The Mann, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Project 440 and the School District of Philadelphia put together third-annual All City Orchestra Summer Academy for Philadelphia students, returning live on The Mann’s Fairmount Park Campus
PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia orchestral students will join together again for a summer of healing and in-person music performance education with the third-annual All City Orchestra Summer Academy (ACOSA), presented by the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Project 440 and the School District of Philadelphia.
ACOSA is a free two-week program for sixth to 12th graders in the School District of Philadelphia, with this year’s program held July 19 to 30 live at Mann’s Fairmount Park campus. The first week will be designated for strings players, and the second week will be designated for winds, brass and percussion players. During both weeks, students will engage in master classes with The Philadelphia Orchestra; composition classes with Network for New Music; movement classes with Project 440; and workshops with WRTI Radio, which will include performances from Astral Artists. Harp students will engage in lessons from teaching artists of The Lyra Society.
“The School District of Philadelphia is proud to continue this partnership and offer high-quality summer music opportunities to our students,” said Malika Savoy-Brooks, Ed.D., chief academic support officer of the School District of Philadelphia. “We know the benefits of providing students with a well-rounded education through the study of music and the arts, and this partnership allows students to perform and practice their musical skills, while learning new ones and engaging in-person with students and instructors.”
Nearly 90 students have been accepted into the program and will engage in chamber group rehearsals along with the aforementioned classes, in preparation for intimate performances at the conclusion of both weeks in the TD Pavilion at the Mann. The rehearsals will be led by Joseph Conyers, the director of the All City Orchestra, executive director of Project 440, and acting associate principal bass at The Philadelphia Orchestra; and Don Liuzzi, principal timpani of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The groups will also be coached by teachers of the School District of Philadelphia.
“The Mann is grateful to give our talented young musicians in Philadelphia the opportunity to join together in person again and experience the power of joy and healing in music after an exhausting pandemic,” says Naomi Gonzalez, vice president of education and community engagement at The Mann. “All of our partners of All City Orchestra Summer Academy are thrilled to deliver their classic music and life skills training this year with a small twist to ensure a safe and intimate experience for our students.”