The Space

We Keep

Saturday, March 14th, 4pm

First Presbyterian Church

201 S. 21st Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Please join us for a post-concert reception.

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon as Associate Artistic Director Heather Mitchell curates and conducts her second and final concert with Mendelssohn Chorus before embarking on her new journey as Artistic Director of The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. "The Space We Keep" explores the sacred territories of memory, love, and belonging  through a carefully chosen tapestry of choral works that celebrate the enduring connections we forge and carry within us.

The concert's title resonates through every selection, from Stephen Paulus's luminous "Hymn of the Eternal Flame" to Bernstein's hopeful "Make Our Garden Grow." Central to the evening are Fanny Hensel's intimate "Gartenlieder",  which evoke the cherished spaces of nature and nurture, and Jonathan Dove's "The Passing of the Year,"  capturing the bittersweet space between seasons of life. These works, alongside pieces by Britten, Elgar, and others,  weave together themes of transition, continuity, and the sanctuary we find in both music and memory.

The evening will feature a special solo performance by our Collaborative Pianist and Senior-Artist-in-Residence, Ting Ting Wong, adding her artistry to this celebration of the spaces that define and sustain us.

Under Heather Mitchell's thoughtful direction, "The Space We Keep" becomes both a reflection on the sanctuary we find in music and memory, and a tribute to the lasting impact of artistic leadership. This concert promises to be a deeply moving farewell that honors the space Heather has carved within our musical community  while celebrating the eternal spaces that music creates in our hearts.

Photo credit: Heather Mitchell