Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Norton.
Hi Kevin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Classical Revolution is a multi-chapter organization dedicated to bringing Classical (and closely-related) music to audiences in unusual setting such as bars. The first chapter was founded at San Francisco’s Revolution Cafe in 2006 by Charith Premawardhana, and the Cincinnati chapter was founded the same year by violist Vince Scacchetti. A few years later, clarinetist Laura Sabo (Wayside Winds, Schoolhouse Symphony) took over booking and organizing the monthly event. In 2015, I came on board to help out, and as Laura became busier with outside endeavors and performances, I gradually took over operations.
Our original home was at Northside Tavern, although we would occasionally step out to other locations around the neighborhood (such as Humble Monk) and city-wide (including The Greenwich and Cafe Vivace in Walnut Hills). We did go dark in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remained so until July 2021, when we returned to monthly events at our new home: The Loon wine bar. (We briefly went to other locations–Humble Monk, Taproom on Ludlow, Tillie’s Lounge, and The Lodge across the river in Dayton, Kentucky–as The Loon moved to and set up its current location, and once it opened anew in November 2024, we have been proud to call The Loon our permanent home once again.)
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Obviously, COVID-19 created a great problem, as we had to go dark for sixteen months between March 2020 and July 2021. In addition, there have been the occasional required last-second changes: performers having to back out a few days prior due to illness or other circumstances beyond their control, venues needing to change a week before due to unforeseen closures, and the rare cancellation of events due to weather and the few spikes of COVID-19 variations in 2022.
We also do have to work a bit extra for donations. We are not a non-profit, so the payments for our performers come directly from donations by event patrons and those who give via the PayPal link on our home page.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a classical saxophonist who earned a Doctorate at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Originally from Williamsburg, Kentucky, I earned a BME and MM at Morehead State University before moving to Cincinnati in August 2009. I currently serve as a private saxophone instructor in the tri-state area, mainly at Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts, West Clermont High School, and Willis Music locations in Eastgate and Florence.
In addition to my teaching, I am most proud of my performance history, especially for various conferences hosted by the North American Saxophone Alliance and other organizations. I have also been heavily involved in helping bring new musical works to life via joining consortiums, funding new works from composers such as Judith Shatin, Ian Dicke, and fellow CCM graduate Carrie Magin.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
A lot of my own risk-taking involves applying for new performance opportunities and attempting new works that may challenge my skills as a musician and force me to adapt. I usually act a bit more conservatively regarding Classical Revolution Cincinnati, as my main focus is making sure there are enough musicians to fill the event roster every second Sunday of each month.
Pricing:
- Free (though donations strongly recommended)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.classicalrevolutioncincinnati.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crcinci/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classicrevcinci/
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/cincirev.bsky.social
