HOCKET founding member, Thomas Kotcheff, has been selected as the recipient of The University of Southern California's 2015 Presser Foundation Music Award! The award is given annually to encourage and support in a special way the advanced education and career of truly exceptional graduate music students who have the potential to make a distinguished contribution to the field of music.

The Presser Foundation Award will be used to finance two commercial recordings of eight newly commissioned works written for HOCKET. The first will be HOCKET's debut LP to include commissioned works by Sean Friar, Aaron Holloway-Nahum, David Werfelmann, Jeffrey Parola, and Jordan Nelson. Released soon after will be a follow up EP featuring HOCKET's collaboration with Kettle Corn New Music composers Alex Weiser, Emily Cooley, and Ryan Harper and will additionally include short works by HOCKET members Sarah Gibson and Thomas Kotcheff.

Remaining funds from The Presser Foundation Award will be used to subsidize travel costs to performances throughout the Southwest in the 2015/16 season and to help finance a documentary chronicling the process of commissioning, rehearsing, and bringing these new works to life.

HOCKET is very excited about collaborating with some of the young leaders of American composition on these new commissions and embarking on this recording project. Follow HOCKET's social media accounts and website for updates!

About The Presser Foundation
The Presser Foundation was established in 1939 under the Deeds of Trust and Will of the late 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 music performance and education through undergraduate and graduate scholar awards, operating and program support for music organizations, capital grants for music building projects, and assistance to retired music teachers.  Much of the grant making focus of the Foundation is on organizations and institutions in the 100-mile radius surrounding Center City Philadelphia.  For more information: www.presserfoundation.org