Echoes Beyond the Stage Dedication

Join Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts to dedicate Echoes Beyond the Stage, a collection of 12 large-scale murals by artists Nile Livingston and De’von Downes. Installed along the gates of the Highmark Mann, the installation welcomes guests and sets the stage for a transformative artistic experience, just in time for the venue’s 50th anniversary.

Gather by Highmark Mann’s iconic gates to hear insights from artists, community leaders, and partners on the collaborative design process and the institution’s history. Then enjoy a free orchestra performance at 4 pm on the Presser Stage in TD Pavilion, featuring young instrumentalists from the Albert M. Greenfield All City Orchestra Summer Academy (ACOSA). No registration required.

About Echoes Beyond the Stage

Livingston and Downes worked closely with Highmark Mann staff and community members to create designs exploring how music extends beyond the stage and into daily life. The collection draws inspiration from longtime West Philadelphia residents, the artists’ personal reflections, and Jack McCarthy’s archival history of the venue, A Century of Music Under the Stars. Each 10-foot mural celebrates the institution’s history while weaving together images of its artists, neighbors, and everyday heroes—from Aretha Franklin’s final performance, to a custodial worker playing a broom like a guitar.

About ACOSA

The Albert M. Greenfield All City Orchestra Summer Academy (ACOSA) is Highmark Mann’s premier summer music ensemble training camp for young instrumentalists. Highmark Mann, in partnership with The Philadelphia Orchestra, the School District of Philadelphia, Project 440, The Lyra Society, Network for New Music, Play On Philly, and PYO Institute, annually collaborate to facilitate this high-quality training experience at zero cost to local students.