One hundred years ago, the remarkable, innovative, and generous Theodore Presser passed away. The music educator and publisher first made his philanthropic mark on the music community in Philadelphia with the construction of the Presser Home for Retired Music Teachers. The Home offered a sanctuary for retired music teachers without financial means to live out…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each member of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee. These individuals come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences but have one trait in common—they love music. Keep an eye out for the series to learn more about each member, their background, and why they…
Photos from Dido and Aeneas, courtesy of Delaware Valley Opera Company. By Jeremy Jefferson, Graduate Music Fellow Hello! My name is Jeremy Jefferson, and I’m the 2025-26 Graduate Music Fellow at the Presser Foundation. I graduated with my master’s degree in Viola Performance from Lynn University this past spring, and I recently started studying for…
Photo: Presser Scholar Aaliyah Ragland at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show earlier this year. The Undergraduate Scholar Award was established by The Presser Foundation to celebrate undergraduate music students who have achieved a high level of musical and academic excellence, demonstrated leadership and service, and contributed to an inclusive community. Each year, one…
The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA) and PA Humanities shared insights from the latest PA CultureCheck during Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia’s Arts Funders meeting. These organizations collaborate on research and advocacy to bolster the arts and culture sector. Together, they produce the CultureCheck, an annual initiative that highlights Pennsylvania’s cultural sector’s experiences, strengths, and concerns.…
By Abby Rolland The past five years have profoundly disrupted the nonprofit sector, making the phrase “we’re in unprecedented times” a familiar refrain since 2020. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, racial justice protests after George Floyd’s murder, January 6th, and recent government funding cuts have triggered a series of transformative moments that keep fueling…
Photos from Emma Jensen’s research; see the bottom of the blog post for full descriptions. By Emma Jensen Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an outstanding graduate music student whom they select. The program is designed to encourage and support in a special way the advanced education and…
The Presser Foundation is eager to share that we’ve welcomed two Graduate Fellows – a Graduate Research Fellow and a Graduate Music Fellow – to our staff this academic year! In a year where the Foundation will begin implementing its strategic plan, these Graduate Fellows will help the staff and Board carry out essential efforts…
This summer, The Presser Foundation hosted two interns, Nathalie Borden and Jennah Bolden. In these video clips, they introduce themselves, the projects they worked, and how they hope to use their intern experience in their future careers and communities. Please introduce yourselves. https://presserfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Introduce-Yourselves.mp4 What projects have you worked on during your internship? https://presserfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Projects-Combined.mp4…
The 2024-25 fiscal year marked a year of significant growth and impact for The Presser Foundation. With music remaining at the center of our mission, our Board, Committees, and staff have successfully executed grant cycles, maintained meaningful relationships with grantees through multiple communication channels, conducted site visits and attended performances, facilitated virtual Next Movement Idea…