The 2026 Hauck Concert Series
Throughout our history, humans have sought to connect with nature on a deep, emotional level–and music is one way we do so. This touchpoint with the natural world can help us to reconnect to ourselves and others and to better comprehend the interconnectedness of our life on Earth.
Just as nature and gardens offer a rich tapestry of sights, sounds, smells and textures that can inspire and engage our senses, music captures our auditory sense through its melodies and rhythms, creating a powerful emotional impact. Together, the visual beauty of nature and the evocative power of music create a multi-sensory experience that is stimulating and deeply enjoyable.
That’s why we’re excited to collaborate with series curator Krista Cornish Scott, local music professionals and the vast student talent coming through the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) to offer a four-part annual series of musical performances based around Hauck Botanic Garden and the CGC’s mission to build community through gardening, education and environmental stewardship. This partnership will bring carefully curated, place-based performances to the CGC audience while showcasing the wealth of musical talent in Cincinnati and offering CCM students and young professionals unique, nature-focused opportunities to program and perform.
Concert 3: Hildegard in the Garden
The twelfth-century composer, herbalist and mystic Hildegard von Bingen, while better known to modern audiences for her music, was a careful and scientific observer of the natural world, cataloguing and detailing the uses of herbs for both physical and mental wellbeing and finding solace and health in nature. In her expansive work Physica, we see a curious mind placing scientific inquiry within a theological framework of the goodness of creation.
Join us as we experience Hildegard’s soaring music while participating in simple activities that help us see the world through her eyes. After a brief introduction to Hildegard, we’ll break into three groups and make our way out into Hauck Botanic Garden to explore three stations, each with a performer offering a sampling of Hildegard’s music and an accompanying activity: herbs for health and herbal tea in the Herb Garden, an overview of botanical salve-making (sample included!) in the Food Forest, and creating a small piece of meditative personal art in the Tranquility Garden. Each group will have the opportunity to experience all three stations.
Please note that this event will be held outdoors. In the event of bad weather on September 27, the performance will be moved to October 4 at 3pm. We will be standing and walking a considerable amount during this event, occasionally over uneven or unpaved terrain. The Herb Garden and Tranquility Garden are accessible by mulched or paved path, but the Food Forest is more difficult to reach.
Pricing
Through December 15, all four concerts in the series can be purchased together for a discounted series price of $125 (a $35 savings)! (Please note that ticket exchanges and partial refunds are not available on series tickets.)
Starting December 16, any remaining tickets to individual concerts will be available for purchase; see pricing information for individual concerts below.