Singing City's 2025-26 Season
Singing City's 2025–2026 season invites audiences into a rich and varied musical journey that celebrates American voices, cultural storytelling, and the power of community. From a choral conversation on democracy and identity, to a cinematic collaboration with The Philadelphia Orchestra, to a poetic tribute to Langston Hughes, and a bold reflection on liberty and justice, each concert is crafted to inspire, challenge, and connect. Join us as we lift our voices in song and continue our mission of building bridges through music.
Democracy in Song
Part II: American Voices
____________________________________________________________
October 26, 2025
Friends Center - Race Street Room
3:00 p.m.
Building upon the theme of our season opening concert last year, Singing City will continue curating a “choral conversation” with audience members as we explore the stories of people and cultural communities that have shaped the American landscape. Through episodes of call and response singing, we will highlight histories and themes that connect all of us to this country, and to each other.
Repertoire includes Jocelyn Hagen’s American Dream, Ysaÿe Barnwell’s Spiritual, Alice Parker’s On the Common Ground, Haitian-American composer Sydney Guillame’s Finding a Home, and Kevin Siegfried’s arrangement of the Shaker tune Vum Vive Vum.
Program PDF and Notes.
The Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship of the Ring
____________________________________________________________
December 5-7, 2025
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Marian Anderson Hall
various times
Experience J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth like never before. In an exciting event for film enthusiasts and film score lovers, Howard Shore’s epic, Academy Award®–winning score will be performed live by The Philadelphia Orchestra with Singing City in its first appearance with the Orchestra in decades. The power of a full symphony and chorus will bring the music of Middle-earth to thrilling life as the film unfolds on the big screen.
The Lord of the Rings and the name of the characters, events, items, and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.
Dream Keeper
The Life, Letters, and Lyrics of Langston Hughes
____________________________________________________________
March 14, 2026 - Family Concert
Friends Center - Race Street Room
3:00 p.m.
March 15, 2026
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
3:00 p.m.
Singing City partners with
Lyric Fest to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the birth of poet and social activist Langston Hughes through song, poetry, and narration.
Rollo Dilworth leads Singing City on the program which also features
Charlene Canty,
Kenneth Overton, pianist
Laura Ward, and narrators/readers
Charlotte Blake Alston and
Chaz Howard.
With Liberty and
Justice for All
____________________________________________________________
May 3, 2026
Temple Performing Arts Center
3:00 p.m.
As we join the nation in celebrating the 250th anniversary (semi quincentennial) of its birth, Singing City will engage the audience in a “choral commentary” on the last six words of our Pledge of Allegiance: “with liberty and justice for all.” Repertoire will include Damien Geter’s 1619 (which incorporates a setting of the 13th amendment), Ken Medema’s "Justice", Margaret Bonds’ "I Believe in Liberty" (from Credo), and David Chase’s arrangement of "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor" (with God Bless America).
