Related coverage:
Recipients call Presser Foundation awards of more than a half million dollars ‘amazing’ at a critical time
by Peter Dobrin for the Philadelphia Inquirer (04.28.20)
PRESS RELEASE
April 29, 2020 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – In 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 a special and additional round of general operating grants to 85 music organizations, whichinclude current fiscal year grant recipients funded by the Foundation’s Advancement of Music and Special Projects programs. There is no application, there are no restrictions on use of funds beyond applicable guidelines, and the reporting requirements will be minimal.
The additional grants total $521,250 and will be paid immediately to help these organizations weather the current COVID-19 crisis, which has forced so many music organizations to curtail operations, cancelling performances and other activities. Individual grants range from $750 to $30,000. The average size is just over $6,100. These additional amounts supplement general operating grants awarded this year totaling $1,042,500.
The Presser Foundation is also pleased to announce the selection of grantees for capital projects totaling $795,000, including $545,000 in new commitments and $250,000 satisfying previous commitments, through its Capital Support program. The grant recipients are music presenting, music performing and music education organizations in the greater Philadelphia area and those which enjoy a legacy relationship with the Foundation.
Jeffrey Cornelius, President of The Presser Foundation, commented on these grants: “The Presser Foundation saw an opportunity to extend potentially life-saving support to a broad swath of music organizations, without any re-application. We want our music organizations to come roaring back when it is safe to do so, because so many musicians and enthusiasts depend on them. Our Trustees pledge to serve as responsible stewards advancing the art of music and continuing the legacy of Theodore Presser with passion, integrity and respect. It is in this way that we hope to inspire others to support the music to the extent they are able to do so. We affirm the ways these organizations and this ecosystem have enriched our lives and recognize that they are aching to continue their important work.”
2019-20 Special Round of General Operating Support Grantees (in alphabetical order)
- Academy of Vocal Arts
- Allentown Symphony Association
- Anna Crusis Women's Choir
- Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
- Ars Nova Workshop
- Art Sphere, Inc.
- Artistas y Musicos Latino Americanos (AMLA)
- ArtistYear
- Astral Artists, Inc.
- Bay Atlantic Symphony, Inc.
- Berks Youth Chorus
- Bowerbird
- Bucks County Choral Society
- Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey
- Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem
- Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
- Chester Children's Chorus
- Choir School of Delaware
- Choral Arts Philadelphia
- CityFest, Inc./Wilmington Children's Chorus
- Commonwealth Youthchoirs
- Community Conservatory
- Community Music School Lehigh Valley
- Community Music School of Collegeville
- Community Youth Orchestra of Bucks County
- Darlington Arts Center
- Delaware County Youth Orchestra
- Delaware Symphony Orchestra
- Dolce Suono Ensemble
- Esperanza
- Friends of the Wanamaker Organ
- Garden State Philharmonic Orchestra
- Harrisburg Symphony Association
- Kimmel Center, Inc.
- Lancaster Symphony Orchestra
- LiveConnections
- Lyra Society
- Lyric Fest
- Mamadele Foundation
- Market Square Concerts
- Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia
- Moravian College
- Music at Gretna, Inc.
- Music for Everyone
- Musicopia
- Network for New Music
- OperaDelaware
- Opera Philadelphia
- Orchestra 2001
- Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale
- Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
- Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts
- Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus
- Philadelphia Sinfonia Association
- Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
- Piffaro, The Renaissance Band
- Play On, Philly! (POP)
- Princeton Symphony Orchestra
- PRISM Quartet, Inc.
- Project 440
- Reading Symphony Orchestra
- Riverside Symphonia
- Settlement Music School
- Singing City
- State Theatre Regional Arts Center At New Brunswick Inc
- Susquehanna Chorale
- Symphony in C
- Tempesta di Mare, Inc.
- Temple University Music Preparatory Division
- The Allentown Band
- The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
- The Crossing
- The Dryden Ensemble
- The Friends of Chamber Music of Reading, Inc.
- The Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music
- The Mann Center for the Performing Arts
- The Music School of Delaware
- The Philadelphia Orchestra
- The Princeton Festival
- Trenton Children's Chorus, Inc.
- Trenton Music Makers
- Tri-County Concerts Association, Inc.
- Wilmington Concert Opera
- WRTI 90.1FM
- Variant 6
2019-20 Capital Support Grantees (in alphabetical order)
- Haverford College
- Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation
- Kimmel Center, Inc., Academy of Music*
- Lafayette College
- Lebanon Valley College
- Rider University – Westminster Choir College
- Swarthmore College
- The Mann Center for the Performing Arts*
- University of the Arts*
*Previous Multi-Year Grantee
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 supports a broad range of classical symphonic, chamber, choral and vocal music performance and education through 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.