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. Keep an eye out on the series to learn more about each member, their background, and why they serve with the Foundation.
Next in the series is Dr. Maurice Wright, Laura H. Carnell Professor at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance.
Background & Career: Dr. Wright grew up in rural northern Virginia and moved to Florida as a pre-teen. Later he attended graduate school at Columbia University after completing his undergraduate degree at Duke University. Dr. Wright has worked as a composition professor and composer at Temple University for 40+ years.
Music Involvement: In elementary school (in a one room schoolhouse), he remembers singing songs about the alphabet. His family had an upright piano where he would practice and write his own tunes – “you can lose yourself in the notes.”
When he and his family moved to Florida, he participated in multiple music programs, including a summer institute at Florida State where he placed out of a music theory class and undertook an independent study with a graduate student in composition. Received a composition scholarship to study at Duke University, where he benefitted from philanthropist Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans and studied with British composer Ian Hamilton. Participated in a Bennington College summer program where he frequently heard his music played and was encouraged to continue his education. He did so at Columbia University, where he wrote an opera for his dissertation.
After Columbia, he taught at Boston University for one year before receiving an offer from Temple University. He has been there for more than 40 years, enjoying “being in the middle of music and musical history in Philadelphia.”
“I also wanted to be part of a more egalitarian mindset. As part of its mission, Temple opens its doors to anybody who has demonstrated talent in music, which makes it a great place to be.”
In addition to teaching, he has composed, with organizations like The Philadelphia Orchestra (2016 – Resounding Drums) and Boston Symphony (1994 – Concertpiece for Marimba) performing his pieces. He created a piece for the Olympics (currently on hold), a sponsored composition called Light-Color Play from The Pew Charitable Trusts, and The Blair Mountain Tragedy, a three-act opera about The Battle of Blair Mountain.
Presence of Music in Life: “I’m always working on a piece at a time, whether that’s an opera, orchestral music, computer and electronic music, or trying to tie music with graphics and even robots.”
How did he learn about The Presser Foundation?: He learned about The Presser Foundation upon arriving at Temple because he taught classes in Presser Hall, and the building features a bust of Theodore Presser. He had learned of the publishing company earlier and also knew of organizations who had commissioned works supported by the Foundation.
When colleague Dr. Jeffrey Cornelius, Dean Emeritus of Boyer, shared more about the Foundation and asked him if he’d be interested in joining the Scholar Award Committee, he agreed.
Committee Member Since: 2018
Role at the Foundation: Committee Member – Scholar Award Committee
Favorite Memory of being on the Foundation’s Committee: He thoroughly enjoys seeing how other universities’ music schools and programs operate and learning about what life is like for music students now compared to his time as a student.
He also likes learning about graduate students who have had their lives “turned around” by receiving the award and implementing their project. As someone who has profound hearing loss, the story of a student receiving the funds to correct significant hearing loss so that he can pursue his dream to play in an orchestra touched him.
Impact of the Foundation: “Since there are a small number of foundations that provide general operating support, The Presser Foundation is critical to organizations in and near Philadelphia that wouldn’t have thrived without its support. In addition, smaller and one-of-a-kind organizations like Piffaro and Wildflower Composers have the opportunity to succeed.
“Similar to studying and practicing music, philanthropy involves being compassionate and discerning – understanding how passion and discipline come together to create and support needed organizations.”
What does he do in his free time?: He enjoys environmental activism and engineering, and finding ways to harmoniously live with the changing climate and environment. Participates as a member of The Energy Co-Op, where he can buy renewable energy (via natural gas) to heat his home.
