Open today 10 am – 5 pm

Songs of Love and Loss from the Royal Tombs of Ur

A Pre-Concert Conversation in collaboration with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society

Penn Museum

Tuesday, Mar. 4 2025, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm ET

golden figurine

Join us for a special pre-concert event presented in collaboration with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (PCMS).

Preceding their March 5 performance of The Enchanted Dawn, join flutist Emi Ferguson and harpist Ashley Jackson for an engaging conversation and musical demonstration, moderated by Assyriologist Paul Delnero.

Inspired by artifacts and stories of music from the ancient city of Ur, the discussion will explore the role of the flute and harp in Sumerian culture and their enduring musical legacy.

6:30–7:30 pm: Light refreshments and time to explore the Penn Museum’s collection of Mesopotamian artifacts in the Middle East Gallery
7:30–8:30 pm: Conversation and musical demonstration

For more information about The Enchanted Dawn, visit pcmsconcerts.org.

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About the Speakers and Performers

Paul Denero

Paul Delnero, Ph.D., is Professor of Assyriology at Johns Hopkins University. His research focus is the religion and culture of Mesopotamia and the transmission of knowledge in Mesopotamian scholarly texts. He received his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006.

Emi Ferguson, flute

Emi Ferguson, flute

Hailed for her “tonal bloom” and “hauntingly beautiful performances,” flutist and composer Emi Ferguson performs on modern and historical flutes, spanning repertoire from the Renaissance to today. A 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, she appears worldwide as a soloist and with groups including AMOC*, the Handel and Haydn Society, and the Manhattan Chamber Players. Her albums Fly the Coop and Amour Cruel topped classical charts. A Juilliard faculty member, she frequently collaborates on innovative projects blending genres and disciplines.

Ashley Jackson, harp

Ashley Jackson, harp

Praised for her “soulful” and “eloquent” playing (Musical America), harpist Ashley Jackson is a sought-after performer and collaborator. She has appeared at Lincoln Center, Celebrate Brooklyn!, and the Schomburg Center, and performs with ensembles including the New York Philharmonic and NOVUS NY. A dedicated scholar, her research on composer Margaret Bonds earned the Theodore Presser Award and led to lectures and recordings. She is an Assistant Professor at Hunter College, where she teaches harp and chamber music. Ashley holds degrees from Juilliard and Yale and is committed to diversity and inclusion in the performing arts.

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