Hester Savage Fund for Equity in Classical Music jobs and careers

About Hester Savage Fund for Equity in Classical Music

The Hester Savage Fund for Equity in Classical Music is building long-term pathways to music education — because music is more than an art form. It’s a gateway to higher education, personal growth, and expanded life opportunities. Named for Hester Savage — a prodigiously talented African American pianist and the granddaughter of slaves — the Fund honors her legacy of perseverance and excellence. In the 1950s, Hester broke barriers by desegregating the music department at Louisiana State University (LSU), earning her Master’s in Piano Performance at a time of extraordinary racial hostility. Her story reminds us that access to music is access to power, resilience, and new futures. Founded by her grandson, James Daly, the Hester Savage Fund believes that excellent music education should not be limited by geography, income, or circumstance. We provide full scholarships for private lessons, chamber music, and orchestra training — with a long-term commitment to students through high school graduation. Current partners include San Ramon Academy of Music (SRAM), California Symphony, the Lesher Foundation, City of San Ramon, Yelp, and more — with growing collaborations across schools, arts organizations, and local government. Music education opens doors — not just in music, but in life. We exist to ensure more students have the chance to walk through them.