Next in the series is Chris Rinaldi, the current Treasurer and longtime music appreciator based on his leadership at Jacobs Music.
Background & Career: Rinaldi’s journey weaves together finance, accounting, international business, and the music industry. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a CPA, Rinaldi began his professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Philadelphia from 1984-1986.
His path then led him to Marriott Corporation’s Internal Audit division from 1986-1989, followed by a role as controller for Marriott/Caterair’s Flight Kitchen in Moscow, USSR from 1989-1991.
Since 1993, Rinaldi has been an integral part of Jacobs Music. As Jacobs has served as the representative of Steinway & Sons in the Philadelphia region, Rinaldi has been deeply embedded in the music community at all levels.
Love for Music: “Music was always a part of our household. We always had a piano (and an organ into the 1980’s in the house) as well as an accordion (my father’s instrument of choice) throughout my childhood. While I had six years of childhood piano lessons, becoming passionate about music really came when I joined the family business at Jacobs. We have been highly interconnected with the music community at all its levels, from the POA to community music schools and local piano teachers.
“Seeing firsthand how the pursuit of music education could transform lives, whether it was the individual focus of highly talented young people advancing to conservatory and performing careers or more often, or the lighting up of a young person’s face when they participated in making music at any level, is when music education became my passion.
How Did He Learn About The Presser Foundation?: Rinaldi was first acquainted with The Presser Foundation through his role at Jacobs Music. “My knowledge of the Foundation’s work and impact deepened while serving on the boards of Astral Artists and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute,” he explains.
Role at the Foundation: Board Treasurer, Chair of the Capital Support Committee
What He Enjoys: The camaraderie among trustees is what he most enjoys about serving on The Presser Foundation Board. “The Board embraces its shared mission to support music and music education and is consensus-oriented while maintaining the individuality and different perspectives that each Trustee brings, which makes it a joy to serve on this Board.”
Standout Memory: “We greatly expanded giving during COVID to assist grantees – we knew that they needed it and stepped up to deliver additional funds at a vital time.”
Impact of the Foundation: Rinaldi believes The Presser Foundation makes a significant difference in Greater Philadelphia: “The Foundation is a substantial source of funding to many of our grantees and gives them opportunities to enrich their musical landscapes in ways that they may not without such support.”
Vision for the Future: For the future, Rinaldi envisions growth: “I believe that the Foundation will provide grants to more grantees as we identify grantees that provide musical opportunities in their local communities.”
What Does He Do in His Free Time?: Having recently entered semi-retirement, Rinaldi now has more time to pursue personal interests. “I find that there are two things that I seek out when I have spare time – one is cooking, the other is carpentry.”
