This month, a newly renovated Presser Hall will re-open at the Mary Louise Curtis Branch! Alongside this project that includes the refurbishment of a Steinway concert grand piano that had its debut in 1964 in Presser Hall by Rudolf Serkin and Eugene Ormandy, new windows, curtains, and state-of-the-art AV equipment, we are unveiling a tribute to the many voices that define our community!

Members of the Mary Louise Curtis Branch community were invited to join a Community Voices committee which surveyed students and families for the languages spoken at home and asked them what the experience at Settlement Music School has meant to them and their loved ones. The response was powerful, with over 250 quotes submitted by people of all ages and backgrounds, offering sentiments that span generations. From those responses, the committee identified ten values that are shared by the student community and 28 languages spoken within the School community. Those values were then translated for display on plaques fixed to the back of new chairs in Presser Hall.

The plaques in Presser Hall can be seen during any of our performance hours and recitals at the Mary Louise Curtis Branch. These performances are open to the public, so check out the upcoming events below and plan your visit! You can read more about the project and see all of the submitted quotes at settlementmusic.org/community-voices.