Priester Family Foundation gives $9,000 to music festival

Written by Staff Reports Wednesday, May 02, 2012 12:34 pm

From left are MAC director Michael Zuckerman, Sue Priester and State Arts Council Vice Chair Judi Leone.

CAPE MAY – The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) announced last week that the Priester Family Foundation (Sue Priester) has made a $9,000 gift to the 23rd Annual Cape May Music Festival.

Sue Priester and her family are generous supporters of the annual music festival that brings world-class musicians to this seaside resort. They increased their support by $2,000 over last year.

Priester is the daughter of Bill and Pat Carpenter, who created a $75,000 endowment to support the Cape May Music Festival.

In addition to supporting the main stage concerts, the Priester Family Foundation's donation is particularly focused on underwriting the three Bach's Lunches (May 30, June 6 and June 13) – elegant tea luncheons held at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., followed by a mini-concert with members of the Bay-Atlantic Symphony.

Priester received an Outstanding Volunteer Service Award at MAC's Volunteer Recognition Reception on April 25 for delivering an illustrated lecture on noted Cape May artist Alice Steer Wilson. In 2009, she also donated use of Carpenter Cottage, her home on Franklin Street, for MAC's Designer Show House.

The Cape May Music Festival features classical, orchestral, symphonic, and world traditions musical performances. It opens on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, with a free outdoor concert by the Atlantic Brass Band at Rotary Bandstand, Lafayette St. and Lyle Lane, at 7 p.m.

The 23rd Annual Cape May Music Festival, Monday, May 28 through Thursday, June 14, is presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and funded in part by PNC Arts Alive, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State.