FROM DEVELOPMENT
Dear
Supporter of the Mann,
As we look ahead to what promises to be another exciting concert season in the summer of 2025, the Development Team and I have been reflecting on the incredible experiences we shared during the 2024 season and how we can enhance your donor experience in the future.
My thoughts begin with all the unforgettable concerts and donor events that brought us together. The energy, the performances, and the connection we shared with all of you were truly special. But when I also consider the impact of your generosity beyond the stage, I am reminded of the young students in our music education programs. From the Mann’s summer music camps to our year-round K-12 education classes, your contributions help provide the resources needed to nurture the next generation of musicians.
Throughout the year, we hear inspiring stories from students learning directly from teaching artists and education staff. Our middle school students learn how to drum, dance, and step directly from teaching artists, while high schoolers are honing their jazz and orchestral instrumental skills. High school students are also exploring careers in the music business through our Workforce Development program. It’s a privilege to see how, together, we are making such a meaningful impact in their lives and futures.
Of course, you, our valued patrons, are always at the heart of our efforts to enhance your experience at the Mann. This summer, the Development Team and I loved hearing why our programming matters to YOU. I’m excited to share that we’re undergoing a physical transformation of our Campus, including updates to the entrance Plaza, to create an even better experience for our loyal supporters—more to come!
Thank you for sharing your love of the arts through your membership, sponsorship, and generous gifts. Your funds go a long way in ensuring that the Mann is more than an outstanding concert venue, it is a place where students learn to play instruments, perform on stage in front of an audience for the first time, and launch careers in the arts.
We’re grateful for your continued support as we look ahead to 2025. Happy holidays to you and yours!
Warmly,
Joan Roebuck-Carter, Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer
Come together
Thank you to everyone who supported our 2024 Party in the Park! It was certainly a night to remember, as our Mann supporters gathered in celebration of another fantastic season of the Mann. We toasted our visionary honorees: Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker, CEO and Founder of Global Leadership Academy Schools; Geoff Gordon, President, Live Nation Northeast; and Honorable Edward G. Rendell, who treated the room to a one-of-a-kind version of “Yesterday” by the Beatles.
Although our headliner for the evening fell ill and was unable to perform, our guests brought their fun and positive spirit, groovy vibes, and their genuine love for the Mann to celebrate “peace and love” with us.
Honorable Edward G. Rendell shared joyful and memorable stories during his acceptance speech.
Party in the Park guests celebrate together.
Honorees Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker (top photo) and Geoff Gordon (bottom photo) accept their awards.
MORE THAN THE CLASSROOM Training—and
Employing—the Next Generation of Music Industry Professionals
18-year-old Jermaine Thurman graduated from Overbrook High School last June with a dream to work in the music industry and a powerful ally on his side: Grammy-nominated songwriter Kristal Oliver, a mentor and teaching artist with the Mann’s groundbreaking new Music Industry Apprenticeship Program (MIAP)
“She said she’d seen something in me that I don’t see…and this was my opportunity to show it…” Thurman recalled. “At first, I was like nah…I was disagreeing and not believing…Now I see what they were talking about…It gave me a little flame. Now I’m a flame thrower!”
Thurman and three other graduates from Overbrook—just down the road from the Mann—are rotating through apprenticeships at Philly institutions like The Philm Factory, World Café Live, The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, Philadelphia Scenic Works, Loud Series, and Nu Millennium Studios. Thirty hours a week, they’re getting on-the-job training and getting paid by the Mann.
The pilot program—created in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP)—grew out of the Mann’s three-year, curriculum-based Music Industry Training Program (MITP) for high school students. Both programs are designed to give the youth of the Mann’s West Philadelphia neighborhood awareness of and a path toward paid jobs in the music industry.
MIAP students Atiek Gaffney-Samudio and Daniel Kouhe
“It takes a village to make these shows come to life,” says Oliver. “We don’t always have enough—not only people, to fill those roles—but especially people of the demographic this program serves… The Mann is serving more inner-city schools, offering opportunities to especially young, brown and black youth that might not normally see these types of things…That’s just invaluable.”
“The Mann has been more than just what you see on stage for years,” says Anthony Boyd-Slade, Vice President of People Operations & Chief Operating Officer. “While we love bringing young people in for concerts, our mission goes beyond that. Our education programs are designed to make a greater, more direct, impact by introducing students to the breadth of opportunity in the music business. This new apprenticeship program, in which aspiring music industry leaders are not only getting on-the-job training but also getting paid, by the Mann, takes our commitment to the next level.”
At the non-profit Philm Factory, apprentices learn about photography, camera operation, stage management, lighting and set design, digital editing, post-production, and budgeting.
“We were once told that art isn’t going to get you anywhere, and now we’re learning how wrong that was,” says Lu Bevins, who founded Philm Factory with her sister, Eli. The twins were raised by their grandparents in West Philadelphia and are also Overbrook grads.
“Philadelphia loses a lot of talent to other cities,” says Lu. “Businesses here can play a big role in keeping our talent here, which, of course, funnels back into the community. You’re investing in the next up-andcoming generation…The Mann is ahead of the game in considering that.”
“When we were at Overbrook, we didn’t have these types of opportunities,” says Eli. “But if you…actually provide the opportunities, and the jobs are there, you’ll start to see a difference in our youth. They’re very talented. They’re just looking for someone to tap into them, someone who believes in them.”
“It’s opened a new horizon,” says apprentice Atiek Gaffney-Samudio, who calls the program “a big opportunity.”
“I always liked doing music, and I always had a passion for film,” he says. “I never knew how much work got put into the backstage.”
In addition to making connections that could lead to full-time careers, the young men are also learning professional skills that will translate to any industry.
“Don’t be shy. Make yourself known in the room. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t try to be too cool for school,” says Thurman. “You gotta really connect with people and be out there.”
With the success of the inaugural class, the Mann is now seeking additional funding to offer more apprenticeships next season in a program that could become a national model.
“I applaud the Mann for the action that they’ve taken,” says Oliver. “Hopefully, this program will help a lot of confused or non-decisive students find their way in this healthy and wealthy industry called the music industry.”
Newly announced apprentices, teaching artists, and program partners participating in the Mann’s Music Industry Apprenticeship Program gather for a celebratory photo at the launch event on July 1, 2024 in the Field Education Center on the Mann’s Campus.
FROM THE MANN’S PRESIDENT & CEO
The efforts of the Mann’s Education and Community Engagement department continue to be a great source of pride for me as the team works with such passion in fulfilling our organization’s mission to lead in arts education through innovative and high impact collaborations.
Several years ago, we recognized the need to strengthen our ties with the Parkside community, where the Mann is based. While our vibrant music education programs and special community events already reached tens of thousands of K-12 students across Philadelphia, we wanted to focus on making a more lasting impact on our immediate West Philadelphia neighbors.
A two-year study was conducted, where we identified ways to leverage the Mann’s resources for greater community benefit. With generous support from PECO, in 2021 we launched the Music Industry Training Program (MITP) at Overbrook High School for 10th-12th graders, giving students hands-on experience in music professions beyond performance. Despite launching during the pandemic, this program has been an enormous success, and we are now looking to expand and offer it in a second Philadelphia school.
This year, thanks to a generous grant from The Barra Foundation, we’ve expanded MITP into a fullfledged apprenticeship program for our graduates. Through the new Music Industry Apprenticeship Program (MIAP), we’ve partnered with regional music organizations to place graduates in full-time jobs, as detailed on pages 4-6. These initiatives show that the Mann is more than just a world-class concert venue, it is also a transformative space offering free arts exposure and real-world career training.
Meet our first apprentices...
Cheers,
Catherine M. Cahill President & CEO
“...the Mann is more than just a world-class concert venue, it is also a transformative space offering free arts exposure and real-world career training.”
—Catherine M. Cahill
MORE THAN MEMBERSHIP Member Spotlight:
Heather Ali, Chairman’s Council (former Mann Member)
What was your first experience at the Mann?
I think it may have been seeing Harry Connick Jr., probably early 2000s. None of my friends were interested so I went by myself. I ended up buying a ticket right outside the ticket office from another single woman who had an extra ticket. So I sat next to her and we had a great time together.
Favorite Mann Moment?
Beck with The Philadelphia Orchestra. We bought tickets fairly last minute but ended up having seats in the second row. It was amazing.
Several years ago I saw 2CELLOS and it was such an interesting mix of rock and classical. I grew up playing violin, but certainly not the way they play cello!
You’ve been able to double your gift to the Mann every year through your employer, Susquehanna International Group, LLP. Any advice to encourage other members to ask about matching gifts?
My guess is that most people aren’t aware of it. For us, it’s a simple form that you fill out and then the company processes the rest. It’s a very light lift, very easy to do.
There is lots of flexibility in the way you get involved, so you really can find something that fits… whatever your financial situation, skill set, or time availability.
You’ve been a Mann Member for a decade now (wow!) What inspired you to upgrade your membership and now serve as a member of the Chairman’s Council?
I’ve always loved live music. Anytime I talk to somebody, if we start talking music, I make sure that they know what a great venue the Mann is. Besides the concerts, the Mann has a lot of really great programs with the local schools and kids. It’s nice to be able to get involved in something that you can actually see making a difference.
Interested in supporting the Mann through an additional gift beyond membership like Heather?
Many gifting and organizational leadership opportunities (like the Chairman’s Council) are available to donors interested in making an impactful investment in future generations of music and performing arts. Ways to give include Matching Gifts through the workplace, QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution), Bequests, and so much more! To learn more, please contact: Damaris South, Head of Major Gifts & Planned Giving DSouth@MannCenter.org | (215) 546-7900
MORE THAN SPONSORSHIP: Reaching New Heights with Highmark
In case you didn’t notice, the Mann has a new corporate sponsor in Highmark Blue Shield! In 2024, our Skyline Stage was renamed Highmark Skyline Stage. Highmark Blue Shield serves as the official health insurance of the Mann.
“This is an incredibly meaningful relationship for the Mann. Highmark Blue Shield’s generous long-term investment in what we do on our campus and in our community speaks volumes about their genuine interest in the people of this region,” says Catherine M. Cahill, President and CEO of the Mann.
Highmark Blue Shield is a presenting sponsor of after-school Motion and Music Academy, one of our signature education programs for middle school students in Parkside. And, on the hottest days of summer, Highmark’s team kept patrons cool, comfortable, and hydrated, providing bottled water, phone charging stations, and a place to get out of the sun.
“Our partnership with the Mann Center is about more than just music—it’s about connecting people, fostering community, and promoting well-being,” says Daniel R. Tropeano, Market President, Highmark Blue Shield in Southeastern Pennsylvania. “We’re proud to support this vibrant community and to help keep the music going!”
2024 HIGHLIGHTS
THIS YEAR WE...
JAMES TAYLOR
Welcomed James Taylor back to our stage for the 22nd time, the most of any artist in Mann history, for a sold-out performance, just one of our 12 sold-out performances this season.
DOWNSTAGE
Celebrated acceptance with a performance from Amythyst Kiah and the moving choral oratorio Considering Matthew Shepard as part of our Downstage @ the Mann series.
BACKSTAGE
Completely renovated our backstage with new artist dressing rooms, catering areas, and so much more.
VOICES OF HOPE
Honored Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Sulaiman W. Rahman, Bernard Smalley, and Dr. Delana Wardlaw and Dr. Elana McDonald in our annual Voices of Hope celebration of Black excellence.
MIAP
Launched the Music Industry Apprenticeship Program, a firstof-its-kind technical theater workforce development program.
ROOTS PICNIC
Danced all day with Jill Scott, Lil Wayne, The Roots, and more at the annual Roots Picnic multistage, two-day festival.
JAZZ UNDER THE STARS
Enjoyed two beautiful evenings of Jazz Under the Stars series, presented by Cadillac, in-theround with our Jazz Curator-inResidence Gerald Veasley Band and artists Peter White and Eric Darius.
It’s Time to Join Us for Next Season! A friendly reminder that all current Mann Memberships expire on December 31, 2024. Whether you’re renewing your membership or joining us as a member for the first time, please make sure to pledge your support soon so you don’t miss a single concert announcement or exclusive membership presale in 2025! We’re feeling the vibe for 2025!
