By Ann Mintz, Reading Terminal Market

The Reading Terminal Market is one of the most popular locations in downtown Philadelphia, averaging 17,000 people per day, 358 days a year for a total of 6.3 million visits each year.     This creates an interesting challenge for programming and scheduling. We often schedule performances on Sundays since weekend patrons have more time to linger and Saturdays are generally extremely busy and crowded.

Our regularly scheduled performances take place on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.  In May, these dates coincided with Mother’s Day and Memorial Day.  We programmed two accomplished solo guitarists, playing standards and original material.  Matt Richards has performed at the Montreal and Mellon Jazz Festivals, and shared stages with Richie Havens and Paco Pena.  He’s been described as “the most originally creative guitarist on the regional scene.’ Philadelphia Music Award nominee Rolly Brown is a national champion fingerstyle guitarist, renowned both as a performer and a teacher.

One of the goals of this new performance series is to introduce the performing arts to the broad and diverse audience that frequents the Reading Terminal Market.  It’s been especially wonderful to see how children respond to live music.  This little girl was clearly fascinated by Rolly Brown’s guitar.  When he started playing Teddy Bear’s Picnic, she danced.

Music @ the Market is an ongoing program; visit  www.readingterminalmarket.org for information about upcoming performances.