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In Solidarity

Portland Ovations stands in solidarity with Black and brown artists, colleagues, and citizens in our communities and around the world. We join those who express outrage and grief for the killing of George Floyd, the too many who came before him and the centuries of injustice perpetrated upon people of color. As an organization that … Read more

Performance Notes: AURAL EXPLORATIONS: FARRIN, FURE, AND MESSIAEN

Experience International Contemporary Ensemble, live streamed in your home! Thursday, May 28, 7PM on Youtube FREE REGISTRATION Dear Friends, When we embarked on our work with International Contemporary Ensemble (I.C.E.) we knew it would be wholly unique and unforgettable for Ovations audiences. At that time we imagined a modified version of their ambitious chamber opera, … Read more

On Change through New and Collective Music Making

By Maya French, Palaver Strings I am among many newcomers who have chosen Portland as a home, for reasons like: quality of life, proximity to Maine’s raw beauty, the diversity, the culture, and of course for the humanity that defines this small city with Mainers and new Mainers who are ready to connect.  And yet, … Read more

From the Desk of our Board Chair

We hope today’s email finds you, your families, and your communities weathering the storm caused by the coronavirus pandemic. We hope amidst it all you’ve also seen local and national press coverage on the impact of COVID-19 closures and cancellations on Ovations and all our peer organizations in the country’s arts and cultural sectors. As our own Executive & Artistic … Read more

Support Maine’s Cultural Community

March 23, 2020 Dear Friends and Supporters of Maine’s Cultural Community, Like all parts of American society, Maine’s museums, libraries, and arts organization are mobilizing to respond to the coronavirus. We are working to keep our patrons, staff, and community safe; creating innovative ways to entertain, serve, and keep you connected; and doing our best … Read more

Health, Safety & Event Updates

Portland Ovations brings people together to strengthen community well-being. We are committed to your health and safety as our #1 priority, and we’ve been closely monitoring communications from the Maine CDC and World Health Organization to assess our upcoming events within the context of the COVID-19 crisis. Today at noon, Governor Janet Mills recommended cancelling … Read more

To Your Health & Well-Being

Our community’s health and well-being is always our concern, particularly during flu season. The novel COVID-19 virus re-confirms this priority. We want you to know we are monitoring the situation closely, relying on guidance from the City of Portland and the Maine Department of Public Health, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and WHO. We are also working closely with our partner venues to help ensure your health, safety and comfort. Please find the City … Read more

Gabriela Montero: ‘Westward’ Program Notes by Linda Russell

compositions by age six, a rudimentary opera at nine, and his first symphony at ten; he became a student at the St. Petersburg Conservatory at thirteen. During his study at the conservatory, Prokofiev gained respect for the music of Haydn and Mozart, for the elegant dance forms of the eighteenth century, and for the transparent sonority … Read more

Ranky Tanky, Gullah Music And The Rocky Coast Of Maine

Written by Ovations’ Artistic and Executive Director, Aimée Petrin   Deep in the crowded lower level of the now-closed Webster Hall in NYC, I was among a throng of people on a cold January night dancing, singing, rejoicing to the sounds of Ranky Tanky. By the time they reached their song with its eponymous refrain, … Read more