Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra musicians Wesley Woolard and Christopher Philpotts played for a filmed “Virtual Watch Party” as artist Cedric Michael Cox painted outside his Roselawn studio.
“ ‘Music has a way of blocking out the noise of the rest of the world,’ said artist Cedric Michael Cox, as he put his paintbrush to canvas,” writes Janelle Gelfand in Friday’s (8/7) Cincinnati Business Courier. “Because of Covid-19, Cox wasn’t inside his Roselawn studio, but outside on his expansive front patio. He was finding inspiration in the music being performed—socially distanced—by Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra musicians Wes Woolard on trumpet, and Christopher Philpotts on oboe and EWI (electronic wind instrument). Videographer Nick Federinko crept around them, as curious onlookers slowed their cars. The finished piece is to be a ‘Virtual Watch Party’ on Aug. 11 on the orchestra’s website. Cox’s artwork will be auctioned to benefit the musicians…. The musicians illustrated in short musical works how they find color in their instruments, capping their performance with a dreamy soundscape by Norwegian composer Rolf Wallin…. After the pandemic canceled the CCO’s annual Summermusik festival, music director Eckart Preu, staff and musicians put together an E-festival. There are 13 [free] virtual events on tap, Aug. 8 through Aug. 29. Some, like this one, are filmed. Three are live-streams, including one with the Silver-Garburg Piano duo in Berlin (Aug. 9).”
