By Rachael Gartner, Administrative & Grants Manager When the curtain rises on a musical performance, it doesn’t just lift the spirits of those in attendance, it impacts the economy of an entire community. Beyond the price of admission, a night at the orchestra or chorus unfolds into a cascade of economic activity: the Uber driver…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow On April 5th Lyric Fest, in collaboration with The Denyce Graves Foundation (DGF), presented the world premiere of several classic Italian arias and art songs reimagined by contemporary Black composers and performed by Black vocalists. The result was a marvelous display of musical talent, ingenuity, and Black excellence that…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow On Thursday, March 6th, I had the genuine pleasure of watching Gregory Moore and his quartet perform in Collingswood, NJ, as part of Jazz Bridge Project’s Concert Series. Founded in 2004 by Suzanne Cloud and Wendy Simon, Jazz Bridge Project focuses on presenting neighborhood concerts hosted and curated by…
Photos feature Mamadêlê Foundation’s educational and performance programming at Lincoln High School, Carnell Elementary School, and the performance group Recycled Sounds. Pulled from reports written by Leslie Macêdo, organized by Abby Rolland* As part of The Presser Foundation’s efforts to be more transparent and to amplify the work of its partners, it uses information from…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow On Saturday, December 14th, I treated myself to a scenic drive through the picturesque Swarthmore suburbs to attend one of the two Winter Concerts presented by the Chester Children’s Chorus (CCC). Upon arriving at the beautiful Swarthmore College campus, I followed a winding walking path adorned with stunning architecture…
The multitalented Paul Robeson excelled as a vocalist, civil rights advocate, performer on stage and screen, and professional football player. Several years ago, the renovation of Robeson’s Philadelphia residence, where he spent his final decade, received seed funding through a grant from The Presser Foundation. Though historic home restoration falls outside the Foundation’s usual scope,…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow On Sunday, December 15th, I walked along S. Broad Street, filled with excitement as I approached what I lovingly call “the House that Tindley Built”—Tindley’s Temple—experiencing it for the first time. A century ago, Rev. Dr. Charles A. Tindley referred to this sanctuary as “God’s Cathedral” during its construction.…
Image: Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey educational programming (top) and community concert (bottom) By Jill Aguayo, Executive Director, Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey For the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey (CPNJ), classical music is more than a performance—it’s a mission to revitalize and uplift the Trenton community, our home. As one of the few orchestras…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow Encouraging. Inspiring. Liberating. Thought-provoking. My heart is full…You had to be there. If The Presser Foundation allowed it, this review of the Elevate Vocal Arts’ (EVA) Bent, But Not Broken (BBNB) Conference would be as short as the preceding statement. Alas, this transformative conference deserves a more robust description.…
Image: Music for Everyone after school participants creating music and community together. By Dr. John R. Gerdy, Founder and Executive Director, Music For Everyone An ongoing debate within the educational community relates to how to classify music programs within the academic curriculum. Specifically, whether music and the arts should be considered an extracurricular or core…