Cultural Revival Takes Hold at Historic Burlington Meeting 

Jazz vespers, community connections, and visionary leadership from Director Dee Corbett, Burlington is becoming a vibrant hub of reflection and renewal.

BURLINGTON CITY, NJ – On a spring evening in April, the historic Burlington Quaker Meeting House was filled with something more than quiet contemplation—it was alive with rhythm, melody, and the sacred sound of community.

More than 100 people gathered on April 11 for a Joyful Noise Jazz Vespers Service, the first in an ongoing commemorative series that blends music, poetry, meditation, and fellowship. But beneath the beauty of the performance was a deeper story: the quiet, powerful revival of spirit and culture taking root in Burlington, led by Director Dee Corbett.

“Jazz Vespers is more than a performance,” Corbett said. “It is an experience that invites the community to reflect, connect, and be uplifted through music.”

That vision—of the Meeting House as a living, breathing center for arts, culture, and spiritual connection—is rapidly becoming reality. And this was only the beginning.

Music That Speaks to the Soul

The April vespers featured internationally acclaimed violinist Diane Monroe and renowned vibraphonist Tony Miceli, a Willingboro native whose return to South Jersey brought a powerful local resonance. Together, they created an intimate and dynamic soundscape—improvisation woven with spiritual expression, storytelling without words.

The service, thoughtfully curated by Corbett and co-curator Gwen Ricks-Spencer, included sacred readings and meditations titled “God Leaps In” and “A Joyful Noise,” each underscoring themes of harmony, resilience, and divine connection.

The evening closed with a benediction celebrating rhythm, melody, and peace, followed by a light reception where guests lingered in fellowship—exchanging not just pleasantries, but hope.

Building an Enduring Revival

What makes this moment different is sustainability. 

Thanks in part to funding from the NJEDA’s A.R.T. – Phase II Grant Program, the Jazz Vespers service is not a one-time event. It launches a monthly commemorative series leading into America’s 250th anniversary, but more importantly—into a lasting cultural and spiritual renaissance right here in Burlington. This event is supported in part by funding through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s A.R.T. – Phase II Grant Program through the Arts Guild New Jersey’s Burlington City Arts Collaborative

Corbett’s leadership at Burlington Quaker Meeting House is reimagining the space as a destination: a place where history and innovation meet, where silence and jazz coexist, and where Quaker values of peace, equality, and community are expressed through art.

“Dee is building more than programs,” said one attendee. “She’s weaving connections—between artists, neighbors, and the sacred ground we’re sitting on.”

A Historic Place, A Living Future

The Meeting House itself is no small part of the story. Established in 1677, Burlington’s Quaker Meeting House is older than Philadelphia, second only to Salem, NJ on the Eastern seaboard. Its walls hold memories of abolitionist witness, Underground Railroad safe houses, and centuries of faithful silence.

These same walls are now vibrating jazz, poetry, and new generations who seek hope.

As the commemorative series continues monthly, the Meeting House is becoming a beacon not only of history but of ongoing revival—spiritual, cultural, and deeply rooted in community.

About Burlington Quaker Meeting House & Conference Center
Located in the very heart of Burlington City’s historic district, this Meeting House was established in 1677 and was then the Meeting that created the Yearly Meeting (now known as Philadelphia Yearly Meeting). The Meeting has served as a center for abolitionist activity, refuge for freedom seekers, and now, is growing as a hub for arts and spiritual gathering. Learn more at https://burlmhcc.org