By Roberta Johnson, organized by Abby Rolland
As part of The Presser Foundation’s drive to be more transparent and to amplify the work of its partners, it uses information from grant reports to highlight its grantees.
Each post will spotlight one partner, who has final say over the contents and structure of the post. In this way, the Foundation hopes to not only use information from grant reports (which often go unread and unused), but also to shine the light on many wonderful music organizations.
This post focuses on Darlington Arts Center, a nonprofit community arts center in Delaware County, PA. Darlington offers both private music lessons and group music lessons for children as young as two.
Background
Founded in 1978, Darlington Arts Center embarked on a mission to build community by providing “Every Art for Everyone.” Our philosophy is that the arts call for discipline and hard work. We believe the arts are a labor of love; that they are fulfilling, enriching, enlivening, and make us better human beings. People of all ages and abilities deserve access to high-quality arts experiences that build confidence and identity, spark lifelong curiosity and imagination, and foster the empathy and joy that come from embracing our differences.
Programs
Music education is at the heart of Darlington’s mission. Our teaching artist faculty are highly trained musicians who create a learning environment that fosters exploration, expression, discipline, and creativity. In 2024-2025, nearly 150 students received private and group instruction in piano, guitar, violin, viola, percussion, and voice, while more than 400 students benefited from music instruction through creative aging programs, summer arts camps, and on-site workshops. Families continue to seek group instruction for its social and collaborative benefits, and Darlington is actively expanding these offerings across all disciplines.
Responding to community feedback, Darlington shifted in 2025–2026 to a model of Academic Year Classes (34 weeks) and 10-week Trimesters for all private lessons and classes, providing greater flexibility and supporting deeper, sustained engagement in the arts.
This past summer, Darlington debuted a new music-intensive camp, Darlington Rocks, where students learned guitar, bass, voice, and percussion as they formed a rock band. The program culminated in a performance showcasing their growth and collective creativity.
In addition to classes offered in its building and online, Darlington has extended quality music education to historically underserved communities through its Arts Education Outreach Program. In 2024-2025, this program reached 200 students across four schools and includes the highlights below.
- Chester Theatre Arts Program (CTAP) at The Chester Charter Scholars Academy: Grades 2–3 students attended a twice-weekly after-school arts program in music, dance, and drama for 30 weeks. Students in grades 3–5 received one trimester of weekly Suzuki violin instruction to develop core rhythms and performance decorum. Selected students received advanced individualized instruction. All programs culminated in end-of-year performances.
- Stetser Elementary School: Kindergarten students explored musical styles through arts-integrated literacy lessons, strengthening language and literacy skills. Third and fourth-grade students participated in weekly Suzuki violin instruction. Both Suzuki Violin and music literacy programs concluded with end-of-year performances, allowing students to showcase their skills individually and collaboratively.
From these programs, 85% of participating students expressed interest in playing an instrument in the future, and 70% reported that they “love coming to school on violin days.”
Beyond outreach, Darlington hosts monthly student recitals and Coffee House Concerts featuring local musicians, providing performance opportunities and enriching the broader community. Through these programs, students gain confidence, technical skill, and a lifelong appreciation for music, while Darlington continues to adapt and grow in response to community needs.
Belonging within Darlington
Anti-racism, racial equity, and DEIA are central to Darlington Arts Center’s mission and daily practice. Since completing and publishing our DEIA Action Plan in 2019, Darlington has continued to embed these principles into our HR decisions, program development, and community-centered initiatives. Our board and staff remain racially, ethnically, and professionally diverse, reflecting the communities we serve.
As part of our commitment to equity, Darlington provides financial assistance to low-income families and individuals through the AGAPE Scholarship and supports emerging young musicians through the merit-based Athena Scholarship. In the past year, we shifted our Arts-Focus Sensory Playspace project from an outdoor structure to an indoor model. This pivot was driven by the growing need for accessible indoor space that deepens engagement with individuals on the autism spectrum and people with mixed abilities, while fostering a stronger sense of belonging within the Darlington Arts Center.
Impact
Darlington continues to witness the transformative power of music education: during performances, our students demonstrate confidence, poise, and technical growth, whether they are performing for the first time or the hundredth. Watching students embrace their individual – and sometimes collective – moments to shine reaffirms why we do this work.
One of our students exemplifies our commitment to this work and the impact of music education. Now 14, Roy Hur has been a student at Darlington since 2017 and has studied with David Brown since 2020, showing remarkable growth in skill, confidence, and artistic expression. In 2024, he earned first prize in his age category at the West Chester University Precollege Piano Competition, selected from 55 auditioning students. Roy’s achievement illustrates the transformative power of high-quality, individualized music instruction and highlights the opportunities Darlington provides for young musicians to thrive.