Rehearsing Philadelphia, created and composed by Ari Benjamin Meyers, brought musical performances to public spaces throughout Philadelphia in the spring of 2022. With four performance modules encompassing intimate solos, interactive duets, small ensembles, and orchestra performances, the project culminated in a performance by a Public Orchestra assembled from an open call and inclusive of varied musical practices. The large-scale public art project, co-presented by Curtis Institute of Music and Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, gathered more than 200 performers to explore a central question: How can we be together?

In the videos below, Meyers explains his approach to answering this question, the nuances of connecting strangers through music, and why he asserts his authorship in pieces like this.

Meyers on Rehearsing Philadelphia.

Meyers on authorship and collaboration.

Ari Benjamin Meyers is a US-born, Berlin-based composer and artist whose work aims to explore the relationship between performer and audience and the performative, social, and ephemeral nature of music.