Great Vibrations · Fall/Winter 2023

AUTUMN/WINTER 2023

TURNING UP THE VOLUME

MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT AND CEO Raising the Bar Our Mann vision is to be recognized as a national model and trusted curator of “must-see” performances and transformative experiences in Philadelphia and beyond. We are committed to being a responsible stakeholder in our community and to creating high-impact, collaborative arts education for students K-12.

This season we “turned up the volume” in all these areas.

We launched the intimate Jazz Under the Stars series with our first Jazz Curator-In-Residence, Gerald Veasley.

We celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with Chill Moody, our first Community Artist-In-Residence, participating in our Downstage @ the Mann series. With support from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, we commissioned and presented the world premiere of Darin Atwater’s Black Metropolis with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Chill Moody, featuring members of the Soulful Symphony.

Our ACOSA student orchestra hosted a “play in” that brought students, Philadelphia Orchestra members, and community members to play together on the Mann’s stage. We even transformed our campus into a college fair with our first HBCU Festival Presented by TD Bank.

Thanks to our valued partnership with Live Nation Philadelphia we “turned up the volume” with a record number of concerts in TD Pavilion. We also offered more in the classical music sphere through our collaboration with The Philadelphia Orchestra and raised the bar on contemporary dance offerings through our burgeoning relationship with Ballet X. Our new Skyline Stage, now a permanent first class general admission venue, showcased our largest Skyline season ever.

In this issue you will learn more about the ways we are turning up the volume for music lovers across the Delaware Valley, and some of the plans taking shape for our 50th anniversary in 2026.

Many of these programs are mission driven—they are not revenue generators. It is your support that makes them possible.

We couldn’t be more grateful!

Catherine M. Cahill President & CEO

Hip-hop artist Don Toliver performs on the Skyline Stage.

PARTY IN THE PARK HITS IT OUT OF THE PARK The Mann’s annual Party in the Park gala is a beloved tradition and the Mann’s largest fundraiser.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, ticket-buyers, and silent auction winners, we exceeded our fundraising goal and raised over $220,000 for our year-round Education and Community Engagement Programs.

This year, the Mann was thrilled to honor four Philadelphia visionaries for their impact on our community as well as on the Mann: Honorable Marian B. Tasco, TD Bank, Shelley Sylva, and Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. Guests enjoyed cocktails and dinner at the Top of the Hill overlooking the beautiful Philadelphia skyline, followed by a unique Downstage performance by Time for Three and our 2023 Community Artist-In-Residence, Chill Moody.

We are grateful to every one of our attendees for supporting our non-profit mission and for being a part of our spectacular community. Thank you!

Party in the Park guests start the evening off correctly with a proper toast.

GEAR UP FOR THE MANN AT 50

Our campus is turning 50 in 2026! The one and only James Taylor, who gave his 21st performance at the Mann last summer, is one of many artists who are sharing their thoughts on their Mann experiences.

What about you? Do you have a Mann Memory? Send us an email at MannMemories@MannCenter.org. We may want to share it in our celebrations!

MUSIC TO OUR EARS

“I think the Mann might be my favorite venue because of the great acoustics, beautiful venue, lots of concession options, friendly staff and great line-up of artists.”

“I’ve been attending the Mann for over 30 years. I feel at home there. Your experience changes as the evening progresses – daylight, dusk, nighttime and how everyone who works there is so nice.”

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

ACOSA students performed for the first time ever on the Mann’s newly built permanent Skyline Stage.

JAZZ UNDER THE STARS IS BACK!

(left to right) Rick Braun, Maysa and Gerald Veasley on stage at Jazz Under The Stars.

Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Dara Burkholder leads over 50 community violinists of all ages from the city and surrounding suburbs for a Suzuki Violin Play-in.

MAKING THE CONNECTION! Thank you for being a part of the Mann’s recordbreaking 2023 season.

The Mann connects all of us to a shared love of music and performing arts – through blockbuster concerts, intimate productions, large-scale special events, and our free arts education and community engagement programs. Whether it is the joy of seeing a young student honing his or her musical skills in our All City Orchestra Summer Academy or learning to play the drums in our after school music classes, we see connections that inspire joy and a sense of belonging.

There’s connection every summer night on our campus when your favorite artists take the stage. Our biggest and busiest summer ever would not have been possible without our valued partnership with Live Nation Philadelphia. Together, we connected international touring artists, up-and-coming local performers, cultural powerhouses, and musicians of diverse genres directly to YOU. I urge you to stay connected to us by making plans to be part of our 2024 season. Please consider renewing your membership at the Mann today and sharing the magic of the Mann with others.

Thank you for your continued support and staying connected with us all season long!

Sincerely,

Joan Roebuck-Carter SVP & Chief Advancement Officer P.S. Not only will your donation provide you access to fantastic benefits like our dedicated membership ticket inventory, VIP parking, and entry to our Cadillac Terrace for the 2024 Season, but your generosity also directly supports our incredible free year-round community engagement and education programs!

TURNING UP THE VOLUME

34

30

18

TD PAVILION CONCERTS

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

SKYLINE STAGE CONCERTS

23

3

CULTURAL/ ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES & REHEARSALS

DOWNSTAGE PERFORMANCES

31

DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

170

CONCERTS, EVENTS, AND ACTIVITIES

29

PRIVATE RENTALS

2023

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

2

JAZZ UNDER THE STARS PERFORMANCES

MORE THAN

470,000 PATRONS