Photos courtesy of WXPN. Whose voices do we hear when we listen to 1776? Two young Philadelphia musicians, Laurin Talese and Zeek Burse, set out to answer that question through Sound of History, a Foundation-supported project created for ArtPhilly’s What Now: 2026 festival. From late May to early July, the festival brought 34 original projects…
By Miriam Davidson, Artistic Director 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,…
Board & Committee Members from top left, clockwise: Ellen Rosen, Bill McLaughlin, Chris Rinaldi, Karen Vesely, James Hamlet, Isabela Alvarez, Mary Kate McGrath May, Jonathan Edwards The Foundation is marking its 2026-27 year with several milestones: honoring two Board Members for their years of service as officers, and welcoming new officers, committee chairs, a Board…
From top left, clockwise: Hongxi Li; two photos from her performance; meeting with Chen Yi; and Li preparing for her performance. By Sarah Shoff, The Presser Foundation Summer 2026 Intern Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an outstanding graduate music student whom they select. The award program is…
Photos courtesy of Ars Nova Workshop, Reading Symphony Orchestra, and Philly Youth Music Fest. While many musical performances take place during the academic year, grantees of The Presser Foundation are actively finding many ways to engage audiences and participants in music during the summer. Here, we highlight some of the opportunities you can take to…
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…
Philadelphia’s Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts turns 50 this summer, and the milestone is not just symbolic. The Mann has spent years quietly building toward this moment – expanding its campus, deepening its archives, and shaping a momentous season. This summer, the Mann’s history and future is on full display. On June 15,…
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 as the…
By Jeremy Jefferson, Graduate Music Fellow In my time at The Presser Foundation, I’ve found that access and opportunity are prevalent in most of our grantees’ performances. For this blog, I wanted to highlight Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra (BPCO) and how their performance at the Barnes Foundation shows off prestigious performers and an unforgettable experience…
By Dr. Ann Anderson, 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.…