Hearing Philadelphia

Hearing Philadelphia is a grassroots musical memorial and call to action honoring Philadelphians impacted by gun violence. Centered on the stories of eight family members who have lost loved ones, the project culminated in a public performance at City Hall on March 29th, 2025 held in partnership with Moms Bonded By Grief as part of a citywide rally. Through music, storytelling, and communal remembrance, Hearing Philadelphia seeks to transform grief into a space for healing and change. The work features a collaboratively composed piece for voices and instruments that integrates audio interviews, video memorials, and the words of grieving families. Open to musicians of all ages and experience levels, the ensemble brought together professionals, students, and community performers from across the city.

The event also featured resource tables and community engagement by the Uplift Center for Grieving Children, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Human Resources Jobs Bus, and the BE SMART for Kids campaign from Moms Demand Action. These partnerships helped connect grieving families and attendees with crucial support, services, and tools for action.

By bridging performance and testimony, Hearing Philadelphia aims to foster empathy, amplify unheard voices, and challenge the stigmas that often surround victims of gun violence. An ongoing digital memorial offers families a place to listen, reflect, and contribute their own stories. 

Visit the project website for more information and to hear from the families at the heart of this work.

Hearing Philadelphia in the News:

Philadelphia Community Orchestra

The Philadelphia Community Orchestra (PCO) is an eclectic instrumental ensemble open to all ages and skill levels—no previous musical experience is required. The PCO focuses on experimental, improvised, and alternative music-making for the Philadelphia Community. Repertoire includes rare and underperformed music of the past, graphic and text scores, group improvisations, and works specifically composed for the PCO.  The only requirements for prospective members are that they bring their own instrument, commit to attending rehearsals, and foster a collaborative spirit and open mind.

Interested in joining? Please fill out this interest form and the PCO team will be in touch.

In dark times will there also be singing?

In dark times will there also be singing? is a participatory sound installation and performance originally created for Villa Sciarra Park in Rome. Passersby are invited into the space and encouraged to interact: by pressing a foot pedal, participants activate a microphone and are invited to sing, hum, or whistle “a song that brings you joy.” While the pedal is held, their contribution is anonymously recorded. When the pedal is released, a previous participant’s recording is played back through speakers, creating an evolving dialogue of anonymous voices across time.

The performance component of the project took place on May 20, 2021, as part of a concert organized by the American Academy in Rome. A sound collage of recorded voices was diffused from inside the Villa Aurelia, accompanied by a live performance by the Rome-based string ensemble Quartetto Sincronie.

To learn more and explore documentation from a 2022 iteration of the project at the Rail Park in Philadelphia, visit the installation website.