Classical, Vocal Traditions, New Jazz

Last year, the performing arts department presented more than 100 events. This year is on track to be equally busy. With so many offerings, it can be difficult to choose which performances to attend. Therefore, I’d like to highlight one show per month from December through February that I am really looking forward to.

Chamber Music in the Atrium: A Musical Prelude for the Holidays
December 12, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Ames Family Atrium

The Ames Family Atrium is one of my favorite spaces in the city of Cleveland, and in December, the space becomes even more magical. Celebrate this festive time of year with a dazzling evening of classical music and dance presented by MUSIC—Stars in the Classics. The program features a selection of vocal works, piano duets, and other musical delights. Included in the program are excerpts from The Nutcracker performed by Ohio Contemporary Ballet. This is a free event suitable for the entire family. Extend your evening by visiting the galleries or enjoying a hot cocoa and cookie from Provenance Café.

Tarta Relena
January 16, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Suzanne and Paul Westlake Performing Arts Center, Gartner Auditorium

I first became aware of the electronic-accented Catalan folk duo Tarta Relena, composed of Helena Ros and Marta Torrella, when the duo was booked to perform at the Big Ears Festival in 2023. Founded in 2016, Tarta Relena is dedicated to exploring the rich tapestry of a cappella music. With a unique repertoire spanning traditional oral music to original compositions, Tarta Relena weaves the distinct timbres of two voices into a complex yet simple harmony.

Making this performance even more special is the fact that Mingjia Chen and Linnea Sablosky open for Tarta Relena by performing Meara O’Reilly’s Hockets for Two Voices. A hocket is a compositional technique where a single melodic line is divided between at least two instruments or voices, with each taking turns offering notes to create a unified melodic line. This double bill exemplifies musical groups that take historical vocal traditions and modernize them through original composition and electronics.

Makaya McCraven
February 18, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Suzanne and Paul Westlake Performing Arts Center, Gartner Auditorium

There are jazz acts I tried to present during my tenure at BOP STOP but that ultimately needed a larger venue. Now at the CMA, I have the opportunity to bring one of them to Cleveland. Born in Paris to a Hungarian singer and flutist and an African American expat jazz drummer, Makaya McCraven is a prolific Chicago-based drummer, composer, and producer, making his Cleveland debut performing his unique blend of jazz rooted in 21st-century folk music. The New York Times states that “McCraven has quietly become one of the best arguments for jazz’s vitality,” and this past summer he performed at many major jazz festivals across the world. McCraven’s music continues to evolve, drawing on both the past and present to push the boundaries of Black improvised music.