The Johnstone Fund for New Music announced its 13th season of New Music at Short North Stage, bringing a year of free, one-hour concerts featuring adventurous and genre-defying sounds.
From percussion duos to multimedia chamber groups, this year’s lineup offers fresh sounds, world premieres, and performances from acclaimed local, national, and international artists.
All performances begin at 7 p.m. at Short North Stage (1187 N. High St.), with seating first-come, first-served. Zach Hannah, the Johnstone
Fund’s Poet in Residence, will recite poetry revealing his interpretation of each program at every performance.
image: The Johnstone Fund
2025–26 Concert Schedule
Pendulum Duo: Origins-Reimagined — 3 world premieres
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Columbus percussionists Joseph Krygier and Susan Powell kick off the season with original works blending jazz, global music, and free improvisation. One highlight: a new piece written for Pendulum and the Tower Duo by local composer Michael Rene Torres.
Pathos Trio: Polarity
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
This Brooklyn-based percussion and piano trio blends contemporary classical with influences from rock, metal, and synth-wave. Their program features works from their sophomore album and new commissions from emerging composers.
Unheard-of//Ensemble: Ohio Premieres — 2 world premieres
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Returning to Columbus, this tech-forward chamber ensemble debuts new Johnstone Fund commissions by Ohio composers Jesse Jones and Susanna Hancock, paired with multimedia visuals by artist Xuan.
Chamber Brews: Inter/cepted
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
A Columbus favorite, Chamber Brews breaks down the walls between musicians and audiences with interactive performances in a relaxed atmosphere.
LIGAMENT: A Roaring Flame
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
An unconventional duo of double bass and voice, LIGAMENT presents politically charged and sonically adventurous works, including “A Roaring Flame” by James Dillon.
Missing Piece: Unsettling
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
This Chicago-based violin and cello duo explores themes of social justice, community, and environment, joined by woodwind artist Hunter Diamond for the program’s title work.
eco|tonal: Mythologies
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Cello, voice, saxophone, and electronics combine in this Brooklyn-based duo’s atmospheric exploration of myth, time, and life cycles.
Deux Saisons: interCONNECT
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Voice-and-guitar duo performs music from the Renaissance to modern day, focusing on connections between people, each other, and the Earth.
CODE: Reflections — 1 world premiere
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
The Columbus Ohio Discovery Ensemble closes the season with works by Ohio composers, including the premiere of Jamie Leigh Sampson’s “Devil’s Workshop.”
Concert series details:
Where: Short North Stage, 1187 N. High St.
When: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (dates above)
Cost: Free (first-come, first-served seating)
Ages: Recommended for ages 9+
Parking: Use the ParkColumbus app for nearby parking options
For more about the Johnstone Fund for New Music and its mission to support contemporary classical music in Central Ohio, visit johnstonefund.org or the Short North Stage website.
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