Outside the Lines

Every concert begins with relationships: relationships between works of music, between composers and performers, between artists and audiences, and between music and the broader cultural life of our community. When these relationships are thoughtfully cultivated, a concert becomes more than a collection of individual pieces. It becomes a shared experience, one in which each work illuminates the next, inviting us to listen more deeply and more openly.

This season, Outside the Lines, puts that belief into practice through four thoughtfully curated programs that encourage discovery, foster dialogue, and reveal unexpected connections between composers, performers, audiences, and the communities we serve.

We begin the season with Crossfade, a celebration of Philadelphia's remarkable creative community through four world premieres by composers whose voices continue to shape the future of contemporary music. In November, we are delighted to return to Esperanza Arts Center to present Danzas del Ecuador, developed in partnership with bassist William Valencia, celebrating Ecuador's rich musical traditions while affirming our commitment to collaborations that connect cultures and communities through music.

Our February program, Book Complaints: Music, Censorship, and Expression, created in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia, reminds us that artistic expression is fundamental to public life and that music has long served as a powerful vehicle for preserving ideas, memory, and human dignity.

We conclude the season with Schoenberg in Hi-Fi, an imaginative recontextualization of one of the twentieth century's most influential composers. This program invites audiences to encounter Schoenberg through an unexpected sonic landscape, demonstrating that even the most familiar works can reveal new meanings when heard from a different perspective.

Thank you for joining us this season! I hope Outside the Lines offers not only memorable performances, but meaningful opportunities to listen with curiosity, engage with new ideas, and experience the extraordinary ways music continues to enrich our shared public life.

— Thomas Schuttenhelm, Artistic Director

Explore the Season