By Nathalie Borden, Intern On July 15th, my fellow intern, Jennah, and I attended the Philly Youth Music Festival, a free concert which brought together young people from all around the Philadelphia area to dance, sing, and play in harmony. Organized by grantee Beyond the Bars, the event brings together students and music organizations from…
Rowan University’s new risers, supported in part through a Capital Support grant. Since 2020-21, The Presser Foundation’s Capital Support grant program has funded building, renovation, and other capital needs such as equipment, technology, hardware, and software. Over the past several years, staff have observed that many private foundations are reluctant to fund capital projects.…
Various photos of Berks Youth Chorus performers. Pulled from reports written by Sam Barge, 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…
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 student in their final year at hundreds of higher education institutions across the country is chosen…
From top left, clockwise: Music Director Stuart Malina conducting the musicians of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra; Eunike Tanzil participating in the Pre-Concert Lecture with Jessica Grimmer; Welcome to the Concert intermission activity featuring Director of Education Greg Woodbridge; The finale of the Cirque Goes Broadway show Pulled from reports written by Cheri Comasco, organized…
Soprano Dolores Cascarino (l) and violinist Patricia Potter (r) For over a century, The Presser Foundation has been dedicated to supporting retired music teachers, as highlighted in this blog post. In this update, we’re shining a spotlight on two of them who are still making waves in the music world. Dolores Cascarino is a noted…
2024-25 Fellow Daniel Jackson receiving his commemorative plaque from Executive Director Teresa Rodgers. By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow As my time with The Presser Foundation has officially ended, I find it difficult to gather my final thoughts and move forward to the next chapter of my professional music career. Looking back, this Fellowship and…
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…
By Rachael Gartner, Administrative & Grants Manager When the curtain rises on a musical performance, it doesn’t just lift the spirits of those in attendance, it impacts the economy of an entire community. Beyond the price of admission, a night at the orchestra or chorus unfolds into a cascade of economic activity: the Uber driver…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow On April 5th Lyric Fest, in collaboration with The Denyce Graves Foundation (DGF), presented the world premiere of several classic Italian arias and art songs reimagined by contemporary Black composers and performed by Black vocalists. The result was a marvelous display of musical talent, ingenuity, and Black excellence that…