Circle Jawn Singers Citywide Sing (led by Suzzette Ortiz!) 10/21/26

🎶 ABOUT CIRCLE JAWN SINGERS 🎶

If you love music, improv, and expanding the horizons of what your voice can create in community, Circle Jawn Singers (@circlejawnsingers) is the group for you!


Our mission is to GET PHILLY SINGING through circle singing (spontaneous choral experiences as popularized by vocal music legend Bobby McFerrin), vocal improvisation games, and a cappella jams.

It's just like "Whose Line is it Anyway?", but for musical dorks!

No experience? No problem! This gathering is for singers of ALL skill levels- no special musical talent or training is required to participate. We’d love to have you join us! Just bring yourself, your voice, and your favorite water bottle and get ready to SING!

🎶 OUR CITYWIDE SING 🎶

We're thrilled to come together at our Citywide Sings every other Wednesday from 7 - 8:30 PM!

These gatherings serve as a way to connect with our neighbors, make music, and have fun.

Our 10/21/26 Citywide Sing is extra special because we are welcoming our first guest facilitator local to the Philadelphia area: composer, multi-instrumentalist, veteran music educator, and beloved member of the circle singing community Suzzette Ortiz! IG @suzzetteortiz

ABOUT SUZZETTE:

Suzzette Ortiz (@suzzetteortiz) is a pianist, composer, choral conductor, and educator whose career spans performance, composition, and over two decades of transformative teaching. Originally from Bayamón, Puerto Rico and now based in Pennsauken, New Jersey, she has dedicated her life to sharing the power of music across communities.

As a performer throughout the tri-state area and internationally, Ortiz has appeared at renowned venues including the Philadelphia Clef Club, the Kimmel Center, the Mann Center, and Joe’s Pub in New York. She has been featured as a soloist at the Kennedy Center with the Washington Chorus and as an accompanist at Carnegie Hall. Her career includes collaborations and shared stages with legendary artists such as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Néstor Torres, and members of the Buena Vista Social Club. (See more on her artist website HERE!)

We are SO honored that Suzzette will be joining us and sharing her wealth of experience, artistry, and magic with our circle- she is not one to miss!

Please note that due to an unplanned temporary switch from our normal room at the Ethical Society to a smaller room, this session will be capped at 20 participants. Preregistration is strongly encouraged!

Not able to make this date but want updates on future gatherings? You can join our mailing list using this form: http://bit.ly/4dn29lp

Sing with ya soon! 🎶

Yours in harmony,

Giovanna (Gio) Velino

@giovanna.velino

Host of Circle Jawn Singers 

@circlejawnsingers

Questions? Sing us a note at circlejawnsingers@gmail.com

🎶 JOIN US! 🎶

Please register via Humanitix!

Sliding Scale Contribution: $20–$40

Our gatherings are community supported, contribute what you can. To honor the experience Suzzette is bringing to CJS and to replenish our guest facilitator fund, we ask that contributions for this session start at $20. Thank you!

Additionally, we accept donations for our guest facilitator fund so we can invite top musical talent from around Philly and beyond for special events.

🎶 LOCATION 🎶

We sing at the Philadelphia Ethical Society off of Rittenhouse Square (1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103) on the second floor, usually in the Dining room space.

Here's how to reach us:

Public Transit (SEPTA) 🚌

Bus:

• Routes 21 & 42 (east/west along Chestnut & Walnut): hop off at 19th St

• Route 17 (north/south along 19th & 20th): get off near Rittenhouse Sq & Locust St

• Route 2 (south along 17th): exit at Locust St

Trolley:
All trolley lines run under Market Street, just get off at 19th St Station.

Subway:

• Market-Frankford Line (L): stops at 15th St/City Hall

• Broad Street Line (B): stops nearby at Walnut/Locust

Regional Rail:
All Regional Rail lines stop at nearby Suburban Station, and for our Circle Jawn Singers joining us from South Jersey, the Patco stops at 15th/16th & Locust

Driving & Parking: 🚗

Street parking is available nearby, and here’s a nice perk: many metered spots are free after 6:30 pm. Just be sure to double-check posted signs to avoid any surprises. You can pay meters at kiosks or through the MeterUp app (available on the App Store and Google Play). The SpotHero app is also often used to locate parking in Center City!

Prefer a garage? You’ve got solid options close by, with evening flat rates typically between $13 - $24:

• 1818 Market Street garage (19 S 19th St)

• William Penn House garage (36 S 19th St)

• 1912 Walnut Street Lot by Parkway Corp (1906 Walnut St)

Walking & Biking 🚲
Rittenhouse Square is also super easy to reach on foot or by bike from anywhere in Center City. Bike racks are available!