I have to admit, I was a little confused about what to expect in the CSO’s community project called “CSO Look Around” last weekend in Washington Park.

I talked to Shara Nova, one of the co-creators (with Mark DeChiazza and Siri Imani) to ask her about it, and she described it as “like, the biggest pop-up ever.”

Yes, it was.

The event kicked off the CSO’s 125th anniversary season. My key take-away was that it was all about community. It was great to see the diversity of all those who live in our city, including the dynamic African heritage drummers of Bi-Okoto, the Cincinnati Korean American Chorale, the Cincinnati Indian Ensemble — in their beautiful costumes — and the Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition.

I have to admit, I could only attend the dress rehearsal due to the opening on the same night of Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra’s Summermusik festival. (Here’s the review.)

But even as I attended that concert at SCPA — literally across the street — I had to marvel that the city was ablaze with creative arts being enjoyed by thousands of people during those two hours on a Saturday night.

The CSO estimates that 7,500 attended CSO Look Around.

My only caveat was that there was too much to see. I downloaded the map on my phone, and spent most of two hours running from top to bottom of Washington Park. I wondered how well that would work with thousands of spectators. (Let me know!)

Shara Nova, who wrote most of the music being performed, remarked that there would be times during the open-air extravaganza when the symphony might appear to be accompanying artists on the other side of the park. And so it was — the CSO played long chords against the rap of hip-hop artist Napolean Maddox. A surreal experience.

Here are a few other highlights:

Cincinnati Men’s Chorus sang “Big Dog” — in the dog park!

The “Cincinnati medley” sung at the fountain, composed by Shara Nova, and performed by MUSE, Cincinnati Youth Chorus, Greater Cincinnati Indian Community Choir/Shanti Choir, Cincinnati Korean American Chorale, and Fluidity. Nova joined in on the singing, too.

I loved watching Bi-Okoto, as they pulled people in to dance with them.

The Pride of Cincinnati danced and waved colorful flags nonstop across the park.

There was lots more — I enjoyed the Classical Roots Community Choir and May Festival Chorus and other choruses as they “popped up” across the park.  The children’s play area was populated with brass instrumentalists… and of course the CSO performed in a tent near the Great Lawn.

At times it seemed like pure chaos, but everyone seemed to be having fun. I guess that is what “community” is all about.