ECHO Chamber Music Series
A uniquely Nashville musical experience, the ECHO Chamber Music Series captivates audiences with music composed and arranged for the unique reverb of the Parthenon Naos and performed in front of the 42-foot statue of Athena. ECHO also established The Parthenon Sessions, which capture songwriters and string ensembles in a multi-tracked audio and video experience.
Celebrating our 5th season, the new ECHO lineup offers five amazing performances in the intimate setting of the Parthenon! ECHO's 2024-2025 season is supported by Integrum Wealth.
2024-2025 Season
2024-2025 Season
SistaStrings
January 26, 2025 | 7:30 PM
SistaStrings Performs with Metallica | December 13, 2024
Patron Ticket: $58 (includes 2 beverages)
General Admission: $25
Making their ECHO debut, SistaStrings is a dynamic musical duo comprised of sisters Chauntee and Monique Ross, whose exceptional talent and versatility has made a profound impact on the music scene. With their unique blend of classical training, soulful melodies, and contemporary sounds, SistaStrings have established themselves as a formidable force within the music community. The duo was just voted “best instrumentalist” for the Americana Music Association’s 2023 honors. Their remarkable journey of fusing their classical training with their deep-rooted love for R&B, hip-hop, and gospel has led them to perform artists such as Joni Mitchell, Ed Sheeran, Maggie Rogers, Margo Price, Allison Russell, Jason Isbell, as well as being members Brandi Carlile’s touring band.
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SistaStrings is a dynamic musical duo comprised of sisters Chauntee and Monique Ross, whose exceptional talent and versatility has made a profound impact on the music scene. With their unique blend of classical training, soulful melodies, and contemporary sounds, SistaStrings have established themselves as a formidable force within the music community. The duo was just voted “best instrumentalist” for the Americana Music Associations 2023 honors.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chauntee and Monique discovered their love for music at a young age. Growing up in a musically inclined family, the sisters were exposed to a diverse range of genres and instruments. Chauntee found her calling as a violinist, while Monique developed her skills as a cellist. Together, they embarked on a remarkable journey, fusing their classical training with their deep-rooted love for R&B, hip-hop, and gospel.
As members of Brandi Carlile’s touring band, SistaStrings have performed at iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden, The Kennedy Center, Newport Folk Festival and Saturday Night Live. They have performed with an eclectic array of artists such as Joni Mitchell, Ed Sheeran, Maggie Rogers, Margo Price, Allison Russell and Jason Isbell.
SistaStrings are currently writing for their upcoming project, with Brandi Carlie taking the producer reins.
Lockeland Strings
February 23, 2025 | 7:30 PM
A distinct Nashville treasure, Lockeland Strings returns to ECHO by popular demand. This global music collective is a community arts organization that showcases local artists accompanied by string quartet. They have performed internationally and collaborated with the likes of Kacey Musgraves, Lucie Silvas, and more. The evening will also showcase singer-songwriters backed by the Lockeland Strings ensemble. Songwriters will be announced soon.
Patron Ticket: $58 (includes 2 beverages)
General Admission: $25
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Lockeland Strings is a community arts organization that puts on monthly showcases of local artists accompanied by string quintet, alongside performances of new contemporary classical pieces from local composers. With performances from Kacey Musgraves to Lucie Silvas, Lockeland Strings has grown from a house show to the Parthenon and Wilburn Street Studios. It partners with a new nonprofit each month to give a platform to organizations, including the ACLU of Tennessee, Girls Write Nashville, The Little Pantry That Could and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
Fisk Jubilee Singers
March 30, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Patron Ticket: $58 (includes 2 beverages)
General Admission: $25
The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Nashville’s global musical ambassadors since 1871, will make their ECHO Chamber Music Series debut in 2025!
The Fisk Jubilee Singers are an a cappella ensemble from Nashville’s Fisk University that perform Negro spirituals originally sung by slaves prior to the Civil War. The original Fisk Jubilee Singers introduced ‘slave songs’ to the world in 1871 and were instrumental in preserving this unique American musical tradition known today as Negro spirituals. Their stirring performances share this rich culture globally and ensure the genre remains a vibrant musical tradition today.
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Fisk University opened in Nashville in 1866 as the first American university to offer a liberal arts education to “young men and women irrespective of color.” Five years later the school was in dire financial straits. George L. White, Fisk treasurer and music professor then, created a nine-member choral ensemble of students and took it on tour to earn money for the University. The group left campus on October 6, 1871. Jubilee Day is celebrated annually on October 6 to commemorate this historic day.
The first concerts were in small towns. Surprise, curiosity, and some hostility were the early audience responses to these young black singers who did not perform in the traditional “minstrel fashion.” One early concert in Cincinnati brought in $50, which was promptly donated to victims of the notorious 1871 fire in Chicago. When they reached Columbus, the next city on tour, the students were physically and emotionally drained. Mr. White, in a gesture of hope and encouragement, named them “The Jubilee Singers,” a Biblical reference to the year of Jubilee in the Book of Leviticus, Chapter 25. Continued perseverance and beautiful voices began to change attitudes among the predominantly white audiences. Eventually skepticism was replaced by standing ovations and critical praise in reviews. Gradually they earned enough money to cover expenses and send back to Fisk.
In 1872 they sang at the World Peace Festival in Boston and at the end of the year President Ulysses S. Grant invited them to perform at the White House. In 1873 the group grew to eleven members and toured Europe for the first time. Funds raised that year were used to construct the school’s first permanent building, Jubilee Hall. Today Jubilee Hall, designated a National Historic Landmark by the US Department of Interior in 1975, is one of the oldest structures on campus. The beautiful Victorian Gothic building houses a floor-to-ceiling portrait of the original Jubilee Singers, commissioned by Queen Victoria during the 1873 tour as a gift from England to Fisk.
Past Shows This Season
SONUS Choir: All is Calm
December 15, 2024 | 7:30 PM
SONUS, the modern a cappella choir, returns to ECHO for a holiday tradition of "All is Calm." The ensemble will synthesize contemporary choral repertoire with classic holiday favorites using its signature straight-tone blend, filling the room. Sonus is known for engaging and uplifting performances, surrounding the listener in a transcendent wash of sound as many voices unify as one. The holiday program will feature music in many languages by esteemed choral composers Ola Gjeilo, Morten Lauridsen, and Arvo Part in addition to well-known holiday favorites.
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SONUS Choir is a modern a cappella choir, dedicated to celebrating musical excellence and promoting cultural unity through the transformative power of choral music. Our repertoire includes both modern and sacred music, with an emphasis on creating a transcendent experience for both the listener and performer. SONUS is dedicated to collective leadership, working collaboratively to bring our shared vision to life.
Since its founding in 2014, SONUS has specialized in straight-tone singing, adding a unique dimension to its musical synergy. The color of pure pitches enhances the ability of overtones to be heard, creating a truly transcendent listening experience.
SONUS has performed in some of the most prestigious venues and festivals in the country, including a featured concert at St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York City, The Ryman Auditorium, The Nashville Parthenon ECHO Series, Big Ears Music Festival, and Sewanee Summer Music Festival. SONUS has performed pulitzer-prize winning works and has collaborated with well-known contemporary artists such as Bang on a Can and composer Rachel Grimes, specifically on her acclaimed folk opera “The Way Forth”.
SONUS is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit and has released three albums available on all streaming platforms. Our third album, "I Would Empty My Soul," is made entirely of live concert recordings and is meant to celebrate our 2023-2024 10th Anniversary season. Our upcoming album, recorded inside the beautiful hall of Covenant Presbyterian Church, is slated to release in Spring 2025.
Nashville in Harmony
December 8, 2024 | 7:30 PM
In their Parthenon debut, Nashville in Harmony are celebrating two decades of vocal performance excellence. This concert will showcase some of their favorite pieces from their 20 years of fulfilling their mission: using music to build community and create social change with a few holiday selections included to kick-off your holiday season. Nashville in Harmony is further marking their landmark year with a signature performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
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Nashville in Harmony is Middle Tennessee's premiere arts organization specifically created for the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies. This year they are celebrating 20 years of existence with performances at Carnegie Hall, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the GALA Festival, the Ryman Auditorium, and, of course, their debut at the Parthenon. NIH's mission is to use music to build community and create social change and they are proud to have a 20-year legacy in the Middle Tennessee area.
ECHO Videos
PAST ARTISTS
SONUS Choir
Lockeland Strings
STEAL AWAY
Ben Sollee
Larissa Maestro
Alias Chamber Ensemble
Nashville In Harmony
SONUS Choir Lockeland Strings STEAL AWAY Ben Sollee Larissa Maestro Alias Chamber Ensemble Nashville In Harmony
THE PARTHENON SESSIONS
Inspired by the ECHO live event series, Centennial Park Conservancy is recording musical performances inside the Parthenon Naos room. Each session captures a songwriter and string ensembles in a multi-tracked audio / video experience. These gorgeous recordings are released to download or stream via online platforms (Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, BandCamp). All proceeds from The Parthenon Sessions underwrite the Parthenon Preservations Fund. Enjoy the videos below or audio recordings from your digital service provider of choice.
The Parthenon Sessions are made possible by Tennessee Arts Commission, Integrum Wealth, Centennial Park Conservancy, Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation, and the Nashville Parthenon.
Kyshona - The Parthenon Sessions
Centennial Park Conservancy and the Parthenon are excited to announce a new EP of live recordings of Nashville-based artist Kyshona. This collection of recordings is the latest installment of The Parthenon Sessions - live recordings made at the foot of the great statue of the goddess Athena inside the Nashville Parthenon.
The full EP is available now!
Jill Andrews - The Parthenon Sessions Full EP
We are thrilled to premiere the release of a new Parthenon Session EP with singer-songwriter Jill Andrews! The EP was captured live in the Parthenon Naos with string arrangements by Bobby Chase. Stream the full EP on all platforms! Plus, two new videos from the EP were released today. Check out Worth Keeping and Rust or Gold below!
Lydia Luce: The Parthenon Sessions
The Parthenon Sessions capture collaborative performances inside Nashville's Parthenon, the only full-scale replica of the ancient Athenian temple in the world. All songs are tailored to the unique 5-second reverb of the building's 42' tall ceilings. The full EP of The Parthenon Sessions with Lydia Luce is available now!
Credits: Engineered, Mixed, and Mastered by Patrick Damphier, String arrangements by Jordan Lehning, Video by Ian Schofinski
CRISTINA SPINEI: ATHENA IN STEREO
Centennial Park Conservancy and the Parthenon released the first of a series of recordings called The Parthenon Sessions. We partnered with Tone Tree to release Athena In Stereo by Cristina Spinei. Available on all streaming platforms now!
