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Dr. Kendrah Butler-Waters, a composer, musician, and Glenside resident, has been named a 2025 Pew Fellow in the Arts and awarded an $85,000 grant by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage in recognition of her contributions to the Philadelphia music community.
Butler-Waters is known for her deeply personal and socially rooted approach to music. A composer, pianist, vocalist, and educator, she draws inspiration from family, cultural memory, faith, and the lived experiences of Black motherhood. Her work focuses on “telling stories of belonging, identity, and love,” often lifting up voices and narratives that might otherwise go unheard.
“I am a musician who believes that to truly see each other in our fullest humanity, our quietest, humblest stories need to be lived, loved, and listened to out loud,” Butler-Waters said.
Her compositions blend classical and jazz foundations with gospel and soul influences, creating music that is both contemporary and rooted in tradition. Beyond the concert stage, Butler-Waters is widely recognized for her community-based and interdisciplinary projects, where music is placed in conversation with film, spoken word, and live performance. These collaborations often center on storytelling and collective healing through the arts.
The Pew Fellowship is one of the region’s most competitive arts honors, supporting local artists whose work demonstrates both artistic excellence and community impact. With the grant, Butler-Waters plans to continue developing new work that engages audiences while strengthening connections between music and lived experience.
Local arts advocates praised the recognition as a proud moment for Glenside and the wider Abington area, highlighting Butler-Waters’ role in elevating the region’s cultural voice through powerful, story-driven music.
