Ripple Effect: A Collective Exhibition
2023-04-14 16:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | TX
You are invited to Ripple Effect, a collective exhibition organized by local artist Anna Hazel and benefiting Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Works inspired by Buffalo Bayou from over 25 artists will be on display for one night only, and a percentage of sales from every piece sold will support BBP and our mission to create and steward welcoming parks, trails, and unique spaces along our city’s most significant natural waterway.
BBP Members will receive 10% off food and beverage, and a special block print by Anna Hazel created specifically for Ripple Effect.
Not a BBP Member yet? On-site registration will be available for $10 off all levels of membership. Learn more here.
Free Registration

Reimagining Urban Spaces: Graffiti at Turkey Bend
2023-04-30 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | TX
Get a sneak peek of BBP’s dramatic East End destination, Turkey Bend! The tour will be followed by a panel discussion of the role graffiti plays in helping us understand the past and envision the future of urban spaces. Turkey Bend is a former industrial site that will become a cultural and recreational hub within Buffalo Bayou East. Complete with a warehouse, tunnel, and waterfront wharf, this site has accumulated layers of graffiti over the years. Panelists will discuss the creation, curation, and preservation of graffiti as well as share initial plans for this unique destination.
Generous support provided by The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation. Buffalo Bayou Partnership is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.
Free Registration

Underground Sounds: Nameless Sound
2023-09-14 19:30 - 20:15, 2023-09-16 19:30 - 20:15, 2023-09-17 16:00 - 16:45, 2023-09-17 19:30 - 20:15 UTC | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
UPDATE: All Nameless Sound performances are now SOLD OUT! For any additional guests wishing to attend, we will be taking an in-person, first-come-first-served waiting list beginning exactly 30 minutes prior to each performance time.
The next “Underground Sounds” is with DACAMERA October 5-8. Tickets are available starting Friday, September 8 at 9am.
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Join us for Underground Sounds, a unique music series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern!
This fall, four Houston-based music organizations will perform specially composed or arranged works that highlight the remarkable natural acoustics of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
About this program: Nameless Sound will present six unique concerts, each with a different trio of creative musicians collaborating for the first time to explore the special sonic qualities of the Cistern. Each will be a singular experience, never-to-be repeated, that will take audiences on a sonic journey of real-time musical composition.
Cost: $25
Performance times:

September 14 at 7:30pm
September 15 at 7:30pm
September 16 at 4pm
September 16 at 7:30pm
September 17 at 4pm
September 17 at 7:30pm

Performers:

September 14: Ethan Adkison, James Murphy, Brandon Willis
September 15: Ethan Adkison, Justin Jones, Rebecca Novak
September 16 at 4pm: Danny Kamins, Rebecca Novak, Kory Reeder
September 16 at 7:30pm: Lisa Cameron, Christina Carter, James Murphy
September 17 at 4pm: Lisa Cameron, Danny Kamins, Brandon Willis
September 17 at 7:30pm: Christina Carter, Justin Jones, Kory Reeder

Nameless Sound’s mission is to present the best of international contemporary music and to support the exploration of new methods in arts education. Its concert series has become known for a diverse range of international artists who represent the most important and influential names in music, as well as the emerging cutting-edge. The series features commissions and world-premieres, as well as special projects that entail collaborations between visiting artists and local musicians.

Underground Sounds: Nameless Sound
2023-09-15 19:30 - 20:15 UTC | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
UPDATE: All Nameless Sound performances are now SOLD OUT! For any additional guests wishing to attend, we will be taking an in-person, first-come-first-served waiting list beginning exactly 30 minutes prior to each performance time.
The next “Underground Sounds” is with DACAMERA October 5-8. Tickets are available starting Friday, September 8 at 9am.
***
Join us for Underground Sounds, a unique music series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern!
This fall, four Houston-based music organizations will perform specially composed or arranged works that highlight the remarkable natural acoustics of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
About this program: Nameless Sound will present six unique concerts, each with a different trio of creative musicians collaborating for the first time to explore the special sonic qualities of the Cistern. Each will be a singular experience, never-to-be repeated, that will take audiences on a sonic journey of real-time musical composition.
Performance times:

September 14 at 7:30pm
September 15 at 7:30pm
September 16 at 4pm
September 16 at 7:30pm
September 17 at 4pm
September 17 at 7:30pm

Performers:

September 14: Ethan Adkison, James Murphy, Brandon Willis
September 15: Ethan Adkison, Justin Jones, Rebecca Novak
September 16 at 4pm: Danny Kamins, Rebecca Novak, Kory Reeder
September 16 at 7:30pm: Lisa Cameron, Christina Carter, James Murphy
September 17 at 4pm: Lisa Cameron, Danny Kamins, Brandon Willis
September 17 at 7:30pm: Christina Carter, Justin Jones, Kory Reeder

Nameless Sound’s mission is to present the best of international contemporary music and to support the exploration of new methods in arts education. Its concert series has become known for a diverse range of international artists who represent the most important and influential names in music, as well as the emerging cutting-edge. The series features commissions and world-premieres, as well as special projects that entail collaborations between visiting artists and local musicians.

Underground Sounds: DACAMERA
2023-10-05 19:00 - 19:30, 2023-10-06 19:00 - 19:30, 2023-10-07 16:00 - 16:30, 2023-10-08 16:00 - 16:30, 2023-10-08 17:30 - 18:00 UTC | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
UPDATE: All DACAMERA performances are now SOLD OUT! For any additional guests wishing to attend, we will be taking an in-person, first-come-first-served waiting list beginning exactly 30 minutes prior to each performance time.
The next “Underground Sounds” is with vocalist Alexandra Smither and bassist Austin Lewellen on October 26 – 29 . Tickets are available starting Friday, September 29 at 9am.
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Join us for Underground Sounds, a unique music series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern!
This fall, four Houston-based music organizations will perform specially composed or arranged works that highlight the remarkable natural acoustics of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
About this program: DACAMERA has commissioned Houston composer Mark Buller (an alumnus of the DACAMERA Young Artist Program) to create a new, site-specific work for the Cistern which will be performed by current DACAMERA Young Artists.
Tickets available starting Friday, September 8 at 9am.
Cost: $25
Performance Times:

October 5 at 7pm
October 6 at 7pm
October 7 at 4pm
October 7 at 5:30pm
October 8 at 4pm
October 8 at 5:30pm

DACAMERA is an internationally recognized producer and presenter of chamber music and jazz, committed to bringing its audiences transformative musical experiences. DACAMERA’s Education and Community Initiatives have received national attention for its Young Artist Program, a professional development program for outstanding musicians that emphasizes community advocacy and brings Young Artist-teachers into classrooms, introducing music into STEM and humanities lessons.

Underground Sounds: Alexandra Smither and Austin Lewellen
2023-10-27 19:30 - 20:00, 2023-10-28 18:30 - 19:00, 2023-10-29 17:00 - 17:30, 2023-10-29 18:30 - 19:00 UTC | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Update: Tickets for the Underground Sounds with vocalist Alexandra Smither and bassist Austin Lewellen performances are SOLD OUT. For any additional guests wishing to attend, we will be taking a first-come-first-served waiting list beginning exactly 30 minutes prior to each performance time.
Join us for Underground Sounds, a unique music series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern!
This fall, four Houston-based music organizations will perform specially composed or arranged works that highlight the remarkable natural acoustics of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
About this program: A collaborative creation between soprano Alexandra Smither and double bassist Austin Lewellen, this program, entitled Ground/Water, will include solo works from Éliane Radigue’s Occam series, complemented by a co-composed work written in collaboration with Houston poet, Aris Kian, that meditates on water and the Cistern and encourages audience participation.
Tickets available starting Friday, September 29 at 9am.
Cost: $25
Performance Times:

October 26 at 6:30pm
October 27 at 7:30pm
October 28 at 5pm
October 28 at 6:30pm
October 29 at 5pm
October 29 at 6:30pm

Alexandra Smither and Austin Lewellen are a vocalist/double bass duo. An adventurous performer and one of the CBC’s 2017 “30 Young Hot Classical Musicians Under 30”, Canadian soprano Smither is a fresh fixture on the worldwide stage. From the thorniest contemporary scores to the lyricism of Mozart, Smither brings her artistry and intellect to every engagement. Double bassist Lewellen’s interests lie primarily in the creation of living music, through active collaboration with composers. He is most at home in small ensembles, recording studios, and opera pits, though his technique has a firm grounding in the orchestral tradition of the Common Practice Era.

Underground Sounds: Alexandra Smither and Austin Lewellen
2023-10-28 17:00 - 17:30 UTC | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Update: Tickets for the Underground Sounds with vocalist Alexandra Smither and bassist Austin Lewellen performances are SOLD OUT. For any additional guests wishing to attend, we will be taking a first-come-first-served waiting list beginning exactly 30 minutes prior to each performance time.
Join us for Underground Sounds, a unique music series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern!
This fall, four Houston-based music organizations will perform specially composed or arranged works that highlight the remarkable natural acoustics of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
About this program: A collaborative creation between soprano Alexandra Smither and double bassist Austin Lewellen, this program, entitled Ground/Water, will include solo works from Éliane Radigue’s Occam series, complemented by a co-composed work written in collaboration with Houston poet, Aris Kian, that meditates on water and the Cistern and encourages audience participation.
Tickets available starting Friday, September 29 at 9am.
Performance Times:

October 26 at 6:30pm
October 27 at 7:30pm
October 28 at 5pm
October 28 at 6:30pm
October 29 at 5pm
October 29 at 6:30pm

Alexandra Smither and Austin Lewellen are a vocalist/double bass duo. An adventurous performer and one of the CBC’s 2017 “30 Young Hot Classical Musicians Under 30”, Canadian soprano Smither is a fresh fixture on the worldwide stage. From the thorniest contemporary scores to the lyricism of Mozart, Smither brings her artistry and intellect to every engagement. Double bassist Lewellen’s interests lie primarily in the creation of living music, through active collaboration with composers. He is most at home in small ensembles, recording studios, and opera pits, though his technique has a firm grounding in the orchestral tradition of the Common Practice Era.

Underground Sounds: Musiqa
2023-11-09 19:30 - 20:00, 2023-11-10 19:30 - 20:00, 2023-11-11 18:30 - 19:00, 2023-11-12 17:30 - 18:00, 2023-11-12 18:30 - 19:00 UTC | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
UPDATE: All Musiqa performances are now SOLD OUT! For any additional guests wishing to attend, we will be taking an in-person, first-come-first-served waiting list beginning exactly 30 minutes prior to each performance time.
This concludes our ticket sales for the 2023 “Underground Sounds” series.
***
Join us for Underground Sounds, a unique music series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern!
This fall, four Houston-based music organizations will perform specially composed or arranged works that highlight the remarkable natural acoustics of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
About this program: This Musiqa performance features the world premiere of a new composition by artist board member Pierre Jalbert that takes advantage of the Cistern’s unique reverberation. Performers include Jacob Schader (violin), Chris Ellis (cello), Nicholas Bissen (saxophone), Sophie Volpe (trombone) and Terry McKinney (percussion).
Tickets available starting Friday, October 13 at 9am.
Cost: $25
Performance Times:

November 9 at 7:30pm
November 10 at 7:30pm
November 11 at 5:30pm
November 11 at 6:30pm
November 12 at 5:30pm
November 12 at 6:30pm

Led by four composers, Musiqa’s mission is to enrich and inspire their community through programs that integrate new music with other modern art-forms. Each season, Musiqa programs a diverse series of public performances introducing Houston audiences to dynamic and challenging music by contemporary composers, making it one of the most active contemporary music ensembles in the United States.

Ripple Effect: A Collective Exhibition Opening Reception
2024-04-19 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | SUNSET COFFEE BUILDING, 1019 Commerce Street, Suite 200, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
You are invited to Ripple Effect, a collective exhibition organized by Anna Hazel showcasing works by local artists inspired by flora, fauna, and life along the bayou. A percentage of sales from every piece supports our efforts to ensure a cleaner, connected, active, and beautiful Buffalo Bayou. Join us and let’s make ripples of lasting impact on our environment together!
Learn more about Ripple Effect and participating artists here.
Location: Sunset Coffee Building (1019 Commerce St.)
The first 20 BBP Members will receive a special block print by Anna Hazel created specifically for Ripple Effect. Become a BBP Member and receive unique perks and much more!
RSVP

Ripple Effect: A Collective Exhibition
2024-04-20 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-04-21 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-04-22 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-04-23 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-04-24 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | SUNSET COFFEE BUILDING, 1019 Commerce Street, Suite 200, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
You are invited to Ripple Effect, a collective exhibition organized by Anna Hazel showcasing works by local artists inspired by flora, fauna, and life along the bayou. A percentage of sales from every piece supports our efforts to ensure a cleaner, connected, active, and beautiful Buffalo Bayou. Join us and let’s make ripples of lasting impact on our environment together!
Learn more about Ripple Effect and participating artists here.
Location: Sunset Coffee Building (1019 Commerce St.)
Stop by between 10am and 4pm to view the artworks on display.

Underground Sounds: Sam Nester
2025-03-13 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-03-14 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Tickets for this performance are sold out. Next performance series, Three Names by Sarah Grace Graves, ticket release: May 16 at 9am.

Join us for Underground Sounds, a unique music series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern!
This year, the series features national and international artists presenting compositions inspired by the vast, unique architecture of the Cistern and arranged especially for its extraordinary natural acoustics.

About This Program
Australian-born trumpet player, composer, and sound artist Sam Nester has created a site-specific musical composition for brass ensemble, designed to resonate within the historic Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. Nester’s piece unfolds gradually over 25 minutes, exploring the Cistern’s vast 87,500-square-foot space and its unique 19-second reverb. The composition accentuates the space’s cathedral-like acoustics, transforming it into an immersive, meditative experience centered on water and its profound significance—both in the Cistern’s history and within the broader global water crisis. Accompanying the live performance is an evolving light installation that deepens the sensory experience, encouraging audiences to reflect on the societal implications of water access. Globally, approximately 2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, and in the United States, over 2 million individuals still face this challenge in their homes. Through this performance, Nester invites contemplation on the essential role of water and the urgent disparities in its availability.

Cost: $25
Performance Times:

March 13 at 6:30pm and 7:30pm – SOLD OUT
March 14 at 6:30pm and 7:30pm – SOLD OUT
March 15 at 5:30pm and 6:30pm – SOLD OUT
March 16 at 5:30pm and 6:30pm – SOLD OUT

About the Artist
Sam Nester is an Australian-born trumpet player, composer, and sound artist based in New York. His work explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, harnessing natural processes to create immersive sound installations and musical compositions. Since 2022, Nester has collaborated with policy officers from the European Commission Directorate-General for Environment and scientists from the Joint Research Centre on sound installations at the nexus of art, science, and policy.
He has been the artist-in-residence with NYU Abu Dhabi’s Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, Bruny Island (Australia), the US National Parks in Hawai’i, and Italy’s Festival of Arts Design Acerenza. His commissioned works include site-specific environmental sound installations and compositions for the US State Department, Colby College, George Mason University, EcoArt Project, the National Parks Arts Foundation, and the City of Hobart (Australia).
As a performer, Nester has appeared with Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival & Lincoln Center Out of Doors, the Beijing Modern Music Festival, Paris Opera Ballet, Wordless Music Orchestra, Mark Morris Dance Group, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. A Fulbright scholar, Nester earned his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music, receiving the Helen Cohn Award for outstanding performance. He serves on The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music faculty.

Tickets & Availability
Ticket release dates for this set of performances are listed above. For release dates for future performances, please check the Underground Sounds page. We recommend marking the ticket release dates and times on your calendar as tickets will sell out quickly.
Waitlist
For any additional guests wishing to attend a sold-out performance, we will be taking an in-person first-come-first-served waiting list beginning exactly 30 minutes before each performance time.
Ticket Refunds
All ticket purchases are final and non-refundable. Your purchase supports the work of Buffalo Bayou Partnership.
