VIVO Music Festival is an annual summer chamber music festival in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio. My best friend Jack Stulz (violist of Ensemble Intercontemporain) and I are founding co-artistic directors. We conceived of VIVO as an outlet for mutual creativity and as a medium to give back to our hometown community. The first season took place in summer 2015, and we now have an excellent team and board that help us grow every year.
Since Season 1, we’ve brought together musicians from all over the country including award-winning ensembles, soloists, professors and members of major orchestras who just so happen to be our friends. We have now performed for thousands of people in Columbus - both in core concerts and community pop-up concerts (“Lunch Bachs” as we call it). All rehearsals take place in a large assisted living facility. The residents are invited to listen to rehearsals and interact with musicians during the whole festival.
The act of curating programs is one of the greatest perks of running VIVO. From presenting Georg Friedrich Haas’ hour-long quartet (performed by memory in complete darkness from the four corners of a room) for a sold-out audience to performing Beethoven’s Septet for folks casually enjoying brews, VIVO endeavors to actively introduce a broad gamut of experiences with meaningful intent.
Personally, it’s an absolute joy to perform great chamber music with world-class colleagues for my family and hometown friends. Go Bucks!
VIVO Music Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Please consider joining or supporting us!
vivofestival.org | fb.com/vivofestival
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