An image of a concert hall courtesy of the New York Times. Where’s Classical Music’s Caitlin Clark? By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow As a musician straddling both Western classical tradition and popular music culture, I offer a unique perspective shaped by my appreciation for the artistic beauty and rich history of both genres. This…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow On Sunday, October 27th, the Greater South Jersey Chorus and Chamber Singers, under the baton of Artistic Director Dr. Christopher Thomas and conductor Art McKenzie, captivated their audience with a beautifully curated program titled Untraveled Worlds: Landscapes From Within. Set against the evocative backdrop of the historic Scottish Rite…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow Karim Sulayman, tenor; Sean Shibe, guitar On this clear and comfortable Sunday afternoon, I enjoyed the serenity of my back porch while watching tenor Karim Sulayman and guitarist Sean Shibe perform at the historic Benjamin Franklin Hall, hosted by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. This concert series showcases high-quality…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow This inaugural installment launches a five-part series that delves into classical music and its potential to foster social justice and create a more inclusive environment for diverse audiences. Surveys by the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) and the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts provide insight on…
By Daniel Jackson, Graduate Music Fellow An unseasonably warm and humid evening air permeated through the windows and doors of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia on this Friday evening. Condensation from the rain glistened from the open windows. But no one seemed to mind the warmth or inclement weather, for in this sanctuary the…
Image: A GEGISOM student playing piano. Pulled from reports written by Dr. Joyce Drayton, 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 post will spotlight one partner, who has…
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow In the ever-evolving landscape of the music field, there’s a growing recognition of the need to diversify concert programs and decolonize our musical repertoire. But how can we effectively navigate this complex terrain? Community engagement emerges as a pivotal strategy in this endeavor. The Presser Foundation hosted a Next…
By Abby Rolland 2024 marks the start of a strategic planning process for The Presser Foundation. This initiative is meant to engage the Board, staff, and grantees in ensuring that the Foundation is achieving the long-held mission to provide philanthropic support for music and music education and to fund the musical arts in their many…
By Sepehr Pirasteh, Graduate Music Fellow As a Ph.D. student in composition at Temple University, my passion for music goes beyond the classroom. I crave diverse sounds and connections, and my experience as a Graduate Fellow at The Presser Foundation has been nothing short of transformative. In this post, I want to share my journey…
In her capacity as Executive Director of The Presser Foundation, Teresa Rodgers serves as the chair of Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia’s Arts & Culture Funders Community of Practice. This Community of Practice is where a variety of arts focused grantmakers meet to discuss support for the arts, relevant trends, and other topics related to the…