The Presser Foundation thanks Rosemary Hoitt of Ithaca College for writing this letter to us last fall. By Rosemary Hoitt, 2020-2021 Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award Recipient I write this letter as a form of gratitude for the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award I am receiving. I know that this gift will help myself as well…
By Abby Rolland, Grants & Communications Manager It comes as no surprise that arts and cultural institutions have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these organizations rely heavily on ticket purchases and other earned income revenue streams to fund their programs and operations. With the total loss of all in-person audiences at the…
By Abby Rolland, Grants & Communications Manager To understand The Presser Foundation now, it’s important to understand the Foundation’s history, including the life and mindset of its founder, Theodore Presser. It all starts in 1848, with an individual born in Pittsburgh whose passion for music would grow throughout his life and become his life’s work.…
By Abby Rolland, Grants & Communications Manager In addition to understanding The Presser Foundation’s history and why it focuses on music philanthropy, recognizing the Foundation’s values and the role that they play in how the Foundation acts and works is key. The values, as well as the Foundation’s commitment to social justice, are embedded within…
Welcome to the first blog post in the newly revamped website of The Presser Foundation! We are excited about our new site and new social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram). We’re investing time, energy, and resources into sharing stories and magnifying important work in the music field (look for another blog post about…
Being vulnerable and open about one’s organization, one’s board, one’s feelings is never easy, even when around close family and friends. To do so in a (virtual) room with other nonprofits and a funder is even harder. To their immense credit, Monica Buffington (Kennett Symphony), Arreon Harley-Emerson & Brittney Lynn Stanton (Choir School of Delaware),…
The COVID-19 pandemic forced music educating, music performing, and music presenting organizations to a temporary standstill, impacting an unprecedented number of people. The Presser Foundation and American Composers Forum, Philadelphia Chapter co-hosted five Idea Forums and invited colleagues to share thoughts about resilience, creativity, and programming during pandemic. LINKS TO RECORDED SESSIONS ARE BELOW. August 12, 2020 session featured…