April 19, 2021 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - In a continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on the Greater Philadelphia Area’s rich ecosystem of music performance, education, and community engagement, The Presser Foundation announces new Capital Support grants to thirty-five musicorganizations. These grants, totaling $1,954,200 and paid over six years provides both single year and multi-year support to music organizations. The Foundation will also make payments on previous and deferred commitments totaling an additional $547,500. A full listing by category of the forty-four grantee organizations is below.
These grants are designated for capital projects of music presenting, music performing and music education organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Capital projects typically include the construction of new facilities and the renovation or expansion of existing facilities. The Foundation also provided for a one-time extension of grant guidelines to consider the equipment and supply needs of organizations as they continue to respond to the pandemic with innovative, uplifting and inspiring music programming.
Corey R. Smith, Chair of the Capital Support Committee, commented on these grants, "Given the environment of continued uncertainty due to the pandemic, the Foundation is pleased to be in the position to support music organizations of a great variety of scale and purpose. These grants will support the purchase of a computer, equipment for recording, supplies for summer camps, a micro-stage, and needed maintenance and renovation of buildings. We want our music organizations to come roaring back when it is safe to do so, because so many musicians, students, and enthusiasts depend on them.”
2021 Capital Support Grantees
(in alphabetical order by category)
Traditional Large Capital Projects - $1,760,000 in Multi-Year Grants
- Community Music School Lehigh Valley
- Curtis Institute of Music
- EMEAPP (Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project)
- Kimmel Center, Inc.
- Kutztown University Foundation
- LiveConnections DBA World Cafe Live
- Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts
- Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute
- Settlement Music School
- The Music School of Delaware
- West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
COVID-Related Capital Needs - $194,200 in Single Year Grants
- Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
- ArtSmart
- Berks Youth Chorus
- Bowerbird
- Chester Children's Chorus
- Choir School of Delaware
- Choral Arts Philadelphia
- Commonwealth Youthchoirs
- Community Conservatory
- Community Music School of Collegeville
- Darlington Arts Center
- Esperanza
- Friends of the Wanamaker Organ
- Harrisburg Symphony Association
- Musicopia
- OperaDelaware
- Orchestra 2001
- Philadelphia Sinfonia Association
- Princeton Symphony Orchestra
- PRISM Quartet, Inc.
- Reading Symphony Orchestra
- Singing City
- Sruti
- Tempesta di Mare, Inc.
Previous & Deferred Capital Project Commitments - $547,500 in Multi-Year Grants
- Haverford College
- Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation
- Lebanon Valley College
- Lafayette College
- Rider University – Westminster Choir College
- Swarthmore College
- Stetson University
- The Mann Center for the Performing Arts
- University of the Arts
About The Presser Foundation
The Presser Foundation was established in 1939 under the Deeds of Trust and Will of the late music publisher Theodore Presser. It is one of the few private foundations in the United States dedicated solely to music education and music philanthropy. The Presser Foundation considers proposals for funding from music organizations working in a broad range of traditions, genres, and styles and provides general operating and program grants to music organizations; capital grants for music building projects; undergraduate and graduate student awards; and assistance to retired music teachers. Much of the grant making focus of the Foundation is on organizations and institutions in the 75-mile radius surrounding Center City Philadelphia. For more information: www.presserfoundation.org.