Pianist Laura Ward, soprano Magdalena Kuzma (center) and mezzo Sun-Ly Pierce at the Academy of Vocal Arts. Photo courtesy of The Chestnut Hill Local. By Baker Purdon, Music Fellow When I accepted The Presser Foundation’s Graduate Music Fellowship, I knew I would have the opportunity to see some of the best performances Philadelphia has at…
By Abby Rolland Conferences, regardless of the topic, are often exhausting, whirlwind experiences. But they are so rewarding. For my first in-person conference in three years, I flew to Minneapolis to attend Exponent Philanthropy’s annual conference. Exponent Philanthropy is a national membership organization of lean, small-staffed funders who seek to amplify their impact while funding…
Kelsey Lee received the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholar Award from the University of Rochester. This article was originally posted on the University’s website. By the University of Rochester Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences On any given day, Kelsey Lee ’23 may begin her morning at the keyboard of a Steinway grand piano at the Eastman…
By Abby Rolland When it comes to foundation work, a great deal of it happens behind closed doors. In this blog post, we seek to be open and transparent about The Presser Foundation’s internal grant application process. For this post, we will be referring to a grant given from one of the Foundation’s regional grantmaking…
By Abby Rolland According to recent statistics, there are approximately 1.54 million nonprofits in the U.S. Nonprofit structure can take many forms. There is, of course, the traditional and well-known 501(c)(3) public charity – in 2016, approximately 2/3 of all registered nonprofits were classified as public charities. Then, there are organizations who are 501(c)(4)s (civic…
By Dr. Lavell Blackwell 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 career of truly exceptional graduate music students who have the potential to make a distinguished…
By Dr. Kirsten Kunkle, Wilmington Concert Opera Artistic Director As a guest blogger, I would like to delve into the story behind one of the most exciting new works coming to Wilmington this year – the world premiere of the opera “Girondines” from the exclusively women and BIPOC-founded company Wilmington Concert Opera (WCO). If you…
By Abby Rolland As part of The Presser Foundation’s goal to best serve our partners, we review and adapt our applications and reports every year based on current circumstances and trends. Research and best practice in the foundation space recommends that applications and reports are simple and straightforward so that nonprofits spend less time answering…
The Presser Foundation thanks Cameron Barton of Washington State University for writing this letter to us in the spring of 2021. By Cameron Barton, 2020-2021 Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award Recipient I am incredibly proud to be the recipient of a 2020-2021 WSU Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award in Music this year. My name is Cameron Barton,…
By Abby Rolland “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” That phrase resonates with The Presser Foundation as we seek to center equity and end systemic inequities. We began our equity journey in 2019 and accelerated it after George Floyd’s murder in May 2020. You can learn more about the “why”…