Integrating Art and Activism: An Interview with Graduate Music Award Recipient Badie Khaleghian
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow As the Graduate Music Fellow at the Presser Foundation, I had the opportunity to…
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Learn about the work of our partners, as well as our efforts in the music and philanthropic community.
2023-2024 Undergraduate Scholar Award Nominations
A photo collage of some of the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients During the 2023-24 year, The Presser Foundation Undergraduate…
Trustee Spotlight: Corey Smith
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
Guest Blog Post: The Susquehanna Chorale — Its Legacy and Its Future
Guest Blog Post: The Susquehanna Chorale—Its Legacy and Its FutureGuest Blog Post by Anne Moul Anne Moul is a singer…
Commissioning New Music to Cultivate Social Change
Commissioning New Music to Cultivate Social ChangeBy Jack Thorpe Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music…
Orchestrating Diversity: Community Engagement and Cultural Sensitivity in Concert Programming
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow In the ever-evolving landscape of the music field, there’s a growing recognition of the…
Undergraduate Scholar Award Spotlight: Lizzy Galloway
Lizzy Galloway received the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Georgia College and State University. She wrote this letter after receiving…
Advancement of Music: 2023-2024
The Presser Foundation Will Give Nearly $1.3 Million in General Operating Support Grants to Music Organizations This YearThe Presser Foundation…
Trustee Spotlight: Bill McLaughlin
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
The Presser Foundation Embarks on Strategic Planning Process
By Abby Rolland 2024 marks the start of a strategic planning process for The Presser Foundation. This initiative is meant…
A Composer’s Journey at The Presser Foundation: Expanding My Musical Universe
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow As a Ph.D. student in composition at Temple University, my passion for music goes…
Philanthropy Network of Greater Philadelphia’s Arts & Culture Community of Practice Shares Knowledge to Support Arts Organizations
In her capacity as Executive Director of The Presser Foundation, Teresa Rodgers serves as the chair of Philanthropy Network Greater…
Undergraduate Scholar & Graduate Music Awards: 2023-2024
The Presser Foundation Announces More Than $880,000 in Scholar & Music Awards In its continued support of undergraduate music students…
The Assistance to Music Teachers Grant Helps a Retired Teacher Spread the Joy of Music
The Assistance to Music Teachers grantmaking area is a unique and longstanding program of The Presser Foundation’s. Founder Theodore Presser…
Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Tempesta di Mare Forges Connections with a Diverse Audience
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow A major challenge for ensembles focused on historical music, like baroque or medieval,…
Fellowship Programs Funded Through Special Projects Grants
Above from left to right: Ayanna Woods of the The Crossing, Ariel Alvarado of Wilmington Children’s Chorus, and Chill Moody…
Undergraduate Scholar Award Spotlight: La Tasha Butler brings music and healthcare together
La Tasha Butler received the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Arizona State University (ASU). She wrote this letter after receiving…
The Presser Foundation Year in Review
It’s been a busy 2023 at The Presser Foundation! With music at the center of all we do, the Board,…
2023-24 Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award Program Announcement
The Presser Foundation is pleased to include 37 new institutions for a total of 244 institutions that will be included…
Music: The Community Impact Tool that Keeps on Giving
An image from Race Against Racism, a collaboration of Lancaster YMCA and Music For Everyone By Dr. John R. Gerdy,…
Expanding repertoire and raising awareness about the steel pan
Images featuring Russell Fisher performing the steel pan compositions By Russell Fisher Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the…
Fire Museum Presents: Bridging Musical Traditions and Boundaries
By Sepehr Pirasteh As The Presser Foundation’s Graduate Music Fellow, I have the opportunity to experience various performances hosted by…
Sharing an organization’s story using data
The Presser Foundation’s final Next Movement of 2023 partnered with Candid, a nonprofit organization that collects data and information about…
Trustee Spotlight: Sharon Sorokin
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
Commissioning new music: bridging gaps and fostering greater unity
Sepehr Pirasteh is The Presser Foundation’s 2023-24 Graduate Music Fellow. In this post, he shares his experience attending PRISM Quartet…
Special Projects: 2023-2024
The Presser Foundation Announces More Than $71,000 in New Special Project Grants to Music OrganizationsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to…
Undergraduate Scholar Award Spotlight: Chalmers Mathew explores ways to engage in music community
City College of New York campus Chalmers Mathew received the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award from the City College of New…
Commissioning choral works that explore the Filipino national identity and cultural experience
The “Sa Ináng Báyan: To the Motherland” recital at Indiana University By Raoul Carlo F. Angangco Invited annually, graduate schools…
An update on transparency
By Abby Rolland When I started working at The Presser Foundation two years ago, part of my mission and my…
Spotlight on: Wildflower Composers
Wildflower Composer students during a classroom session. Photo Credit: Rec.Today. Pulled from reports written by Dr. Erin Busch, organized by…
Centering community voice
By Teresa Rodgers and Abby Rolland As staff at The Presser Foundation, some of our favorite events are the Next…
Trustee Spotlight: Vera Wilson
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
Undergraduate Scholar Award Spotlight: Angeles Ondish makes the most of her time on campus
Angeles Ondish received the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Seton Hill University. She wrote this letter to the University’s Music…
Spotlight on: Ars Nova Workshop
Photo Description: Presented by Ars Nova Workshop, the band Bitchin’ Bajas performs at The Venue at Solar Myth. Photo Credit:…
Committee Member Spotlight: Nicole R. Robinson
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
Changes to The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award Part II
A collage of some of the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients from 2022-23. The Presser Foundation Undergraduate Scholar Award program…
An Eye-Opening Summer at The Presser Foundation
Image: Claire Moustafellos works on a project for the Foundation during her summer internship. By Claire Moustafellos What piqued my…
Summer Through a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Lens
Image: Cassandra (Cassie) Slade works on a project for the Foundation during her summer internship. By Cassandra Slade Toward the…
Meet The Presser Foundation’s New Officers
Photo: The new Officers at the June Annual Board Meeting (President Ellen Rosen – second from left, 1st Vice President…
Resolution in Honor of Jeffrey Cornelius
Photo: Trustee William McLaughlin (center) reading the resolution in honor of retiring Trustee Jeffrey Cornelius (right) At The Presser Foundation’s…
Harmonizing Progress: The Future of DEI Efforts in Classical Music
By Baker Purdon Classical music has long been regarded as a cherished cultural tradition, inspiring and captivating audiences for centuries.…
||:HerClassical:||: Teaching classical music by female composers
The ||:HerClassical:|| logo By Alissa Freeman Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an…
Committee Member Spotlight: Susan D. Van Vorst
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
Changes to The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award
A collage of some of the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients from 2021-22. Theodore Presser, the founder of The Presser…
Spotlight on: Esperanza and AMLA
Photo Description: A performance at Esperanza Arts Center in 2020-2021 Pulled from reports written by Bill Rhoads and Daniel de…
A Tour of Regional Orchestras: Part III
A photo of the Delaware County Youth Orchestra at their recent spring performance. By Baker Purdon In the final installment…
Trustee Spotlight: Stanford Thompson
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
A History of Chamber Music
By Baker Purdon Chamber music is a classical music genre performed by a smaller group of musicians than you would…
Capital Support: 2022-2023
The Presser Foundation Will Distribute $876,000 In Capital Support Grants In 2023The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce new Capital…
Centering youth voice
By Teresa Rodgers and Abby Rolland It’s easy to be inspired when you work in philanthropy. At The Presser Foundation,…
Expanding Capital Support guidelines during a difficult time
Photo of a Musicopia student using GarageBand. Capital funds from the Foundation were used to purchase the iPads, cases, and…
Music at the libraries
Pictured: The Renaissance Sextuplet By Abby Rolland One of the best parts about working at The Presser Foundation is the…
A Tour of Regional Orchestras: Part II
From top, clockwise: Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra By Baker Purdon A symphony orchestra is a…
Committee Member Spotlight: Dr. Maurice Wright
Dr. Wright at The Philadelphia Orchestra performance of his piece “Resounding Drums.” By Abby Rolland This is one in a…
Researching Gaelic songs in the Scottish Highlands
The author on the Isle of Skye, where she completed some of her research By Rachel Bani Invited annually, graduate…
The Power of Intergenerational Music-Making
Photo Credit: Torello Productions By Baker Purdon “Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you…
Advancement of Music: 2022-2023
The Presser Foundation Will Give $1.25 Million In General Operating Support Grants to Music OrganizationsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to…
Opera Philadelphia and Margaret Bonds’ Credo
By Baker Purdon It feels appropriate to disclose my bias and profound love for Margaret Bonds’ Credo early in this…
Undergraduate Scholar Award Spotlight: Rose Haselhorst makes music and serves her community
Rose Haselhorst received the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Northwestern University. This letter was written by her to the Foundation. …
Learning about The Presser Foundation Fellowship
Fellow Baker Purdon. Photo by Jacob Smith Photography, Courtesy of Temple University Last year, The Presser Foundation launched a graduate…
Funding supporting organizations
The supporting organizations that The Presser Foundation supports. From top left clockwise: Penn Live Arts, Temple Music Prep, Chester Children’s…
The Four Seasons (Recomposed): Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia’s Vivaldi and Richter
By Baker Purdon The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia recently presented Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons paired with Max Richter’s revisionist imagining…
“American Patriots:” Combining music, intentional storytelling, and diverse perspectives
By Samantha Williams Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an outstanding graduate music…
Trustee Spotlight: Dr. Rollo Dilworth
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
A Tour of Regional Orchestras: Part 1
By Baker Purdon, Music Fellow History Since the inception of the United States, the American orchestra has been predominantly local…
Seeking to change the lives of students through music
Kevin Lopez received the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Texas Woman’s University (TWU) and applied the award funds as a…
Spotlight on: OperaDelaware
Photo Description: Singers Jarrod Lee, Toni Marie Palmertree, Andrew Bidlack and Hannah Ludwig performing at an open-air Pop-Up Opera event.…
Thoughtful and diligent leader: Previous Executive Director Mariel Frank shares her reflections
Grants & Communications Manager Abby Rolland, former Executive Director Mariel Frank, and current Executive Director Teresa Araco Rodgers By…
Creating a second career in music
By Dr. Susan Dantoni Susan Dantoni received the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Roberts Wesleyan University. She wrote this thank…
Recording an Album with the Pure Goodness Music Collective
By Abbey Young Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an outstanding graduate music…
Integrating DEI Into Your Board
By Abby Rolland Recently, The Presser Foundation hosted the fourth iteration of its virtual Next Movement event series, this time…
REVIEW: Lyric Fest’s Elysian Fields
Pianist Laura Ward, soprano Magdalena Kuzma (center) and mezzo Sun-Ly Pierce at the Academy of Vocal Arts. Photo courtesy of…
Special Projects: 2022-2023
The Presser Foundation announces $251,000 in new special projects grants to music organizationsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce new…
My 2022 Exponent Philanthropy Conference Experience
By Abby Rolland Conferences, regardless of the topic, are often exhausting, whirlwind experiences. But they are so rewarding. For my…
Undergraduate Scholar Award Spotlight: Kelsey Lee excels at both piano and optics
Kelsey Lee received the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholar Award from the University of Rochester. This article was originally posted on the…
How The Presser Foundation’s grant application process works
By Abby Rolland When it comes to foundation work, a great deal of it happens behind closed doors. In this…
Supporting fiscally sponsored organizations
By Abby Rolland According to recent statistics, there are approximately 1.54 million nonprofits in the U.S. Nonprofit structure can take…
Recording My Orchestra Piece “The Long Walk” with the Graduate Music Award
By Dr. Lavell Blackwell Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an outstanding graduate…
Honoring Henderson “Woozy” Supplee III
Henderson “Woozy” Supplee III with previous Executive Director Mariel Frank at her retirement party. The Presser Foundation is saddened to…
Creating Opportunities. Opening Communities. World Class Opera!
By Dr. Kirsten Kunkle, Wilmington Concert Opera Artistic Director As a guest blogger, I would like to delve into the…
Changing applications and reports
By Abby Rolland As part of The Presser Foundation’s goal to best serve our partners, we review and adapt our…
Developing as an artist and a scholar
The Presser Foundation thanks Cameron Barton of Washington State University for writing this letter to us in the spring of…
Taking Steps to Center Equity
By Abby Rolland “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” That phrase resonates with The Presser…
An Archival Summer with The Presser Foundation
By Julia (Maurer) Gregory Toward the end of the Spring 2022 semester at Arcadia University, The Presser Foundation staff…
The Presser Home For Retired Music Teachers: Part 2
By Joseph Richards This is the 2nd post in a 2-part series about The Presser Home for Retired Music…
The Presser Home For Retired Music Teachers: Part 1
By Joseph Richards Designed by Henry E. Baton, The Presser Home for Retired Teachers was built in 1914, next to…
Introducing our new committee members
Pictured, from top left clockwise: Terell Stafford, Lei X. Ouyang, Marietta Simpson, Eric Owens, Nicole Robinson By Abby Rolland…
Centering Equity
By Abby Rolland On May 25, 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, George Floyd was murdered by…
The Presser Foundation’s Summer 2022 Interns
By Abby Rolland The Presser Foundation is pleased to welcome two interns this summer – Julia Gregory and Joseph Richards.…
Adapting during COVID-19
By Abby Rolland Two plus years later, and the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be ebbing into an endemic. No doubt…
Helping retired music educators through the Assistance to Music Teachers program
By Abby Rolland Before he created the Presser Publishing Company and published The Etude Music Magazine, Theodore Presser studied and…
Providing more general operating support & expanding the definition of music
By Abby Rolland Always learning. Open to change. Adapting to current realities. The three phrases above illustrate The Presser Foundation’s…
“Weather,” Composed by Dr. Rollo Dilworth
By Abby Rolland Through a moving and impactful performance by Temple University students, the piece “Weather” stays in one’s mind…
Preparing, Presenting, and Communicating Your Budget and Financials with Funders
By Abby Rolland Questions around budgets, formatting budgets, and presenting budgets and financials motivated The Presser Foundation staff to put…
Funding Local Arts
This blog post was originally posted on Exponent Philanthropy’s blog. By Abby Rolland The Presser Foundation is the only…
Music education major Cesar Gonzalez named Presser Scholar
Originally posted on The College of New Jersey’s website By Luke Sacks The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)…
Capital Support: 2021-2022
The Presser Foundation Will Distribute $1.148 Million in Capital Support Grants This YearIn a continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic…
Making Music and Education a Career
The Presser Foundation thanks Rosemary Hoitt of Ithaca College for writing this letter to us last fall. By Rosemary…
Advocacy for the Arts – Funding for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund
By Abby Rolland, Grants & Communications Manager It comes as no surprise that arts and cultural institutions have been devastated…
The Presser Foundation: History
By Abby Rolland, Grants & Communications Manager To understand The Presser Foundation now, it’s important to understand the Foundation’s history,…
The Presser Foundation: Values & Efforts
By Abby Rolland, Grants & Communications Manager In addition to understanding The Presser Foundation’s history and why it focuses on…
The Presser Foundation and Investing in Communications
Welcome to the first blog post in the newly revamped website of The Presser Foundation! We are excited about our…
Advancement of Music: 2021-2022
The Presser Foundation Announces More Than $1.35 Million in General Operating Support Grants to Music OrganizationsIn a historic year, The…
Special Projects: 2021-2022
The Presser Foundation Announces $235,000 in New Special Project Grants to Music OrganizationsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce new…
Honoring Robert W. Denious
Long-time Presser Foundation Trustee Robert W. Denious passed away on September 4, 2021. We received the news with deep sadness as…
Reflection on Next Movement: Centering Racial Equity
Being vulnerable and open about one’s organization, one’s board, one’s feelings is never easy, even when around close family and…
Capital Support: 2020-2021
The Presser Foundation Announces Nearly $2 Million in New Capital Support GrantsIn a continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic and…
Advancement of Music: 2020-2021
The Presser Foundation Announces Nearly $1.2 Million in General Operating Support Grants to Music OrganizationsIn a continued response to the…
Honoring Lucinda S. Landreth
It is with a profound sense of sadness and loss that we received word that long-time Trustee and former President…
Honoring Thomas M. Hyndman, Jr.
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Thomas M. Hyndman, Jr., long time Presser Foundation Board…
Special Projects: 2020-2021
The Presser Foundation Announces Nearly $1.6 Million in Special Project Grants to Music Organizations and Undergraduate & Graduate AwardsIn a…
Honoring Edith A. Reinhardt
It is with sadness, yet with gratitude and appreciation for her long life and all that she accomplished on behalf…
Next Movement: An Idea Forum
The COVID-19 pandemic forced music educating, music performing, and music presenting organizations to a temporary standstill, impacting an unprecedented number…
Capital Support: 2019-2020 & Special Round of Operating Support
The Presser Foundation Announces Over $1.3 Million in a Special Round of General Operating and Capital Support Grants to Music…
Advancement of Music: 2019-2020
The Presser Foundation Announces Over $1 Million in Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection…
Special Projects: 2019-2020
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection and funding of fourteen new…
Honoring Michael Stairs
Our beloved Board member and one of the great musical artists and teachers in the field of organ performance, Michael…
Capital Support: 2018-2019
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. …
Advancement of Music: 2018-2019
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of sixty-nine multi- and…
Special Projects: 2018-2019
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Project GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection and funding of seventeen new…
Capital Support: 2017-2018
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. …
Advancement of Music: 2017-2018
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of multi- and single…
What really matters in the arts? Bob Capanna remembrance served as a reminder
It’s not every day that the arts community gets together to talk about a set of principles. But if you…
Special Projects: 2017-2018
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of twelve new Special Projects…
Capital Support: 2016-2017
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. …
Advancement of Music: 2016-2017
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Advancement…
Special Projects: 2016-2017
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of eleven Special Projects totaling…
Capital Support: 2015-2016
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. …
Advancement of Music: 2015-2016
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Advancement…
Special Projects: 2015-2016
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects Grantshe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of thirteen Special Projects totaling…
Capital Support: 2014-2015
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support.…
Advancement of Music: 2014-2015
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Advancement…
Special Projects: 2014-2015
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of three Special Project grantees…
75th Anniversary Special Projects Grant
75th Anniversary Special Projects GrantTo celebrate the 75th Anniversary of The Presser Foundation (The Foundation), which was formally established in…
Guest Blog Posts
The Presser Foundation accepts guest blog posts written by partners. We are looking for blog posts that share an organization’s story, values, mission, goals, programming, and/or relevant trends and issues.
Our audience are those interested in music philanthropy, arts and culture, and philanthropy in general. This includes current and prospective partners/grantees, fellow funders, media, arts and culture agencies and government organizations, philanthropy serving organizations, and individuals with a passion for music.
If you are interested in contributing an article, you can submit one via the Foundant system. Directions for writing the posts are included in Foundant. Please submit the post under the primary contact for your Foundant account.
An organization who submits a post and has it approved by the Foundation will receive an unrestricted honorarium of $150. The honorarium will be paid out once the post is accepted for publishing. Please note that the Foundation will only be accepting and publishing 12 posts a year (one per month).
We encourage you to reach out to Abby at arolland@presserfoundation.org if you have questions about timing and/or process.