A collage of some of the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients from 2021-22. Theodore Presser, the founder of The Presser Foundation, had a passion for music education. The music publisher began his career as a music educator. When he created the Foundation, he committed it to “music education and music philanthropy.” The Presser Foundation has…
Photo Description: A performance at Esperanza Arts Center in 2020-2021 Pulled from reports written by Bill Rhoads and Daniel de Jesús, 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…
A photo of the Delaware County Youth Orchestra at their recent spring performance. By Baker Purdon In the final installment of this Tour of Regional Orchestras series (See Part I and Part II), I wanted to step away from the orchestra as a whole and tell the story of what it takes to join one…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members. These individuals come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences but have one trait in common – they love music. Keep an eye out on the series to learn more about each member, their background,…
By Baker Purdon Chamber music is a classical music genre performed by a smaller group of musicians than you would see in an orchestra. Historically (and contemporaneously), these concerts can often be performed in what we used to call chambers, or small rooms, in a home. More often than not, however, chamber music is now…
By Teresa Rodgers and Abby Rolland It’s easy to be inspired when you work in philanthropy. At The Presser Foundation, we work with hundreds of music organizations dedicated to music performance, music presentation, and music education. Every one of these organizations sees music as a way to connect, to inspire, to serve, and to bridge…
Photo of a Musicopia student using GarageBand. Capital funds from the Foundation were used to purchase the iPads, cases, and microphones pictured. By Abby Rolland For years, The Presser Foundation’s Capital Support grantmaking area focused on supporting the construction of new buildings and renovation, repair, or expansion projects to existing buildings. By providing funding for…
Pictured: The Renaissance Sextuplet By Abby Rolland One of the best parts about working at The Presser Foundation is the opportunity to attend music performances by our grantee partners. The variety of types of music shared, the artists who perform, the wonderful venues – each and every performance is an opportunity to discover more music.…
From top, clockwise: Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra By Baker Purdon A symphony orchestra is a shapeshifting ensemble capable of transporting listeners through time, space, and emotion. Comprising a large group of musicians playing a variety of instruments (including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and more), symphony orchestras are known for their…
Dr. Wright at The Philadelphia Orchestra performance of his piece “Resounding Drums.” By Abby Rolland This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members. These individuals come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences but have one trait in common – they love music.…