The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
Chamber Music Now!
Cell Block: Stories of the Eastern State Penitentiary
2008 Grantee
$20,000
Chamber Music Now! received $20,000 to commission and present a program of four new works in partnership with the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (ESP). The commissioned pieces by Philadelphia-based composers Philip Maneval, David Laganella, Richard Brodhead, and Richard Belcastro will take their inspiration from the history of this Philadelphia landmark. The works will be premiered by Ensemble CMN! inside the cellblock walls of the ESP. Ensemble CMN! features Josh Kovach (clarinet), Hanna Khoury (violin), Miguel Rojas (cello), Gabe Globus-Hoenich (percussion), and Rachael Garcia (soprano).
Founded in 2002 by two composers, Chamber Music Now! is in its sixth year of providing the Philadelphia community with original concert productions. CMN has presented 18 productions and premiered 36 new works written for its concert series, many by young composers. CMN designs its concert themes and collaborative efforts to attract a broad range of new listeners and to re-shape the image of chamber music in the community. The concert series provides a platform to present established and emerging local artists, as well as unique talent from around the globe. http://www.chambermusicnow.org/
Richard Brodhead, photo by A.L. Jacques