EVA’s Bent, But Not Broken Conference
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow Encouraging. Inspiring. Liberating. Thought-provoking. My heart is full…You had to be there. If The…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow Encouraging. Inspiring. Liberating. Thought-provoking. My heart is full…You had to be there. If The…
By Abby Rolland During the fall Next Movement Idea Forum, The Presser Foundation traditionally invites an external organization to share…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each member of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee. These…
An image of a concert hall courtesy of the New York Times. Where’s Classical Music’s Caitlin Clark? By Daniel Jackson,…
Image: Music for Everyone after school participants creating music and community together. By Dr. John R. Gerdy, Founder and Executive…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow On October 6th, the esteemed vocal ensemble Elevation, part of the Elevate Vocal Arts…
Various photos of Jonathan Schneider, Graduate Music Award recipient, performing the harp and learning in Europe By Jonathan Schneider Invited…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow On Sunday, October 27th, the Greater South Jersey Chorus and Chamber Singers, under the…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow Karim Sulayman, tenor; Sean Shibe, guitar On this clear and comfortable Sunday afternoon, I…
Jasmine De Leon received the 2023-24 Undergraduate Scholar Award from New Jersey City University. Here, we share why she was selected to…
The Presser Foundation Announces More Than $332,000 in Special Project Grants for Music OrganizationsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow This inaugural installment launches a five-part series that delves into classical music and its…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow An unseasonably warm and humid evening air permeated through the windows and doors of…
Shanna Echeverry received the 2023-24 Undergraduate Scholar Award from William Paterson University of New Jersey. Here, we share why she was selected…
By Abby Rolland Last spring, we saw a trend within the Capital Support grantmaking area – multiple music organizations of…
Image: A graphic of choral music singers In the fall of 2023, Bucks County Choral Society’s Artistic Director Thomas Lloyd…
Image: A preliminary rendering of Tanda Francis’ Marian Anderson sculpture shows how it would appear. Courtesy of Tanda Francis. In…
Bassoonist and chamber music proponent Anthony “Tony” Checchia passed away on September 7, 2024 in Philadelphia. A graduate of Curtis…
A collage of 2023-24 Presser Scholar Award recipients. One year ago, The Presser Foundation implemented several significant changes to the…
In a guest blog post written for Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, staff discussed transparency, why it matters in the work…
Wilmington Children’s Chorus Ariel Alvarado during her Fellowship year. By Ariel Alvarado One would imagine a children’s chorus would solely…
Summer intern Chris Dolich with fellow intern Kayleigh Howard outside the former Presser Home for Retired Music Teachers. By Chris…
Shayna Singer received the 2023-24 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Florida State University. She wrote this letter after receiving the Award.…
Image: A GEGISOM student playing piano. Pulled from reports written by Dr. Joyce Drayton, organized by Abby Rolland* As part…
By Sepehr Pirasteh Being a composer can feel a bit like living in an artist’s cave. We spend countless hours…
Summer intern Chris Dolich working at the Foundation. By Chris Dolich, The Presser Foundation Summer Intern For music performance students,…
By Abby Rolland The days when The Presser Foundation hosts its Next Movement Idea Forum are some of my favorites.…
By Sepehr Pirasteh Philadelphia is home to a vibrant music scene, enriched by organizations such as Wildflower Composers, Play On…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
By Wendy Chen Gunther Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an outstanding graduate…
Image: The Montgomery County Chorale & Orchestra on stage at their Spring 2023 performance. Pulled from reports written by Diane…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
The Presser Foundation Will Distribute More Than $787,000 in Capital Support Grants in 2024The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce…
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow As the Graduate Music Fellow at the Presser Foundation, I had the opportunity to…
A photo collage of some of the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients During the 2023-24 year, The Presser Foundation Undergraduate…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
Guest Blog Post: The Susquehanna Chorale—Its Legacy and Its FutureGuest Blog Post by Anne Moul Anne Moul is a singer…
Commissioning New Music to Cultivate Social ChangeBy Jack Thorpe Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music…
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow In the ever-evolving landscape of the music field, there’s a growing recognition of the…
Lizzy Galloway received the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Georgia College and State University. She wrote this letter after receiving…
The Presser Foundation Will Give Nearly $1.3 Million in General Operating Support Grants to Music Organizations This YearThe Presser Foundation…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
By Abby Rolland 2024 marks the start of a strategic planning process for The Presser Foundation. This initiative is meant…
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow As a Ph.D. student in composition at Temple University, my passion for music goes…
In her capacity as Executive Director of The Presser Foundation, Teresa Rodgers serves as the chair of Philanthropy Network Greater…
The Presser Foundation Announces More Than $880,000 in Scholar & Music Awards In its continued support of undergraduate music students…
The Assistance to Music Teachers grantmaking area is a unique and longstanding program of The Presser Foundation’s. Founder Theodore Presser…
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow A major challenge for ensembles focused on historical music, like baroque or medieval,…
Above from left to right: Ayanna Woods of the The Crossing, Ariel Alvarado of Wilmington Children’s Chorus, and Chill Moody…
La Tasha Butler received the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Arizona State University (ASU). She wrote this letter after receiving…
It’s been a busy 2023 at The Presser Foundation! With music at the center of all we do, the Board,…
The Presser Foundation is pleased to include 37 new institutions for a total of 244 institutions that will be included…
An image from Race Against Racism, a collaboration of Lancaster YMCA and Music For Everyone By Dr. John R. Gerdy,…
Images featuring Russell Fisher performing the steel pan compositions By Russell Fisher Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the…
By Sepehr Pirasteh As The Presser Foundation’s Graduate Music Fellow, I have the opportunity to experience various performances hosted by…
The Presser Foundation’s final Next Movement of 2023 partnered with Candid, a nonprofit organization that collects data and information about…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
Sepehr Pirasteh is The Presser Foundation’s 2023-24 Graduate Music Fellow. In this post, he shares his experience attending PRISM Quartet…
The Presser Foundation Announces More Than $71,000 in New Special Project Grants to Music OrganizationsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to…
City College of New York campus Chalmers Mathew received the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award from the City College of New…
The “Sa Ináng Báyan: To the Motherland” recital at Indiana University By Raoul Carlo F. Angangco Invited annually, graduate schools…
By Abby Rolland When I started working at The Presser Foundation two years ago, part of my mission and my…
Wildflower Composer students during a classroom session. Photo Credit: Rec.Today. Pulled from reports written by Dr. Erin Busch, organized by…
By Teresa Rodgers and Abby Rolland As staff at The Presser Foundation, some of our favorite events are the Next…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
Angeles Ondish received the 2022-23 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Seton Hill University. She wrote this letter to the University’s Music…
Photo Description: Presented by Ars Nova Workshop, the band Bitchin’ Bajas performs at The Venue at Solar Myth. Photo Credit:…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
A collage of some of the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients from 2022-23. The Presser Foundation Undergraduate Scholar Award program…
Image: Claire Moustafellos works on a project for the Foundation during her summer internship. By Claire Moustafellos What piqued my…
Image: Cassandra (Cassie) Slade works on a project for the Foundation during her summer internship. By Cassandra Slade Toward the…
Photo: The new Officers at the June Annual Board Meeting (President Ellen Rosen – second from left, 1st Vice President…
Photo: Trustee William McLaughlin (center) reading the resolution in honor of retiring Trustee Jeffrey Cornelius (right) At The Presser Foundation’s…
By Baker Purdon Classical music has long been regarded as a cherished cultural tradition, inspiring and captivating audiences for centuries.…
The ||:HerClassical:|| logo By Alissa Freeman Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
A collage of some of the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients from 2021-22. Theodore Presser, the founder of The Presser…
Photo Description: A performance at Esperanza Arts Center in 2020-2021 Pulled from reports written by Bill Rhoads and Daniel de…
A photo of the Delaware County Youth Orchestra at their recent spring performance. By Baker Purdon In the final installment…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
By Baker Purdon Chamber music is a classical music genre performed by a smaller group of musicians than you would…
The Presser Foundation Will Distribute $876,000 In Capital Support Grants In 2023The Presser Foundation is pleased to announce new Capital…
By Teresa Rodgers and Abby Rolland It’s easy to be inspired when you work in philanthropy. At The Presser Foundation,…
Photo of a Musicopia student using GarageBand. Capital funds from the Foundation were used to purchase the iPads, cases, and…
Pictured: The Renaissance Sextuplet By Abby Rolland One of the best parts about working at The Presser Foundation is the…
From top, clockwise: Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra By Baker Purdon A symphony orchestra is a…
Dr. Wright at The Philadelphia Orchestra performance of his piece “Resounding Drums.” By Abby Rolland This is one in a…
The author on the Isle of Skye, where she completed some of her research By Rachel Bani Invited annually, graduate…
Photo Credit: Torello Productions By Baker Purdon “Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you…
The Presser Foundation Will Give $1.25 Million In General Operating Support Grants to Music OrganizationsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to…
By Baker Purdon It feels appropriate to disclose my bias and profound love for Margaret Bonds’ Credo early in this…
Rose Haselhorst received the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Northwestern University. This letter was written by her to the Foundation. …
Fellow Baker Purdon. Photo by Jacob Smith Photography, Courtesy of Temple University Last year, The Presser Foundation launched a graduate…
The supporting organizations that The Presser Foundation supports. From top left clockwise: Penn Live Arts, Temple Music Prep, Chester Children’s…
By Baker Purdon The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia recently presented Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons paired with Max Richter’s revisionist imagining…
By Samantha Williams Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an outstanding graduate music…
This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each one of The Presser Foundation’s Board and Committee members.…
By Baker Purdon, Music Fellow History Since the inception of the United States, the American orchestra has been predominantly local…
Kevin Lopez received the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Texas Woman’s University (TWU) and applied the award funds as a…
Photo Description: Singers Jarrod Lee, Toni Marie Palmertree, Andrew Bidlack and Hannah Ludwig performing at an open-air Pop-Up Opera event.…
Grants & Communications Manager Abby Rolland, former Executive Director Mariel Frank, and current Executive Director Teresa Araco Rodgers By…
By Dr. Susan Dantoni Susan Dantoni received the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholar Award from Roberts Wesleyan University. She wrote this thank…
By Abbey Young Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an outstanding graduate music…
By Abby Rolland Recently, The Presser Foundation hosted the fourth iteration of its virtual Next Movement event series, this time…
Pianist Laura Ward, soprano Magdalena Kuzma (center) and mezzo Sun-Ly Pierce at the Academy of Vocal Arts. Photo courtesy of…
The Presser Foundation announces $251,000 in new special projects grants to music organizationsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce new…
By Abby Rolland Conferences, regardless of the topic, are often exhausting, whirlwind experiences. But they are so rewarding. For my…
Kelsey Lee received the 2021-22 Undergraduate Scholar Award from the University of Rochester. This article was originally posted on the…
By Abby Rolland When it comes to foundation work, a great deal of it happens behind closed doors. In this…
By Abby Rolland According to recent statistics, there are approximately 1.54 million nonprofits in the U.S. Nonprofit structure can take…
By Dr. Lavell Blackwell Invited annually, graduate schools of music present the Presser Graduate Music Award to an outstanding graduate…
Henderson “Woozy” Supplee III with previous Executive Director Mariel Frank at her retirement party. The Presser Foundation is saddened to…
By Dr. Kirsten Kunkle, Wilmington Concert Opera Artistic Director As a guest blogger, I would like to delve into the…
By Abby Rolland As part of The Presser Foundation’s goal to best serve our partners, we review and adapt our…
The Presser Foundation thanks Cameron Barton of Washington State University for writing this letter to us in the spring of…
By Abby Rolland “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” That phrase resonates with The Presser…
By Julia (Maurer) Gregory Toward the end of the Spring 2022 semester at Arcadia University, The Presser Foundation staff…
By Joseph Richards This is the 2nd post in a 2-part series about The Presser Home for Retired Music…
By Joseph Richards Designed by Henry E. Baton, The Presser Home for Retired Teachers was built in 1914, next to…
Pictured, from top left clockwise: Terell Stafford, Lei X. Ouyang, Marietta Simpson, Eric Owens, Nicole Robinson By Abby Rolland…
By Abby Rolland On May 25, 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, George Floyd was murdered by…
By Abby Rolland The Presser Foundation is pleased to welcome two interns this summer – Julia Gregory and Joseph Richards.…
By Abby Rolland Two plus years later, and the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be ebbing into an endemic. No doubt…
By Abby Rolland Before he created the Presser Publishing Company and published The Etude Music Magazine, Theodore Presser studied and…
By Abby Rolland Always learning. Open to change. Adapting to current realities. The three phrases above illustrate The Presser Foundation’s…
By Abby Rolland Through a moving and impactful performance by Temple University students, the piece “Weather” stays in one’s mind…
By Abby Rolland Questions around budgets, formatting budgets, and presenting budgets and financials motivated The Presser Foundation staff to put…
This blog post was originally posted on Exponent Philanthropy’s blog. By Abby Rolland The Presser Foundation is the only…
Originally posted on The College of New Jersey’s website By Luke Sacks The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)…
The Presser Foundation Will Distribute $1.148 Million in Capital Support Grants This YearIn a continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic…
The Presser Foundation thanks Rosemary Hoitt of Ithaca College for writing this letter to us last fall. By Rosemary…
By Abby Rolland, Grants & Communications Manager It comes as no surprise that arts and cultural institutions have been devastated…
By Abby Rolland, Grants & Communications Manager To understand The Presser Foundation now, it’s important to understand the Foundation’s history,…
By Abby Rolland, Grants & Communications Manager In addition to understanding The Presser Foundation’s history and why it focuses on…
Welcome to the first blog post in the newly revamped website of The Presser Foundation! We are excited about our…
The Presser Foundation Announces More Than $1.35 Million in General Operating Support Grants to Music OrganizationsIn a historic year, The…
The Presser Foundation Announces $235,000 in New Special Project Grants to Music OrganizationsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce new…
Long-time Presser Foundation Trustee Robert W. Denious passed away on September 4, 2021. We received the news with deep sadness as…
Being vulnerable and open about one’s organization, one’s board, one’s feelings is never easy, even when around close family and…
The Presser Foundation Announces Nearly $2 Million in New Capital Support GrantsIn a continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic and…
The Presser Foundation Announces Nearly $1.2 Million in General Operating Support Grants to Music OrganizationsIn a continued response to the…
It is with a profound sense of sadness and loss that we received word that long-time Trustee and former President…
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Thomas M. Hyndman, Jr., long time Presser Foundation Board…
The Presser Foundation Announces Nearly $1.6 Million in Special Project Grants to Music Organizations and Undergraduate & Graduate AwardsIn a…
It is with sadness, yet with gratitude and appreciation for her long life and all that she accomplished on behalf…
The COVID-19 pandemic forced music educating, music performing, and music presenting organizations to a temporary standstill, impacting an unprecedented number…
The Presser Foundation Announces Over $1.3 Million in a Special Round of General Operating and Capital Support Grants to Music…
The Presser Foundation Announces Over $1 Million in Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection…
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection and funding of fourteen new…
Our beloved Board member and one of the great musical artists and teachers in the field of organ performance, Michael…
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. …
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of sixty-nine multi- and…
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Project GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection and funding of seventeen new…
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. …
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of multi- and single…
It’s not every day that the arts community gets together to talk about a set of principles. But if you…
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of twelve new Special Projects…
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. …
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Advancement…
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of eleven Special Projects totaling…
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support. …
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Advancement…
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects Grantshe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of thirteen Special Projects totaling…
The Presser Foundation Announces Capital Support GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Capital Support.…
The Presser Foundation Announces Advancement of Music GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of grantees for Advancement…
The Presser Foundation Announces Special Projects GrantsThe Presser Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of three Special Project grantees…
75th Anniversary Special Projects GrantTo celebrate the 75th Anniversary of The Presser Foundation (The Foundation), which was formally established in…
The Presser Foundation accepts guest blog posts written by partners. We are looking for blog posts that share an organization’s story, values, mission, goals, programming, and/or relevant trends and issues.
Our audience are those interested in music philanthropy, arts and culture, and philanthropy in general. This includes current and prospective partners/grantees, fellow funders, media, arts and culture agencies and government organizations, philanthropy serving organizations, and individuals with a passion for music.
If you are interested in contributing an article, you can submit one via the Foundant system. Directions for writing the posts are included in Foundant. Please submit the post under the primary contact for your Foundant account.
An organization who submits a post and has it approved by the Foundation will receive an unrestricted honorarium of $150. The honorarium will be paid out once the post is accepted for publishing. Please note that the Foundation will only be accepting and publishing 12 posts a year (one per month). An organization is limited to submitting one post per year.
We encourage you to reach out to Abby at arolland@presserfoundation.org if you have questions about timing and/or process.