Philadelphia Orchestra's fifth annual Audience Appreciation Day takes over the city

On September 23, from 9:30am until late in the evening, the musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra will present 32 free concerts at sites scattered through the Philadelphia region. The locations include sites as varied as Studio 34 Yoga on Baltimore Avenue, the Bala Cynwyd Library, First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School at 4300 Tacony Street, St. Mark’s church in center city, and the Jefferson Station subway stop. The musical forces include string quartets, piano trios, woodwind quintets, and ensembles that include harp, flute, and clarinet. The musicians include most of the first chairs and chamber music enthusiasts in the Orchestra ranks.

It’s all part of an annual event—now in its fifth year—called Audience Appreciation Day. It’s presented by Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians (POM), an organization formed and administered by the musicians themselves. The musicians voluntarily perform for free. You’ll find a video that captures the spirit of the whole circus at the POM website, along with a complete listing of all the events.

What, When, Where:

The Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians will present their fifth annual Audience Appreciation Day on Monday September 23, starting at 9:30am at Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, an 11am performance at Elixir Coffee, 207 South Sydenham Street, and finishing with a 7:30pm performance at Trinity Memorial, 2212 Spruce Street. All the events are free, and most take place in spaces open to the general public. For more info visit online.