Get Siya to her Juilliard audition!
Fundraising campaign by
Siya Charles
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US$1,836.00raised of $2,700.00 goal goal
No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities
Campaign Story
This is a story about how you can help make my ultimate dream come true.
But let's start at the beginning. I was a 13 year old Xhosa girl when I first picked up trombone. The moment I played my first note, I knew that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I kept on blowing into that brass instrument all through my high school years in Port Elizabeth. And when I matriculated, I knew it was time to take my dream to the next level.
I got into the South African College of Music at UCT, where hour after hour, day after day, and then year upon year I got to live my dream of learning to play the trombone professionally. I ended up doing my Honours degree, but then half-way through my Masters something happened that would completely up-end my life. My mother passed away, and well, for a while, my dream of doing my Masters did too.
But that didn't stop me playing. Nothing can stop me playing. I started doing professional gigs for bands like Freshly Ground and Lira. I played at festivals like the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Standard Bank Jazz Festival in Makhanda.
I was making a living from the thing that gave me the most joy in life. But then Covid happened, and we all know how hard everyone got hit, especially artists in South Africa.
It was hard not to perform, both financially and emotionally.
So I did something that would give me hope. On a long-shot I applied for what is possibly the best music school in the world - The Juilliard School. Just the dream of going there brought me hope during one of the darkest times.
Which brings me to the point of this story. I got invited to do a live audition for my Masters Music at The Juilliard! All of a sudden my dream, no...my wildest dream was alive again - I could be able to finish the Masters that got cut short, at a prestigious institution.
And here's where you come in. I need to get to New York on the 28th of February to audition in person. And after the dark days of Covid, I just don't have the money to fly and spend 4 days there. I need your help to get me to the audition. And...as we all know, the Rand isn't aways the strongest of currencies.
So here's a breakdown of the costs involved:
Flights: R30 400 ($2000)
Per Diem for four days: R3000 (that's $50 per day, New York is spennies!)
Visa & processing: R3950 ($260)
Airport transport fees: R3650 ($240)
So the Grand Total is R41,000, which is $2700.
Any amount, big or small, helps so much. I promise to update you guys on the journey, and write a song about my funding buddies!
Please help me realise the next step in my dream, by getting to do my Masters at Juilliard. I want to do you, and South Africa proud.
Donors
- Anonymous
- Donated on Feb 25, 2022
- Jean de Kock
- Donated on Feb 25, 2022
all the best Siya - go get your dreams!
- Anonymous
- Donated on Feb 24, 2022
Audition done!
Update posted by Siya Charles at 04:48 pmHi guys, thanks to everyone again for making this possible! Siya got through first round of auditions and was asked back for the second (final) round yesterday. She wanted to say thanks to EVERYONE - even just the audition experience in itself was amazing. She doesn't hear back for a
Plane Ticket Purchased!
Update posted by Siya Charles at 08:33 pmHi guys! Thanks so much for all your support, it really means so much. With the help of friends, I was able to get a deal on a ticket and I fly out Monday for the audition on Wednesday! We're still keeping the fundraiser going until Monday for transport/food money
Donors & Comments
- Anonymous
- Donated on Feb 25, 2022
- Jean de Kock
- Donated on Feb 25, 2022
all the best Siya - go get your dreams!
- Anonymous
- Donated on Feb 24, 2022
- Kristen Gengaro
- Donated on Feb 23, 2022
- Anonymous
- Donated on Feb 23, 2022
- Katie Thomas
- Donated on Feb 23, 2022
- Jennifer Nicholls
- Donated on Feb 23, 2022
- Greta Schlender
- Donated on Feb 23, 2022
Good luck!!
- Anonymous
- Donated on Feb 23, 2022
Good luck at your audition!
- Iesa McGettigan
- Donated on Feb 19, 2022
Good luck!!