Idyllwild Arts Academy Tuition

It's June 2017, and this past school year I have attended Idyllwild Arts Academy. It's been an amazing experience for me, and I have grown and learned so much, both as an artist and as a person. I have completed my junior year with great feedback from my music teachers and good grades for all academic classes. At times it was hard, and Idyllwild is a lot of work in addition to learning how to be independent. I am so excited that this fall, I will be returning to Idyllwild for my senior year. Feel free to check out my facebook page @Nanauwe Vanderhoop. I am so grateful for everyone's support to help me make my dream come to reality.

Here's what I wrote last year:

May 2015, I was accepted into a school called Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. Although I was accepted they did not have enough scholarship funds for me to attend the school, so my family and I made a decision to wait for the 2016-2017 school year. In February, my mom and I went out to visit the school, it is located in a beautiful spot up in the mountains. Through the visit and many conversations we have had, we found that the school can provide a ton of exposure including playing in jazz clubs in downtown LA, competing in many different competitions, local venues in Idyllwild, and out in the desert of California. But not only can the school provide exposure, it can provide the knowledge of how to have a career in the music industry. They teach you how to market your music, deal with copyright, record, ect. So as you can see this is my dream school, because I would like to pursue a career in singing and songwriting.

A couple months ago, I got an email saying that they did not have enough scholarship funds for me again for the 2016-2017 year. This came as very shocking news because I got good feedback on my audition, I was told there were special funds for people of Native American heritage, and that I was put on a priority list. So I called the school to inquire and tell them that this is my dream and I am willing to do anything to make it happen. A few days later, I got an email saying that I got a scholarship of $44,575. This was amazing news and I was overjoyed, but the reality was that I was still up against a $20,000 mountain climb.

My family does not have the financial means to pay this money and that's why I am writing this. I want to go to the school not only for myself and the knowledge that I can gain, but for the people. Because I have a dream that one day my music will be heard, touch people's hearts and wake them up to see that this world needs a change. Through my music, I want to be able to help people when they feel they have no hope. I feel that the only way I can achieve this is to get off the island where I live and go to this school. I am asking you to help me reach my goal and give me a chance to attend Idyllwild Arts Academy to make my dreams come true. Please donate what you can because every dollar counts. Thank you!