Launched during the pandemic, our ongoing project has presented contemporary classical and jazz to thousands of Philadelphians where they shop and work, including parts of the city with little access to live music. Aimed at eliminating barriers to attendance, EMERGING MARKETS was honored with an Arts and Business Council Award from the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia.
Orchestra 2001's new William Penn Foundation and PECO Powering The Arts grants for 2024-25 support audience engagement through PLAYING THE MARKETS. This series of contemporary classical music and jazz starts with pop-ups, followed by marketed returns to the same sites featuring chamber music groups and conducted ensembles, with free or pay-as-you-wish attendance.
Five pop-up concerts opened this season of PLAYING THE MARKETS at Philadelphia’s two largest markets. Our jazz trio played at Reading Terminal Market including the Scrapple and Apple Festival (Charlie Parker’s “Scrapple from the Apple”). Two of our inventive percussionists took the “Flea Market Challenge” at Philadelphia Mills (formerly Franklin Mills) Flea Market where players are given $50 cash to buy “junk instruments” that they then play for shoppers and vendors. View videos below! (Sharon Torello, videographer)
