PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 9, 2023) – The Mann Center for the Performing Arts is teaming up with West Philadelphia hip-hop artist, entrepreneur, and activist Chill Moody for its inaugural Community Artist-in-Residence program.  As a guest contributor to many of the Mann’s education and community outreach programs this year, Moody is sharing his artistry, creative spirit, and industry experiences directly with Philadelphia’s young people. He is also headlining Darin Atwater’s Black Metropolis with The Philadelphia Orchestra, collaborating with the composer on a celebration of Black culture during hip hop’s 50th anniversary year.  

“What an incredible honor it is to introduce our Community Artist-in-Residence program with Chill Moody. He is a nationally recognized artist and entrepreneur, a West Philadelphia native, and over the last several years, he has been an overwhelmingly positive force for young people through programs like the Mann Music Room and our Music Industry Training Program at Overbrook High School,” said Catherine M. Cahill, president and CEO of the Mann. “We are so fortunate to be deepening our relationship with Chill to continue inspiring the next generation to pursue their own paths, all while helping the Mann celebrate 50 years of hip hop.”

In January, Moody visited Milkboy the Studio in Philadelphia and provided rap and music production lessons to students of his alma mater, Overbrook High School, who are enrolled in the Mann’s Music Industry Training Program (MITP). MITP is a three-year, hands-on curriculum and career development program that seeks to connect students to the music industry workforce and close the opportunity gap in West Philadelphia through training by professionals in areas such as music production, sound engineering, music business, stage lighting, video makeup, and more.

On Feb. 26, Moody will be a special guest in the digital Mann Music Room, powered by PNC Arts Alive, to help the Please Touch Museum celebrate Black History Month by educating families and children on the installations and programs at the museum through his artistic, musical lens. Launched as a resource for students and families at the onset of the pandemic, the Mann Music Room continues to offer accessible, digital experiences exploring global cultures and Philadelphia’s rich music history with the help of teaching artists, historical blogs and videos.

“Chill Moody is the embodiment of Philadelphia artistry, and we are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with him through our first Community Artist-in-Residence program to bring a wealth of knowledge and experiences to our deserving young people who are so eager to learn and create,” said Naomi Gonzalez, chief education and community engagement officer for the Mann. “We want our students to see themselves and their own potential through people like Chill who are shaping the performing arts scene today.”

Moody will also perform this summer at the Mann. He is collaborating with Emmy Award-winning artist, conductor and composer Darin Atwater to bring a special concert to the TD Pavilion at the Mann on July 19, Black Metropolis, which improvises on Atwater’s 2007 Paint Factory for an all-new work with The Philadelphia Orchestra. The production will celebrate the culture and contributions of hip hop with a fusion of classical music, spoken word, dance and visual art. Moody will also be a guest alongside Low Cut Connie on June 29 for the returning and award-winning Downstage @ the Mann series this summer, an immersive and intimate experience which places both audience and artists together on the Presser Foundation Stage in the TD Pavilion.  

Additionally, Moody will be a guest performer for the Mann’s Young People’s Concert Series, which provides culturally diverse performing arts events and programs free of charge to students in grades K-12 on the Mann’s Presser Foundation Stage. He will visit the Mann’s Motion and Music Academy, a year-long program for Global Leadership Academy students which teaches them all about drumline, ballet, and choir. Presented in partnership with Mad Beatz Philly, Sister Cities Girlchoir, and Philadelphia Ballet, this after-school program addresses the need for out-of-school time initiatives, offering students increased opportunities to explore and develop skills that are otherwise more difficult to access, thus improving in-school engagement and retention.

Moody’s work as the Community Artist-in-Residence contributes to the pillars of the Mann’s education and community engagement initiatives: out-of-school time through offering students increased opportunities and exposure to skills and extracurricular activities that are otherwise more difficult to access; workforce development through valuable learning environments targeted toward young people ages 10-25; and creative placemaking through offering unique arts and culture programs with the help of strategic partnerships across multiple sectors.

“This is the beauty of our programming and why it’s so incredible that Chill is joining us for this work – being able to set young ones up for long-term success in the arts and beyond,” said Gonzalez. “It’s not just about exposing them to the arts through education – it’s also about giving them a chance to feel like they’re a part of the community, imagine a future career for themselves that they might not have otherwise thought about, and also inspire the artists of the future.”

Other New and Returning Education and Community Engagement Programs  

New this year, the Mann, TD Bank and the TD Charitable Foundation will present The HBCU Festival, taking place May 18 through May 20, 2023 across the Mann’s 22-acre campus and celebrating the rich cultural legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The two-day festival will lift up the heritage, performance artistry and collegiate excellence of these venerable institutions, feature a college fair for aspiring young students, and culminate in a free, all-day celebration with performances from drumlines, college mass choirs, marching bands, cheer squads and noted artists.

Returning this year is the Mann’s annual celebration of Black excellence, “Voices of Hope,” presented by TD Bank Ready Commitment. Beginning in February and continuing through June, the celebration will include videos and online performances in the Mann Music Room and will lead to a culminating, in-person ceremony and concert on the day before Juneteenth (June 18) that will honor trailblazing Black artists from Philadelphia.  

To learn more, visit www.manncenter.org/education.  

About the Mann Center for the Performing Arts

As one of the foremost outdoor music centers in the country, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, a leading non-profit organization, has a historical legacy of artistic excellence as a world-class entertainment destination presenting premier artists, now in association with Live Nation Entertainment. Each summer season, renowned symphony orchestras, iconic rock stars, and the latest touring artists in indie rock, hip hop, R&B, and pop take the stage here. The Mann is the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra and has presented critically acclaimed performers every decade since the 1930s. Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, the Mann hosts more than 300,000 visitors annually. Signature concert experiences are surrounded by Philadelphia’s stunning skyline and include seats beneath the Mann’s acoustically acclaimed TD Pavilion; picnics, blankets, and music under the stars on its Great Lawn or at the top of the hill at the Skyline Stage; and dining in Crescendo, the venue’s spectacular tented restaurant. In addition, the Mann’s Education & Community Engagement Program reaches tens of thousands of young people annually through free programming and educational initiatives as well as its virtual Mann Music Room. For more information, visit www.manncenter.org.