Mara is a pioneer of computer music in Cincinnati, the director of CCM’s Center for Computer Music and a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow. When I was an undergrad at Stanford University, I’d sometimes catch a concert by John Chowning, who set up the first research center for computer-based technology as a means for artistic expression.

Technology has traveled light years since then. You don’t have to be a computer geek to enjoy the sounds that will be created in this concert of multichannel and multimedia works by Helmuth and collaborators.

You will hear two world premieres, multimedia and several environmentally-themed works: “Burren Wind” for tárogató (also known as Turkish pipe); video and 8-channel computer music; “All Alarms Sounding” for piano and electronics; “Night Shimmer” for vibraphone and electronics; “Water Birds” for clarinet and computer music; “Messages from a Hot Rotating Star” (live pulsar data sonification and visuals), and “Wind Blown Rain” for tárogató, video and computer music.

Guest artists are Patti Cudd, percussion; and Esther Lamneck, tarogato; and alumni artists Shiau-uen Ding, piano and Andrea Vos-Rochefort, clarinet.

Estimated run time: 90 minutes
Location: Cohen Family Studio Theater. CCM
Admission: FREE