In a joint announcement, three cherished Hudson Valley institutions are taking important steps to ensure that the region’s symphony orchestras—present and future—have access to the musical resources they need to thrive. Long-standing endowed funds originally created to support the Hudson Valley Philharmonic will soon benefit symphony orchestras in Dutchess, Ulster, and Orange Counties through new grant opportunities.
At the same time, an expansive collection of music scores and parts will become publicly accessible through the Poughkeepsie Public Library District, creating a new resource for ensembles, educators, and musicians of all kinds to explore and borrow from this rich library.
These developments follow a process in which Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Inc. was granted permission to transfer nearly half a million dollars in restricted endowment funds to the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV). Many of these funds were established in the 1970s, when the Hudson Valley Philharmonic was among the only orchestras serving the tri-county region. Under CFHV’s stewardship, these funds will support grant-making aligned with their original charitable purpose—advancing professional orchestral programming throughout the region. The new CFHV fund will be named: Bardavon/HVP Randall Craig Fleischer Memorial Fund for Symphony Orchestras, in honor of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic’s beloved long-time conductor who passed in 2020.
“We are proud to see these endowed gifts continue to serve the purpose their original donors intended—supporting symphonic orchestral music in the Hudson Valley,” said Bryan Zellmer, Executive Director of the Bardavon. “With vibrant orchestras now active in Dutchess, Ulster, and Orange counties, and with new ensembles emerging, this grant ensures that the region’s musical life can continue to grow.”
The announcement also includes the transfer of the Kurt Grisham HVP Music Library to the Poughkeepsie Public Library District (PPLD). Grisham was a violinist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic for over 50 years and passed in 2017. This extensive collection—which includes classical, pops, and choral repertoire—will be cataloged and made available through PPLD’s lending system, offering unprecedented public access to orchestral materials previously held in a private archive.
“This collection is a cultural treasure,” said Tom Lawrence, Library Director of PPLD. “We’re thrilled to be administering this unique resource to the public, giving musicians, schools, community ensembles, and orchestras access to these scores that tell the story of music-making in the Hudson Valley—and now they’ll help inspire new generations.”
CFHV will steward these endowed funds for the long term, ensuring responsible management and thoughtful grant making that both honors donor intent and supports a strong, evolving orchestral ecosystem in the tri-county region of the Hudson Valley. “Supporting the arts is central to our mission,” said Laura Washington, President & CEO of Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley. “We are honored to steward these funds in a way that respects donor intent while strengthening opportunities for music ensembles throughout the Hudson Valley.”
Founded as the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Society, Inc. in 1932, the HVP became the leading regional orchestra for decades. In 1999, after the HVP’s financial collapse and Chapter 11 filing, the Bardavon—with support by regional funders—purchased the Hudson Valley Philharmonic’s name and assets, and they managed and presented the orchestra until 2023. For decades, the endowed funds and music materials helped sustain programming for the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. With this transition, their impact broadens—helping an entire ecosystem of orchestras, educators, and community musicians.
“Today’s announcement honors the past while opening doors for the future,” added Zellmer. “We are comforted in knowing these resources will remain available and continue serving the purposes for which they were created. PPLD and CFHV are trusted organizations serving our community and are well-positioned to steward these assets and ensure they remain accessible in perpetuity.”
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