Events

August 12, 2020: Ars Nova Workshop and Lyric Fest

Ars Nova Workshop took stock of their assets – themselves, their community and surroundings as they rethought their purpose and content. The organization pivoted using their safe space as the center of context rich activities (from outdoor yoga to live music) and recorded, presented, documented, and quickly disseminated their performances.  

Lyric Fest used the opportunity to learn new skills in technology, and took advantage of a broader reach they didn’t have prior to the pandemic. Their storytelling through song – Artsong – was enhanced with creative visuals that resulted in short song movies which could be recorded and presented at watch parties.

View the recording. 

August 13, 2020: Play On Philly! and Settlement Music School

Play On Philly! quickly refocused from replication to reimagination in their role of delivering music education and programming that was once centered around one-to-one intense daily instruction.  From discussions with staff, teachers, and students to understand needs, POP Out of the Box and Virtual Summer emerged. Each 2-month long program provided imaginative and collaborative curriculum, with all stakeholder input considered in order to meet the needs of their families and community.  

Settlement Music School approached the pandemic with a focus on partnerships in a time of change by making informed and sensitive decisions. They used values-based responses with a focus on continual learning and a long-term approach to innovation. Their priority has been their staff, students, and families, with a focus on equity and access. Minimizing financial and technology barriers for families, helping with instrument needs (with help from Jacobs Music), and communicating and engaging with partners and colleagues was key. Collaboration has been essential, and creativeness and responsiveness have been embedded in all they do.

View the recording.

August 14, 2020: Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia and OperaDelaware

Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, a 112-person symphonic chorus, had to pivot and consider when they could sing in person again. Using core values like taking risks, respecting audiences, and creating powerful communal experiences, they developed five goals for the season. With those in mind, MCC developed several scenarios, including a season for in-person and a season for not. The virtual season will include virtual chorus projects, discussions with composers, and some member-only programs like vocal check-ins online, sing-a-longs, and Mendel University education. Their season’s goal focused on community connection, building and engagement.  

OperaDelaware focused on what could they do, instead of what couldn’t they do. Curbside pick-up of festival t-shirts with singing in the parking lot led to Drive Through Arias that gave the artists purpose. The organization brought opera to the medical community at local hospitals and retirement facilities with Pop-Up Opera, which also brought joy and hope to so many who have not been able to experience opera in some time. All of this was a source of purpose and joy for those involved and the payoff of these efforts was well worth it.   

View the recording.

August 19, 2020: PYO Music Institute  and Wilmington Children’s Chorus

PYO Music Institute delivered music education virtually with no existing platform prior to the pandemic. They found a lot of positives during times of struggle – small Zoom classes, teaching artists communicating more with students and families, and the creation of a technology hotline and how-to videos. Master classes were presented on Zoom and access was given to alumni. All of their efforts culminated in a 90-minute online Festival celebrating and properly closing the season. 

Wilmington Children’s Chorus focused time on conducting research for safer group singing in order to keep their “family” safe. Masking, distance, time limits, ventilation and hygiene all working together worked well, but they discovered that there was no “one size fits all” solution. With safety in mind, but never a 0% chance of contracting COVID 19, they moved through readiness stages of prerecorded, “live” virtual, hybrid, and in-person singing. They hosted discussion forums along the way to understand each stage and the impact on programs.

View the recording. 

August 21, 2020: Tempesta di Mare and The Philadelphia Orchestra

Tempesta di Mare walked away from a trip of performances in Germany in early March, and scrambled to put together a 2020-21 season with no virtual programming experience. Since they had video of their rehearsal before their trip, the first project was a Watch Party. Since they were unhappy with the sound quality of the recording, they researched and found Vimeo. They had a large amount of content that was on brand and that they wanted to share. They realized virtual delivery was a wonderful connector, broadening their reach and increasing their core audience. They created the Tempesta Talks series with archived material to bring people inside the music and process for active listening.

The Philadelphia Orchestra began a journey to define the future as society is being reshaped. They examined their priorities as an organization and their financial circumstances, and realized the incredible force to keep moving forward and the power of working together. It is from this place that The Virtual Philadelphia Orchestra was born. Watch, listen and learn were the themes of their creative new programs. The LEARN program reaches thousands of young musicians with online instruction. Hear NOW provided the healing power of music to hospitals for patients and caregivers. Hear TOGETHER provides a monthly discussion on racial inequality. IDEAS – The Philadelphia Way – is their data driven process for moving ahead with a plan and commitment to confronting crisis.

View the recording.