Meet Oh My Ears (OME) | New Music Presenting Organization

We had the good fortune of connecting with Oh My Ears (OME) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Oh My Ears, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
As a new music presenting organization, Oh My Ears (OME) creates a space for the “misfits” of the classical music world – artists who want to experiment with the sonic capabilities of their instruments and create the kind of music that does not fall neatly under one specific label. We strive to create a sense of community and genuine connection between performers and composers of new music. We also seek to cultivate connections between audience members and musicians at our concerts, creating a concert environment that is more welcoming and accessible than a typical classical music concert. We see new music as a safe haven from the oppressive and overly judgmental environments that are too frequently encountered in classical music. OME also works to amplify voices that have historically been excluded in the very white, and very male culture of classical music – it is extremely rare for us to accept a program proposal that does not include performers or composers from marginalized groups.

We also hold a strong belief that live music should be accessible to the whole community. Our ticket prices are low, and we often hold free and “pay what you can” concerts. We also work to take live music experiences out of the concert hall and into less traditional settings, inserting avant-garde art music into places people frequent during their daily lives. In addition to the typical auditoriums, OME has held performances in coffee houses, art galleries, movie theaters, nature preserves, beer gardens, and punk bars.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Oh My Ears (OME) is a new music presenting organization that works to connect musicians and composers with each other and with the greater Phoenix community. Our definition of new music encompasses a wide range of genres and approaches, with a focus on music from the 21st and late 20th century. To us, new music is all about sonic diversity and creating a space for the kind of music that does not fall neatly under one specific label. We program standard and non-standard chamber artists, experimental groups, modular synth artists, improvisors, and multi-genre/multi-media projects. We are far more interested in creativity and quality than we are in credentials. We want to help musicians tell their story, share their art, and get their music out there.
Our specific projects include an annual New Music Festival that showcases the talents of local musicians as well as national and international artists. Our Festival programs are very diverse, with both performers on stage and composers listed in the program coming from varied cultural backgrounds, gender identities, and socio-economic statuses. The OME Festival has historically featured its performers in an eclectic variety of venues, from traditional concert halls to art galleries, bars, and cafes. We aim to pair our performers with venues that complement their work while also showcasing the vibrant local arts and culture scene in Phoenix. OME also organizes several one-off concerts and participates in collaborations and partnerships with other arts organizations. These partnerships have yielded a soundwalk with The Museum of Walking, performances pairing music and poetry at FilmBar, a small concert series bringing experimental music to audiences at both Tempe Center for the Arts and Mesa Arts Center, a full program of graphic scores performed at MegaphonePHX, and regular appearances at The Lost Leaf – an art space and beer garden known to attract eclectic audiences.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our staff’s top recommendations for experiencing Phoenix (as well as the recommendations that we often give to out-of-town performers during our annual festival) include coffee at Songbird, a trip to the Musical Instrument Museum or the Phoenix Art Museum, a hike up Camelback Mountain or Piestewa Peak, and dinner and drinks at Hanny’s or AZ Wilderness.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, we want to shout-out OME’s founder, Elizabeth Kennedy Bayer. Elizabeth conceived of OME after visiting new music festivals in other cities, and wondering why Phoenix couldn’t have something similar. In the beginning, Elizabeth was mainly working alone – pouring time, energy, and monetary resources into this organization to keep it afloat and create space for new music performers in the Phoenix area to showcase their craft to audiences. While we are now a team of eight administrators and able to expand our operations as a result, OME truly would not exist without Elizabeth’s early efforts, dedication, and vision.

Additionally, OME owes our success to our community in Phoenix, Arizona. OME is a grassroots organization run by a volunteer team of musicians, composers, and music educators who are passionate about new music and the Phoenix community. OME has a small budget- we operate on funding received from small grants, ticket sales, donated services and equipment, and the 100% volunteer efforts of our staff and community. We are able to operate at our current capacity because of community support – support in terms of money from local grants and individual donations, partnerships with venues and local colleges, enthusiasm from audiences at shows, and local businesses who have offered performance spaces, discounted food and drink to performers, and collaborative work spaces for administrative meetings.

Website: https://ohmyears.com

Instagram: @ohmyearsmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohmyears

Youtube: @ohmyearsmusic