April 29, 2020 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on the greater Philadelphia area’s rich ecosystem of music performance, education, and community engagement, The Presser Foundation announces a special and additional round of general operating grants to 85 music organizations, whichinclude current fiscal year grant recipients funded by the Foundation’s Advancement of Music and Special Projects programs. There is no application, there are no restrictions on use of funds beyond applicable guidelines, and the reporting requirements will be minimal.
The additional grants total $521,250 and will be paid immediately to help these organizations weather the current COVID-19 crisis, which has forced so many music organizations to curtail operations, cancelling performances and other activities. Individual grants range from $750 to $30,000. The average size is just over $6,100. These additional amounts supplement general operating grants awarded this year totaling $1,042,500.
The Presser Foundation is also pleased to announce the selection of grantees for capital projects totaling $795,000, including $545,000 in new commitments and $250,000 satisfying previous commitments, through its Capital Support program. The grant recipients are music presenting, music performing and music education organizations in the greater Philadelphia area and those which enjoy a legacy relationship with the Foundation.
The Presser Foundation Announces Over $1 Million in Advancement of Music Grants
The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of seventy-three new multi- and single-year grantees for Advancement of Music. These grants, totaling $823,500 are in addition to $205,000 in existing multi-year grants to seven outstanding music organizations. Advancement of Music provides general operating support to music presenting, music performing and music education organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
William B. McLaughlin, III, Chair of the Advancement of Music Committee, commented, “For the first time in an over one hundred-year history, The Presser Foundation has crossed the threshold of one million dollars in general operating support this fiscal year. It is an honor to provide the largest round of critical funding totaling $1,028,500 to so many musical organizations in and around Philadelphia. As our recently adopted operating values articulate – Music is our purpose. We are committed to supporting the future of music and its excellence.”
2019-20 Advancement of Music Grantees (in alphabetical order)
Academy of Vocal Arts
Allentown Symphony Association
Anna Crusis Women’s Choir
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Ars Nova Workshop
Artistas y Musicos Latino Americanos (AMLA)
Astral Artists, Inc.
ArtistYear
Bay Atlantic Symphony, Inc.
Berks Youth Chorus
Bowerbird
Bucks County Choral Society
Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey
Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
Chester Children’s Chorus
Choir School of Delaware
Choral Arts Philadelphia
CityFest, Inc./Wilmington Children’s Chorus
Commonwealth Youthchoirs
Community Conservatory
Community Music School Lehigh Valley
Community Music School of Collegeville
Community Youth Orchestra of Bucks County
Darlington Arts Center
Delaware County Youth Orchestra
Delaware Symphony Orchestra
Dolce Suono Ensemble
Esperanza
Friends of the Wanamaker Organ
Garden State Philharmonic Orchestra
Harrisburg Symphony Association
Kimmel Center, Inc.
Lancaster Symphony Orchestra
LiveConnections
Lyra Society
Lyric Fest
Market Square Concerts
Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia
Moravian College
Music at Gretna, Inc.
Music for Everyone
Musicopia
Network for New Music
Opera Philadelphia
OperaDelaware
Orchestra 2001
Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale
Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts
Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus
Philadelphia Sinfonia Association
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
Piffaro, The Renaissance Band
Play On, Philly! (POP)
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
PRISM Quartet, Inc.
Project 440
Reading Symphony Orchestra
Riverside Symphonia
Settlement Music School
Singing City
State Theatre Regional Arts Center At New Brunswick Inc
Susquehanna Chorale
Symphony in C
Tempesta di Mare, Inc.
Temple University Music Preparatory Division
The Allentown Band
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
The Crossing
The Friends of Chamber Music of Reading, Inc.
The Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music
The Mann Center for the Performing Arts
The Music School of Delaware
The Philadelphia Orchestra
The Princeton Festival
Trenton Children’s Chorus, Inc.
Trenton Music Makers
Tri-County Concerts Association, Inc.
WRTI90.1FM
About The Presser Foundation
The Presser Foundation was established in 1939 under the Deeds of Trust and Will of the late Theodore Presser. It is one of the few private foundations in the United States dedicated solely to music education and music philanthropy. The Presser Foundation supports a broad range of classical symphonic, chamber, choral and vocal music performance and education through general operating and program grants to music organizations; capital grants for music building projects; undergraduate and graduate student awards; and assistance to retired music teachers. Much of the grant making focus of the Foundation is on organizations and institutions in the 75-mile radius surrounding Center City Philadelphia. More information on the Foundation’s grant making activity can be found on its website www.presserfoundation.org.
December 23, 2019 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection and funding of fourteen new Special Projects from music organizations in the greater Philadelphia area. These grants, totaling $131,000, are in addition to a previous commitment of $20,000 to Settlement Music School on behalf of long-time and retiring Trustees. Peter Burwasser, Chair of the Special Projects Committee, commented “The Presser Foundation is pleased to support, under revised grant guidelines, special project grants including organization milestones, general operating support for new organizations to the Foundation, pilot programs and first-time artistic collaborations. Music curriculum development, anniversary performances, and unique partnerships comprise the list of projects supported.”
Our beloved Board member and one of the great musical artists and teachers in the field of organ performance, Michael Stairs, passed away on August 11, 2018.
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Michael, beyond his artistry as a musician, was a man of sterling character. He exemplified truly exceptional human qualities of modesty and compassion for others. He brought these qualities and keen insight to his work on behalf of the Foundation.
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One of Michael’s final acts on behalf of The Presser Foundation was to designate his special directed grant to the benefit of students at the Curtis Institute. He gave his time generously and willingly to the work of the Foundation, serving on the Board for thirty-three years, and was an exemplary committee chair, most recently of the Advancement of Music Committee. We shall all miss him, his wisdom, his gentle manner, and the beauty he brought to so many performances.
April 18, 2019 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania– The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. These grants, totaling $761,185 this fiscal year, include $445,000 in new commitments and $316,185 satisfying previous commitments. These grants are designated for capital projects of music presenting, music performing and music education organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Capital projects typically include the construction of new facilities and the renovation or expansion of existing facilities.
Corey R. Smith, Chair of the Capital Support Committee,commented on these grants, “A community music school, two undergraduate schools of music, and a historic regional arts center comprise this year’s list of new grantees for Capital Support. Reflecting the spectrum of music organizations supported by The Presser Foundation, we congratulate them and are pleased to be associated with capital projects of such significance and impact.”
2018-19 Capital Support Grantees (in alphabetical order)
Darlington Arts Center
Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation*
Kimmel Center, Inc., Academy of Music*
OperaDelaware*
Rowan University Foundation
State Theatre Regional Arts Center at New Brunswick, Inc.
March 1, 2019 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of sixty-nine multi- and single year grantees for Advancement of Music. These grants, totaling $865,500, provide general operating support to music presenting, music performing and music education organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
William B. McLaughlin, III, Chair of the Advancement of Music Committee, commented, “It is an honor to provide the largest round of critical operating support grants to so many musical organizations in and around Philadelphia. The Presser Foundation is proud to help sustain and nurture these organizations that are essential to the communities and audiences they serve.”
2018-19 Advancement of Music Grantees (in alphabetical order)
Academy of Vocal Arts
Allentown Symphony Association
Anna Crusis Women’s Choir
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Ars Nova Workshop
ArtistYear
Artistas y Musicos Latino Americanos
Astral Artists, Inc.
Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra
Bowerbird
Bucks County Choral Society
Bucks County Symphony Society
Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
Chester Children’s Chorus
Choir School of Delaware
Choral Arts Philadelphia
Commonwealth Youthchoirs
Community Conservatory
Community Music School Lehigh Valley
Community Music School of Collegeville
Concert Operetta Theatre
Darlington Arts Center
Delaware County Youth Orchestra
Delaware Symphony Orchestra
Dolce Suono Ensemble
Esperanza
Friends of the Wanamaker Organ
Kimmel Center, Inc.
Lancaster Symphony Orchestra
LiveConnections
Lyra Society
Market Square Concerts
Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia
Music at Gretna, Inc.
Musicopia
Network for New Music
Opera Philadelphia
OperaDelaware
Orchestra 2001
Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts
Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
Piffaro, The Renaissance Band
Play On, Philly!
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
PRISM Quartet, Inc.
Project 440
Reading Symphony Orchestra
Riverside Symphonia
Settlement Music School
Singing City
State Theatre Regional Arts Center at New Brunswick, Inc.
Symphony in C
Tempesta di Mare, Inc.
Temple University Music Preparatory Division
The Allentown Band
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
The Crossing
The Friends of Chamber Music of Reading, Inc.
The Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music
December 21, 2018 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania– The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection and funding of seventeen new Special Projects from music organizations in the greater Philadelphia area. These grants, totaling $321,500, are in addition to other previous Foundation commitments of $27,000 to organizations including LiveConnections and Curtis Institute of Music. Peter Burwasser, Chair of the Special Projects Committee, commented, “The Presser Foundation is honored to support our musical community with our annual Special Projects grants. This year our grantees cross a range of organizations that reflect the wonderful diversity of our region, including commissions of new works, anniversary performances, milestone performances and new projects. We are especially pleased to be able to honor several distinguished musical luminaries, including the late Philadelphia Orchestra organist Michael Stairs, composer and conductor Jan Kryzwicki and long-time arts manager Nancy Newman.”
Special Project Grants: (in alphabetical order)
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Astral Artists, Inc.
Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra
Chestnut Street Singers
Darlington Arts Center
Friends of the Wanamaker Organ
Lyric Fest
Network for New Music
Opera Philadelphia
OperaDelaware
Piffaro, The Renaissance Band
Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
PRISM Quartet, Inc.
The Crossing
The Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music
The Mann Center for the Performing Arts
More information on the Foundation’s grant making activity can be found on its website www.presserfoundation.org.
About The Presser Foundation
The Presser Foundation was established in 1939 under the Deeds of Trust and Will of the late Theodore Presser. It is one of the few private foundations in the United States dedicated solely to music education and music philanthropy. The Presser Foundation supports a broad range of classical symphonic, chamber, choral and vocal music performance and education through general operating and program grants to music organizations; capital grants for music building projects; undergraduate and graduate student awards; and assistance to retired music teachers. Much of the grant making focus of the Foundation is on organizations and institutions in the 75-mile radius surrounding Center City Philadelphia.
April 26, 2018 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. These grants, totaling $716,185 this fiscal year including $352,370 in new commitments and $405,000 satisfying previous commitments. These grants are designated for capital projects of music organizations providing supports a broad range of classical symphonic, chamber, choral and vocal music. Capital projects include the construction of new facilities and the renovation or expansion of existing facilities.
Dr. Jeffrey Cornelius, Chair of the Capital Support Committee commented on these grants, “From among many worthy proposals submitted to The Presser Foundation for this year‘s capital support grants, the Board of Trustees selected the following organizations for funding. These proposals were deemed to be particularly in line with the aims of the founder, Theodore Presser, and promise to provide the type of support he envisioned for musical institutions almost a century ago. We congratulate these organizations and are pleased to be associated with the fine results they are accomplishing.”
2017-18 Capital Support Grantees (in alphabetical order)
Agnes Scott College, Presser Legacy
Community Music School of Collegeville
Curtis Institute of Music
The Grand Opera House
Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation*
Kimmel Center, Inc., Academy of Music*
The Mann Center for the Performing Arts*
The Music School of Delaware
Ohio Wesleyan University, Presser Legacy*
OperaDelaware
Temple University, Boyer College of Music and Dance*
It’s not every day that the arts community gets together to talk about a set of principles. But if you listened between the lines last Sunday at the Perelman Theater, that’s what was happening at the memorial for Robert Capanna.
The event shouldn’t have been happening at all, said one speaker. But happening it was: a remembrance of Capanna, the composer who stepped down as head of the Settlement Music School at the end of 2009 after 27 years. Capanna died in January at age 65 – too soon by any clock, but tragically early considering he had consolidated a lifetime of knowledge and experience in music, administration, and investment management into a singular set of strengths.
Given all this, plus the trust and credibility he engendered from donors, he should be running the Philadelphia Orchestra right about now. Maybe his spirit will animate that search for a new president with some imagination.
It seems an apt time to weave together a few of the threads that made Capanna who he was — the Bobness of Bob, if you will. Capanna embodied a set of high ideals that arts institutions might aim for as the sector struggles with questions of identity versus survival, art versus entertainment, flavor-of-the-month programming ideas to please funders versus core mission, and the endless strain of working harder for an ever-smaller slice of the attention pie.
Clarifying Sunday’s comments down to a core philosophy, you might conclude that the arts community doesn’t need more foundations developing position papers on cultural policy or consultants lording that policy over arts groups. What it needs is a little more time connecting with the soul of art.
A composer himself — Capanna once called his music “wildly unpopular and difficult” — the South Philadelphian had a way of cutting right to the heart of the matter. Several speakers Sunday referenced it, sometimes humorously.
When he came across something with which he disagreed, he called it “cute,” said Matthew Levy, executive and co-artistic director of the Prism Quartet. That decoding surely had many of us shifting in our seats uncomfortably, trying to recall whether Capanna ever applied the word to any idea we floated in his presence.
Big truths in small morsels
He rendered strong opinions generously, but what was remarkable was how much truth he could pack into one concise, carefully aimed volley.
Capanna would often host pre-concert talks for the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Philip Maneval, PCMS’s executive director, recalled one memorable audience back-and-forth that went like this:
“Why can’t living composers write music like Brahms?” one listener asked, to which Bob replied, “They don’t need to, Brahms already did!”
In that one sentence, without condescension or pretentiousness, Capanna managed an entire explanation of why we need contemporary composers.
Audience member: “How have recordings changed the way that people perform today?”
Capanna: “Well, they’ve made musicians far too careful.”
What truth. Through natural selection, many of the instrumentalists and conductors we hear today are technically superior and musically cold — or at least, putting too much emphasis on the former and not enough on the latter.
“He answered each question intelligently, patiently, and with a smile. Invariably, he would educate and win over everyone,” said Maneval.
Music for the prodigies and the rest of us
Sunday’s memorial, which included performances of Capanna’s own compositions, was a chance for colleagues to thank him. Among them was Katharine Sokoloff, retired fund-raiser for Settlement Music School, who said that Capanna showed her that “music doesn’t only belong to prodigies and that Settlement faculty is the school’s heart and soul.”
Again, so much truth, so few words.
The arts world remains terribly taken with prodigies. Their unlikely nature makes for admittedly compelling stories. But the idea that prodigies are more deserving of opportunity and attention is a pernicious notion. Every artist develops and matures at a different point and rate. There are early bloomers who fade, and latecomers who, mysteriously one day, arrive fully formed.
Let’s also not forget that students not destined to become professional should get training, too. They are tomorrow’s ticket buyers, donors, and board members. Capanna never forgot that music was for everyone.
And, as Capanna intimated, for all of the larding of the upper administration at many an arts organization (admittedly necessary in the modern age), the core strength of a school is at the point of contact between student and teacher, just as the of an orchestra or theater troupe begins and ends with who’s on stage.
What ‘real art’ requires
I don’t think anyone specifically referenced Capanna’s thoughts on today’s confusion over what qualifies as art and what as entertainment, but he once explained it to me this way: Experiencing art takes work, he said. “That’s what separates real art from entertainment. Real art requires an effort on the part of the listener and viewer. That doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining; it’s richer.”
And in entertainment, his taste was superb. Not long ago we told him we were binge-watching the Supergirl series on Netflix with our daughter. “Oh, that’s a good show,” he shot back.
If you’re wondering how Capanna’s words found action in his lifetime, just look at his deeds at Settlement Music School. Philadelphia’s arts groups as a whole finally seem serious about social mission and the democratization of the arts. But Capanna long ago greatly expanded the school’s reach to younger, older, and more diverse students, and set about finding them in more parts of the region.
Surely, Capanna cannot have been uniquely wise or capable. There happens to be a lot of talent in town today, and many arts leaders are coming up with creative ideas for a changing world. David Devan at Opera Philadelphia and Catherine Cahill at the Mann often impress with their ability to create new art from scant resources.
Capanna himself saw evolution as being healthy. When he retired from Settlement, he said: “I think inevitably the institution needs to change and develop, and after 30 years you can’t continue to do that. It’s the way life is. Nothing is forever. ”
True enough. But Capanna often functioned as a kind of conscience for the city, a one-man reality check against fad masquerading as innovation, and with an abiding belief in the common good and achieving it through an institution.
Sunday’s recollections got to the core of what matters most in art, and Capanna always knew how to get there without selling out. We are not likely to see all that again in one package anytime soon.
March 2, 2018 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of multi- and single year grantees for Advancement of Music. These grants, totaling $828,000, provide general operating support to music presenting, music performing and music education organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
Michael Stairs, Chair of the Advancement of Music Committee, commented, “We have the greatest of confidence in these grantee organizations doing work that not only advances our own goals and strategies, but provides the best in orchestral and choral music programming. It is an honor to provide critical general operating support to the leadership and management of so many music organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Area.”
2017-18 Advancement of Music Grantees (in alphabetical order)
Academy of Vocal Arts
Allentown Symphony Association
Anna Crusis Women’s Choir
Ars Nova Workshop
Artistas y Musicos Latino Americanos
Astral Artistic Services, Inc.
Bowerbird
Bucks County Choral Society
Bucks County Symphony Society
Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
Chester Children’s Chorus
Choir School of Delaware
Choral Arts Philadelphia
Commonwealth Youthchoirs
Community Conservatory
Community Music School Lehigh Valley
Community Music School of Collegeville
Darlington Arts Center
Delaware County Youth Orchestra
Delaware Symphony Orchestra
Dolce Suono Ensemble
Friends of Wanamaker Organ
Kimmel Center, Inc.
Lancaster Symphony Orchestra
Lyric Fest
Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia
Musicopia
Network for New Music
Opera Philadelphia
OperaDelaware
Orchestra 2001
Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale
Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts
Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus
Philadelphia Music Teachers Association
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
Piffaro, The Renaissance Band
Play On, Philly!
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
PRISM Quartet, Inc.
Project 440
Reading Symphony Orchestra
Riverside Symphonia
Settlement Music School
Singing City
State Theatre Regional Arts Center at New Brunswick, Inc.
Theodore Presser (1848 – 1925) rose from humble beginnings to become a respected music teacher and publisher. Familiar with the many challenges facing musicians, he established The Presser Foundation which supports music performance and education through undergraduate and graduate scholar awards, operating and program support for music organizations, capital grants for music building projects, and assistance to retired music teachers.
The Presser Foundation
The Presser Foundation was established in 1939 under the Deeds of Trust and Will of the late Theodore Presser.
It is one of the few private foundations in the United States dedicated solely to music education and music philanthropy.
It is our hope that every institution, organization and individual funded by The Presser Foundation will read about the rich history of The Foundation and the inspiring biography of Theodore Presser.
Contact
The Presser Foundation
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102 (T) 267.519.5350
Our beloved Board member and one of the great musical artists and teachers in the field of organ performance, Michael Stairs, passed away on August 11, 2018.
