Community College of Philadelphia announces this year’s Artist in Residence: Mikel Patrick Avery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 11, 2025

Contact:
Antwon R. Martin
armartin [at] ccp.edu (armartin[at]ccp[dot]edu)
267.666.7881

Avery has collaborated and performed with numerous ensembles, including Natural Information Society, Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra, the Jeff Parker Quartet, and many more.

PHILADELPHIA – Community College of Philadelphia is proud to announce Mikel Patrick Avery as the 2025-26 Artist in Residence. The year-long residency is a public facing art initiative engaging students and the wider community through experiential learning. The program is in collaboration with the College’s Music Department and Spring Garden Records, the College’s record label.

Avery is a percussionist, composer/improvisor, filmmaker, photographer, and designer of modern pedal and electronic instruments. He has shared the stage and the recording studio with numerous ensembles including Natural Information Society, Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra, the Jeff Parker Quartet, Kurt Vile, Big Thief, and the Black Monks of Mississippi (Theaster Gates' ensemble).

“It’s my honor to welcome Mikel Patrick Avery to our CCP community as this year’s Artist in Residence,” said Paul Geissinger, director of Spring Garden Records and chair of the College’s Music Department. “Mikel is joining a growing cadre of unbelievably talented musicians as Community College of Philadelphia’s Artist in Residence program continues to attract brilliant artists. I can’t wait to see how Mikel enriches the lives of our students while honing his artistic ability.”

Avery considers his artistic multiplicity as one practice: creative problem solving. Viewing neither "talent" nor "ability" as the driving principles that propel musical and artistic ideas, he is enlarging and democratizing creative space for a wider group of participants.

"My practice is committed to exploring ideas of democratic, communal music making—challenging social norms of what it means to be proficient,” Avery said.

As part of the Artist in Residence program, Avery will participate in guest lectures, performances, masterclasses and panel discussions. Additionally, the Artist in Residence has the opportunity to create an album under the Spring Garden Records label while encouraging aspiring artists at the College. Recordings for the project will take place at CCP’s recording studio, with students and other artists in attendance. The residency runs through June 30, 2026.

Avery is the College’s fourth Artist in Residence, following last year’s resident artist Christopher Michael Stevens. Last month, Stevens released his album “From Then Til Now,” available on the Spring Gardens Records Bandcamp and all major streaming and download platforms.

To learn more about Community College of Philadelphia’s Artist in Residence program, visit springgardenrecords.com.

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About Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in the City of Philadelphia. With an open admissions policy, the College serves all who may benefit – regardless of age, income, or ability. For more than 50 years, the College has lived up to its mission and goals by providing educational access for over 700,000 Philadelphians, setting families, businesses and neighborhoods on the path of shared prosperity and opportunity. For information on the College's degree and certificate programs, workforce development strategies, and community engagement initiatives, visit ccp.edu and follow us on social media @CCPedu.

About Spring Garden Records
Spring Garden Records is the official record label of the Community College of Philadelphia, providing a platform for the release of diverse genres of music created by students, alumni, members of the College community, and other Philadelphia artists: Philly's Music Hub. Spring Garden Records is operated under the Division of Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement and the Music Department at Community College of Philadelphia. Experiential learning for students in the arts is a key component of the label’s operation, as we highlight the talents, experiences and skills uniquely characteristic to the Community College of Philadelphia students and citizens of the city.