A Fern Uprising (Barbara Lewandowski / Naila Francis) | Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia

World premiere of A Fern Uprising, composed by Barbara Lewandowski to a poem by Naila Francis, performed by the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia under Artistic Director Dominick DiOrio on June 6, 2026, at Rodeph Shalom. Francis’s poem grew from her walks in the Wissahickon Valley Park. It invites us to slow down, listen to the natural world, and ask what our plant and animal kin can teach us about caring for one another. Lewandowski’s setting uses mixed meters and unpitched, wind-like vocal sounds to bring the forest to life. Music: Barbara Lewandowski Poetry: Naila Francis Conductor: Dominick DiOrio This piece was created through Joyful Abundance: Emerging Artist Commissioning Program, which pairs emerging Greater Philadelphia composers and poets and supports them with mentorship from established artists. The five works premiered alongside Randall Thompson’s The Testament of Freedom as part of ArtPhilly’s What Now: 2026, a citywide festival celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Joyful Abundance was originally commissioned by ArtPhilly as part of the What Now: 2026 festival, with lead support provided by the William Penn Foundation. Funded in part by the Musical Fund Society and the Alan Harler New Ventures Fund. Learn more: mcchorus.org #MendelssohnChorus #JoyfulAbundance #ArtPhilly #WhatNow2026 #ChoralMusic #WorldPremiere #NewMusic #Philadelphia