About

Founded in 1820, the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia (MFS) is our nation’s oldest continuing musical organization. Each year, the Society promotes the city’s rich and diverse cultural life through annual project grants to music organizations, a Lifetime Achievement Award for an important musical leader, Career Advancement Awards for musicians in early stages of their careers – including pianists Marc-André Hamelin and Cynthia Raim, violinists Soovin Kim and Benjamin Beilman, and singers Eric Owens and Sarah Shafer – and a partnership with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society to present a concert series featuring artists and repertoire of special interest.

These activities are supported through the efforts of many volunteers, as well as dues and tax-deductible gifts from the Society’s members and donors.  Members are entitled to a range of benefits including social events, networking opportunities, discounted tickets to a variety of performance events, and more.

In 2020, MFS celebrated its first 200 years with a year-long series of exhibitions, publications and the world premieres of four works by major American composers, commissioned by MFS to commemorate this milestone in its history. It was a spectacular capstone for a rich legacy of support for the arts in Philadelphia and beyond.

And as MFS embarks on its next 200 years, it has ambitious plans to bolster and broaden the network of MFS members, to further invest in the important work of diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion both internally and externally, and to continue championing artists and arts organizations.

Want to learn more? Join the journey by becoming a member of MFS!  Click here to find out more about member benefits; or sign up for the MFS newsletter here.