How often do we get to look back at 'what composers write when they write for us?' 

Not often.

To celebrate America @ 250, ArtPhilly presents that opportunity, 

and we embrace it in two programs that capture our primary goal: 

singing the stories of our time, as told by our most creative compositional voices, 

all commissioned by us and first sung in Philadelphia!

THE LAWS OF NATURE AND OF NATURE'S GOD

MoM 1: Building a Contemporary Canon, Edition 1

The People Address the Nation's Issues

(The Society, The Environment, The Displaced)

Featuring the world premiere of

Nicole Lizée's Boy Drawing a Lady with Trademarks for Eyes and Copyright-Scented Hair

w/ works from our social justice commissions

Saturday, June 6 @ 5pm | Broad Street Love

Sunday, June 7 @ 5pm | The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill

preconcert talk @ 4pm (both dates)

We tap our vast catalogue of commissioned works for those that examine “Where we are”; the assessment, if not always optimistic, is tirelessly honest and inquisitive as heard through the music of some of the North America's most adventurous composers. A new work of Canadian composer Nicole Lizée and works of David Lang, Shara Nova, Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon, Stratis Minakakis, John Luther Adams, Edie Hill, Caroline Shaw, and Gabriel Jackson form a kind of musical quilt that says, “We are here, and this is what it feels like to be here.” 

LIFE, LIBERTY, PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

MoM 2: Building a Contemporary Canon, Edition 2

The People Speak from the Birthplace of America

(Philadelphia Composers Ask Questions)

Featuring the world premiere of

Nathalie Joachim's Virtue

w/ Thomas Mesa, cello

w/ works from our social justice commissions

Saturday, June 27 @ 5pm | Broad Street Love

Sunday, June 28 @ 5pm | The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill

preconcert talk @ 4pm (both dates)

Digging still deeper into our catalogue of commissions, we find the extraordinary community of Philadelphians, writing new works in this Place of the Declaration and sending out musical messages to the far corners of the globe. Composers Jennifer Higdon, Kile Smith, Robert Maggio, Julia Wolfe, James Primosch, and Benjamin C.S. Boyle cover the stylistic landscape and explore everything from FDR’s vision of Democracy, to the disappearance of bluestem grasses, to love, and to jazz. 

Coming June 5:

Aaron Helgeson's

The Book of Never



our 41^st album

on Navona Records

Our season artwork is by Caroline Bergstrøm Scheibel: behance.net/scheibel
Album art for The Book of Never by Steven Bradshaw: stevenbradshawart.com