Street musicians a hit in Over-the-Rhine, downtown
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Musicians have been stationed at spots around downtown all summer long, playing for people walking by and earning money while doing it.
Adanya Stephens, 17, is one of the musicians. She graduated from the School for Creative and Performing Arts in 2019 and will attend Oberlin College in the fall where she will study music. She plays the piano and, as an employee of the Street Stage Project, she plays the keyboard in several spots around the Central Business District and Over-the-Rhine.
"It is like a job. You sign up. You have to fill out paperwork. They have to see that you can play, and then you sign up for your hours," Stephens said. "I am a musician that performs -- a professional musician. And I have an album out and I'm working on my second one."
The Street Stage Project is the brainchild of Kick Lee, the founder of the Cincinnati Music Accelerator. CAM helps develop local musicians. ArtsWave sponsors the program and 3CDC helps promote it.
"It's great for the musicians to have an audience, earn a little bit of money and mostly enliven the streets of Cincinnati with music," said Alecia Kintner, president and CEO of ArtsWave.
Kintner said the program has been a big hit and it's had a ripple effect. She hopes it comes back in 2020. It started in May and will end in September.
"Musicians who aren't formally part of the roster but are just people who love to play their violin, clarinet or their sax, they're coming out and standing in that same spot and taking advantage of the locations we're creating for live music," Kintner said.
Sarah Gorak graduated from college five years ago and plays the violin. She played at 13th and Jackson Street Friday morning.
"It's been kind of fun, though, getting the tips and interacting with the different people who like walk by," Gorak said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Stephens said working for Street Stage has enabled her to perform while earning money for college. She would like to own her own music label someday.
"I like to perform and record. But beyond that, I would like to impact people in the music industry in a positive way," Stephens said.
The musicians typically perform during lunch and dinner hours at the following locations:
Central Business District
- Piatt Park
- Walnut & Seventh
- Court & Main
Over-the-Rhine
- 12th and Vine
- 13th & Jackson
- Imagination Alley
- 13th & Republic
