Professional Development: Field Trips: A Great Day in New York

The Philadelphia Music Project’s first professional development trip brought 19 individuals representing 14 area music organizations, Settlement Music School, and The Pew Charitable Trusts to New York City. The group attended a unique concert at Merkin Concert Hall entitled "A Great Day in New York," a dramatic mix of short compositions mirroring the vitality and diversity of the New York scene and featuring performances by the composers themselves. Featured composers included Michael Hersch, Jerome Kitzke, David Lang, Steve Reich, Joan Tower, Charles Wuorinen, and John Zorn. After the concert, the group attended a follow-up symposium entitled "Post classical music and the changing marketplace," moderated by Ara Guzelimian, director of Carnegie Hall with panelists Susan Feder, Philip Glass, James M. Kendrick, and others.

At dinner that night the participants had the opportunity to interact with featured composers, performers, and administrators. In attendance were composers Michael Hersch, David Lang, Charles Wuorinen, Joan Tower, and Jerome Kitzke; administrators Kathy Hubbard and Vicki Margulies (former director of Merkin Hall); performers Robert Hurwitz and Chee Yun; Ara Guzelimian; and the director of the "Great Day in New York" series, Fred Sherry.

A round table discussion was held on Monday morning with George Steel, Executive Director of Miller Theatre at Columbia University, and Fred Sherry. They discussed the genesis of the "Great Day in New York" Series, programming philosophies, and other issues relevant to Philadelphia presenters.