Announcing the 2026 MFS Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

We are pleased to announce the Musical Fund Society’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award winner – pianist, educator and new music champion Linda Reichert.

Linda has made an indelible contribution to the musical life of our city and region. As a pianist, her highly-regarded performances have included premieres of contemporary solo and ensemble works, in addition to the standard repertoire. As an educator, she maintained a piano studio for over 45 years at Settlement Music School, where she guided and supported the musical studies of countless young pianists.

Linda co-founded and was Artistic Director of Network for New Music for 34 years. Her vision was the force behind a vast number of concerts, performances and commissions, creating collaborative projects with other artistic genres and institutions long before it became common practice. She was unswervingly dedicated to commissioning works by composers with distinctive voices, and presenting those works in expressive and virtuosic performances by superb musicians. As a result, Philadelphia audiences enjoyed performances on par with anywhere else in the country, creating new opportunities for composing and performance that have since enriched all music lovers throughout Philadelphia and beyond.

We’ll have lots more to say about Linda and her work at the Spring Celebration on May 21, and we hope you’ll join us then. So save the date and watch this space – we’ll notify you when tickets for this festive event go on sale!

About the MFS Lifetime Achievement Award

The Musical Fund Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual whose extensive body of work represents a significant contribution to the cultural life and musical community of the city of Philadelphia. First bestowed in 2001, MFS’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the remarkable accomplishments of its recipients, whose places are firmly established in the musical legacy of Philadelphia.