Rehearsing Philadelphia will wrap its city-wide project on Sunday, April 10. Created by Ari Benjamin Meyers and jointly produced and presented by the Curtis Institute of Music and Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, this large-scale public project explores how we can come together as a city through musical rehearsal. The traditional musical preparation process focuses on rehearsing as a way to attain perfection, which is then repeated in performance. Rehearsing Philadelphia re-examines the rehearsal processes which allow people to act together and be empowered to create new realities. Major support for Rehearsing Philadelphia has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
This is project explores the question “How can we be together?” with music as the medium for exploration. It is titled “Rehearsing Philadelphia” to emphasize the nature of modern life—in a constant state of practice and rehearsal. We embrace the rehearsal process as the way in which people learn to come together, sometimes in tension and conflict and sometimes with the intention of finding commonalities and ways to live and make music side by side. In addition to the live public rehearsal events, there is digital engagement and a public radio on the project website, conceived by digital artist Van Newman.
Featured artists include: Ann Carlson, CA Conrad, Curtis Opera Theatre, Ei Arakawa, Fred Schmidt-Arenales, Germaine Ingram, Sun Ra Arkestra (Marshall Allen & David Middleton), The Dover Quartet, The Philadelphia Heritage Chorale, Singing City, Tyshawn Sorey, Ursula Rucker Xenia Rubinos, Yolanda Wisher and Zoë Keating.
Solo
Philadelphia Police Department Headquarters
Monday, April 4, 2022, 10am and 11am / Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 10am and 11am / Friday, April 8, 2022, 10am and 11am.
City Hall
Monday, April 4, 2022, 5pm / Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 4:30pm / Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 5pm / Thursday, April 7, 2022, 5pm / Friday, April 8, 2022, 5pm.
School District of Philadelphia
Monday, April 4, 2022, 12pm and 1pm / Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 12pm and 1pm / Friday, April 8, 2022, 12pm and 1pm.
Penn Medicine
Monday, April 4, 2022, 1pm / Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 1pm / Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 1pm / Thursday, April 7, 2022, 1pm / Friday, April 8, 2022, 1pm.
Community Legal Services
Monday, April 4, 2022, 3:30pm / Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 3:30pm / Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 3:30pm / Thursday, April 7, 2022, 3:30pm / Friday, April 8, 2022, 3:30pm.
Ticket information: Due to the limited number of audience, registration is necessary for this module. Please only register if you are able to attend. Admission is free.
The performance at the Philadelphia Police Department Headquarters is designed to be experienced exclusively by women, nonbinary or trans-identified people. Ticket reservations are limited to these individuals. People who identify as cisgender men are welcome to attend any of the other Solo locations. *This guideline also applies to media, journalists and other press inquiries related to the PPD location. Please consider assignments accordingly.
Duet
Love Park
Saturday, April 9, 2022, 11am–2pm
Ensemble
Pearlstein Gallery
Thursday, April 7, 2022, 11am–6pm / Friday, April 8, 2022, 11am–6pm / Saturday, April 9, 2022, 11am–6pm.
Ticket Information: This performance is viewable anytime within the window. Admission is free.
The Public Orchestra
Cherry Street Pier
Friday, April 8, 2022, 8pm / Saturday, April 9, 2022, 8pm / Sunday, April 10, 2022, 3pm.
Ticket information: Admission is free.
*Images above: (1) Composer Ari Benjamin Meyers conducts a group of musicians while they sing as part of “Rehearsing Philadelphia” in Clark Park Saturday. (2) Eduardo Luna of Philadelphia Heritage Chorale sings with Jerry Forman (left) as part of “Rehearsing Philadelphia” in Clark Park in West Philadelphia on Saturday. “Rehearsing Philadelphia” is a public project that explores how the city can come together through musical rehearsal. (3) Jonathan Stein rehearses “27 ONWARD: Dancing in the Revolution,” by CA Conrad at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia.
