FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Delaware County, PA – October 14, 2026 – On Monday, October 19th at 3pm, fifty select audience members made up of seniors, students and community representatives, will be treated to a one of a kind musical experience inside one of America's most storied landmarks — The 1724 Chester Courthouse, is the oldest continuously occupied public building in the United States and played a role in the founding of our nation, serving as the site of one of the earliest readings of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776.
A small ensemble of string musicians from The Philadelphia Orchestra featuring musicians Jennifer Haas and Eliot Heaton on violin and Meng Wang on viola, will perform a short program, honoring American history and underrepresented voices. The afternoon will also include remarks by elected officials, including U.S. Representative, Mary Gay Scanlon and Pennsylvania State Representative, Carol Kazeem as well as Chester Mayor, Stefan Roots.
We are in a once-in-a-generation moment," said Andrea Silva, Director of America250PADelco."America250 asks us to reflect on what 250 years of democratic freedom has made possible —including the freedom of artists to create, question, and share. Bringing that energy into the 1724Courthouse, one of our most historic civic spaces in Delco, is exactly the kind of living commemoration this anniversary deserves. ”This event marks an important new chapter for the historic courthouse, which recently welcomed its first official event following a five-year restoration.
On September 12, the courthouse hosted a naturalization ceremony, showcasing its continued role as a place where history and community come together. The restoration has transformed the 1724 Chester Courthouse into a multi-purpose venue designed to host official ceremonies while creating new opportunities for arts, culture and community programming in Chester.
Press is invited for private interviews with Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians at 2:30pm and immediately following the performance.
Performance:3 p.m.
Location: 1724 Chester Courthouse412 Avenue of the States, Chester, PA
To schedule an interview, contact Fran McElwee at fmcelwee@visitdelcopa.com.
For ticketing information, contact Andrea Silva at andrea@america250padelco.org.