March 2025 No. 18

Classical Roots

Pre-Concert Talk

Saturday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Get your CSO tickets and join us in the Wilks Studio for a pre-concert talk by Thea Tjepkema, Historic Preservationist, on Saturday, March 15 at 6:30pm.

Under One Roof

African American Dance Traditions in Music Hall

Music may be in its name, but DANCE is the soul of Cincinnati Music Hall. African American dance traditions have been nurtured and celebrated on its stages and ballrooms for nearly a century and a half. Iconic American dance styles took root, set to the music of ragtime, jazz, swing, rock 'n' roll, and funk by hundreds of bands, orchestras, and stars performing in Music Hall. From styles like the Cakewalk and Charleston, Lindy Hop and Jitterbug, to the Twist and Hip-hop, social dances continue to unite the African American community under one roof in the three buildings of Music Hall.

Balcony Doors

Restoration is Almost Complete!

The Friends of Music Hall is proud to support the preservation and restoration of Music Hall’s historic 1878 balcony doors. During a visit to Architectural Reclamation’s workshop in Franklin, OH, they witnessed the remarkable original oak veneer revealed after stripping away layers of paint, varnish, and soot.

Skilled craftspeople are carefully milling replacement pieces to match the missing sections. Once restored, these majestic 13-foot-tall double doors will be returned to Music Hall’s front balcony, reclaiming their original grandeur.

These majestic doors will be back in Music Hall by the end of March. Take an Indoor Tour and see them for yourselves.

Your donation helps to preserve Music Hall!

Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Step into the magic of Neverland! Peter Pan (1924) was the first-ever adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic play, setting the stage for countless reimaginings - including Disney's beloved animated version. With enchanting performances by Betty Bronson as Peter Pan and Ernest Torrence as Captain Hook, this screening accompanied by the glorious sounds of the Mighty Wurlitzer, is a rare chance to experience silent cinema as it was meant to be. Expect themed concessions, family-friendly pre-show activities and a spirit of adventure!

Music Hall Explorers, a program created by the Friends of Music Hall, brings youth grades 3-6 into Music Hall to celebrate its remarkable stories. FMH volunteers devised this interactive program inside Music Hall using hands-on activities about Cincinnati history, immigration, architecture, music, and Victorian women art carvers. Over the past three years, it has engaged more than 500 young people from all over greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. It’s been enjoyed by Girl Scouts as well as students from area schools. Many participants are experiencing Music Hall for the first time. They enter the Grand Foyer with eyes wide, murmuring that they feel like they’re in a castle!

Click here to learn more about our education programs.