millie-Christine"
During the 4 week Artist-in-Residence program, MYCincinnati students explored the life stories of Napoleon's great-grand-aunts, Millie-Christine. Born into slavery in the state of North Carolina (1851) Millie-Christine lived to be known as the longest living conjoined twins. They passed away in 1912.
Pulling from those conversations poetry, narrative. and soundscape, the group formed a program of music and spoken word that brought the phenomenal conjoined twins from the 1850's into 2016. This project was also supported by Cincinnati CAC, Festival Banlieues Bleues - Paris, FR, LaRodia - Besançon, FR & The Kampala Biennial - Kampala, Uganda.
OFIR KLEMPERER
FRI. JULY 29th // 6:30 - 7:15 PM @ WARSAW AVE FIREHOUSE
Ofir Klemperer (b. Haifa, Israel) currently lives in Cincinnati OH and is a composer, improviser, singer/song writer, and producer. He received his B.Mus. and M.Mus. in Composition from the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague, The Netherlands. Leaning heavily on his Korg MS-20, Ofir writes melodic lines, and orchestrates classical instruments together with punk and electronics, applying pop oriented music into an experimental and noise approach. www.ofirklemperer.wordpress.com
"A Fresh New Millisecond of Comfortable Errors"
Ofir performed with MYCincinnati a series of ambient pieces arranged for a large ensemble of MYCincinnati musicians. The ensemble was divided to two groups: One group playing written material that had a distinct repetitive character, constructed from melodic and harmonic elements. The other group functioned as an improvising ensemble that communicated through hand signals and produced strange noises. Ofir performed with the ensemble both as the conductor and with his signature MS-20 analog synthesizer.
ISAAC KARNS
FRI. JULY 29th // 8:45 - 9:30 PM @ WARSAW AVE FIREHOUSE
Isaac Karns is a musician, songwriter and producer currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio. A long time member of acclaimed indie-pop band Pomegranates, Karns is passionate about expanding auditory expression through collaboration and exuberant experimentation. Currently operating a recording studio in downtown, Karns enjoys recording and producing a kaleidoscopic range of artists.
www.isaacjoel.net
"Starpoke and the Sky Roundup"
Karns teamed up with visual artist Emiline Sites to create an animated silent film chronicling the adventures of an intergalactic space cowboy. Drawing inspiration from Cincinnati's rich cultural history, the film will was accompanied by a live soundtrack performed by Karns and the musicians of MYCincinnati. Dreamy, funky, spacey, cowboys.

LAZY HEART
SAT. JULY 30th // 9:15 - 10:00 PM @ WARSAW AVE FIREHOUSE
Lazy Heart is an experimental rock band comprised of MYCincinnati Teaching Artists Stephen Patota, Ben Sloan, and Josh Fink. Known for their lilting melodies, virtuosic instrumental textures, unpredictable rhythms, and subversive lyrics, Lazy Heart is a legend of the Cincinnati underground. Recalling the sounds of Deerhoof, OOIOO, Grizzly Bear, and Dirty Projectors, Lazy Heart lures you in and then spits you out. www.lazyheart.net
"music for bleep bloop"
music for bleep bloop is an ever-expanding collection of musical vignettes and experiments. MYCincinnati students joined forces with Lazy Heart to create a series of psychedelic textures and bright melodies, interweaving layers of harmony and jagged rhythm. music for bleep bloop aimed to blur the line between acoustic and electronic sound, while also sharing with MYCincinnati musicians the raw sound and power of amplified instrumentation.
DESIRAE HOSLEY
FRI. JULY 29th // 7:00 - 7:45 PM @ LISH
Desirae “The Silent Poet” Hosley was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Known for being the quietest person on the scene, it’s astounding to see such a little lady with a big voice that packs a powerful punch. Leader of the new teen poetry generation, Desirae is a teaching Artist-In-Residence at Northside’s creative writing and literacy center, WordPlay Cincy. She is a published author, spoken word artist, community organizer, and actress.
facebook.com/DesiMarie & instagram.com/iamthesilentpoet
"Walking Canvas"
Desirae worked with the Cincy Scribes, a teen poetry collective, to create a group response to the song "Glory" by Common and John Legend. MYCincinnati youth musicians accompanied the poets with newly composed music, performing alongside their literary counterparts in a groundbreaking and powerful collaborative performance. Visual art inspired by the process was hand screen-printed onto t-shirts by the youth, with the help of Price Hill artist Lizzy DuQuette.

art by Lizzy DuQuette
MORE ARTISTS LISTED BELOW
2016 PERFORMERS
EDDY KWON - Violinist, composer-performer, and MYCincinnati Director
ZOHAIR HUSSAIN - Poet, musician, tight-rope walker
APRINA JOHNSON - Musician and activist
Siri Imani - Poet, Singer & Activist
LAS HISTORIAS DEL MOVIMIENTO - Price Hill community members shared their stories of life, immigration, and movement.
Preston Bell Charles III - Creative violinist & composer
Whitfield Crocker - Benjamin Thomas' unparalleled musicianship and songwriting, with full band
ERIN KEESY - Soprano, Cincinnati Opera
DaShawn Mitchell - Hip Hop Dancer
Stephen Patota (LAZY HEART) - Guitarist, composer, improviser, and MYCincinnati Teaching Artist.
Geoffrey Goldman aka Jugh Jeffner - Poet
JENNIFER SIMONE - Musician, sound therapist, vibrational healer
John Morris Russell (Cincinnati Pops)
POP EMPIRE - Future blues with Price Hill roots
MELVIN TAYLOR & THE PRODIGAL SUNZ - A Cappella gospel group led by Price Hill living legend Melvin Taylor (Blind Boys of Mississippi)
Jori An Cotton - Poet & Elementz Teaching Artist

Genevieve Guimond - Cellist (Yo-Yo Ma Fellow)
MYCincinnati Ambassador Ensemble - String septet committed to social justice
Kalla Ervin - Ambassador Ensemble Violinist & Poet
ADRIA CAFFARO - Mezzo-Soprano, Cincinnati Opera
CHASE PUBLIC - Short Order Poetry