On Wednesday, June 26, the Philadelphia Orchestra traveled up Broad Street to bring their annual Our City, Your Orchestra concert to Temple Performing Arts Center. The Our City, Your Orchestra Live program is a free concert that is held every year in various venues around Philadelphia. This year, Temple University was chosen as the host.
“For 75 years, Temple University has had a wonderful relationship with members of this orchestra. So many have taught in our Boyer College of Music and Dance,” said Temple President Richard Englert. He also noted that 35 current and former members of the Philadelphia Orchestra are currently teaching in various Boyer departments, and several orchestra members are Temple alumni.
The event began with pre-concert festivities in the late afternoon, free of charge to the community. The celebration included a small street fair on the grass between Rock Hall and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, complete with face painting, a bounce castle, DJ, games, crafts and snacks, which continued up until the start of the concert at 7 p.m.
The program included a survey of classical music by Black composers who have been too often overlooked in the classical music sphere, including 18th century composers, household names like Scott Joplin and Duke Ellington, and contemporary composers.
Historical context for the music was provided throughout the programming by Philadelphia’s Chief Cultural Officer Valerie Gay, BYR ’10, ’11. “I’m so honored that we all get to go on a musical ride with our amazing orchestra,” Gay said. “One thing I love about this program is the connection,” she continued, explaining that the composers on the night’s program were connected through time and space in that they heavily influenced the music that came after them. For instance, Joplin’s ragtime was a heavy influence on the jazz movement that would soon follow.
Given Temple’s history of musical excellence (especially in jazz), from Grammy-winning big bands to John Coltrane’s legendary performance on campus in the 1960s, it was only fitting that Temple’s original building be used to host the city’s orchestra for a free, community-focused event.
“To have our orchestra here for free is a privilege,” District Councilmember Jeffrey Young Jr., CLA ’08, said to this point during his opening remarks. “To stay connected to music and to the city is something we truly, truly appreciate here in Philadelphia.”