Mission

New Downbeat's mission is to present accessible, engaging, and diverse new music performances featuring women and gender marginalized musicians performing works by living composers. Our mission is driven by our underlying core values of community building, intersectional feminism, gender equity, and cutting-edge artistry.

Our Story

Founded in 2019 by bassoonist Caroline Sackleh, New Downbeat began as a group of likeminded, classically trained musicians and composers who wanted more - to create performance opportunities that celebrate women’s musicianship and to collaborate with living composers to create something special, together.

By nature of our mission, we actively work with musicians and living composers in everything we do, prioritizing those at the intersection of race and gender. Through our work, we have come to collaborate with organizations including including Flight88, Price Hill Will, Lives United/Vidas Unidas, concert:nova, The Well, CityLink Center, Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center (ROMAC), Cincinnati Public Radio, Cincinnati May Festival, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and Hear Us, Hear Them; with many more promising partnerships being planned for the future!

Since its inaugural concert in 2019, New Downbeat has commissioned, collaborated on, and performed 49 new music premieres written by their Composers-in-Residence.

Currently, New Downbeat’s roster includes 41 musicians, 9 composers, and is administered by Directors Caroline Sackleh, Alexis Shambley and Julianna Eidle.