Sounds from Nature
For this program, OLEA explores the human desire to be alone with nature. Being alone in nature allows us to simultaneously feel the peace of being isolated from other people with the comfort of being connected to plants and animals. The program will feature two newly commissioned works to be placed in dialogue with one another. The first commission, by Brad Balliett, will be inspired by bird songs from New England. For the second commission by Owen Hopper, recordings of the natural world as well as Deep ListeningTM sessions will be incorporated into an electronic component of the final work. In addition to our personal Deep Listening sessions, we will take the audience on their own journey of Deep Listening and introspection.
OLEA Ensemble
“Not only inspiring, but refreshing” (I Care if You Listen), OLEA Ensemble envisions a future in which the transformative power of chamber music can be used as a model for healthy connection and collaboration in all facets of society. OLEA’s mission is to foster community connections through innovative curation of new music. Founded in 2021, OLEA is dually based in Chicago and Cincinnati, presenting performances in each city every season. Members include Kate Kilgus (clarinet), Alayne Honaker (violin), and Marissa Kerbel (piano). OLEA’s members hold degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Lawrence University, and Kenyon College.
By presenting music through themes that are universal yet personally relatable, OLEA aims to make classical music and new music relevant to 21st century audiences. In the fall of 2024, OLEA was the Artist in Residence at SOS ART in Cincinnati where they developed a project called “Contemplations on Democracy” which explored the intersection of art and politics, serving as both an interactive musical performance and a Get Out the Vote initiative. For this project, they collaborated with local poets and visual artists to provide a diverse set of perspectives on socio-political issues. Other recent projects include: “Yeehaw: American Folk Traditions” (2024) which incorporated music from traditions such as jazz, Appalachian fiddle, and ragtime; the commission and premier of Owen Hopper’s “Wind Blows Lotus Leaves” (2023) alongside live demonstrations of the Tai Chi movements which inspired the composition; and “Summer Dreams” (2023) which explored the sounds of dreams from a fantastical storyline of a deep sleep to the shimmering texture of a daydream. OLEA has completed residencies at Avaloch Farm Music Institute (2022), the Decoda Chamber Music Festival (2022), and the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute (2025), and has performed at New Music Chicago’s ImpromptuFest (2023) and the Price Hill Music Festival (2023). In addition, OLEA will take part in the Chamber Music Residency at Camphill Village Kimberton Hills in the summer of 2026.
Since its inception, the importance of new music and creative collaboration has remained at the center of OLEA’s artistic vision. OLEA’s current season titled “You Are (Not) Alone” explores the dichotomy between community and loneliness that exists in our society today. This season features several new works commissioned by the ensemble including pieces by Shane Scott Cook, Jacy Pedersen, Owen Hopper, Brad Balliet, and Annie Barr McAllister.
When visiting CCAC by car, please use the shared lot directly behind our building, which can be accessed off of Hosea Ave. The Clifton United Methodist Church’s lot, accessible off of Senator Pl, may be used as overflow and is connected via a few stairs connecting the two lots. We ask that you only use these lots while visiting CCAC or Dewey’s Pizza and move your vehicle before visiting any other locations around the Ludlow Business district.
If these lots are full, you may park along the street in many areas around our building. There are also two paid public lots that can be accessed via Ludlow or Howell Ave and are about a five-minute walk away.
