A Harp of Her Own
Donation protected
Autumn is well on her way to realizing her dream of being a professional harpist and composer. She has some big concerts scheduled for this year and is also in the middle of a recording project. But now she is without an instrument! She needs your help!
In Autumn's own words:
"Hello! My name is Autumn Ramey and I will be 14 in November. I have had a strong passion for music since, well, since before I can remember! My parents are both professional musicians so I've been going to concerts ever since I was in the womb. I love listening to and playing classical music and I especially like to compose my own music. I also like to sing while I play the harp. I chose the harp when I was just 3 years old and I remember thinking what a beautiful instrument it is; not only the shape of the instrument but also in the music it makes. I just knew the harp was the perfect instrument for me. My parents thought it was a passing phase like anyone would think of a 3 year old begging to play the harp but I stuck to it, pestering them non-stop and when I was 5 they finally bought me a small lever harp. I had lessons just once in awhile because I was still a fidgety kid but I LOVED performing right from the start. My love for the harp helped me through a tough year when I was diagnosed as legally blind in one eye and had to wear a patch over my good eye for 8 hours a day to force the other one to work. It was hard to see the strings but I did what I could because the music made all of it just go away. Then when I was seven I finally started regular lessons on the harp. I had so much fun with it that I started writing my own music when I was eight!
As I got older and better I needed bigger instruments, eventually changing to a pedal harp. Harps are expensive so we rented and until a couple of months ago I was playing almost a full size pedal harp but then the owner suddenly sold the harp to someone else and I was left without an instrument! Luckily my teacher was able to let me use her harp for a few months but now she needs it back. I can't imagine life without a harp and now it's time for me to get my own instrument. One that will be with me through college and play with me in lots of orchestras. :) I have already recorded on a CD with the Song of the Angels Flute Orchestra and have started putting together my own CD of my compositions. I have also been invited to perform concertos with some groups in the area, am doing competitions now and will be auditioning for some great youth orchestras. So I really need my own instrument - one that I can really develop my own sound and style on! I am very serious about making my career performing in orchestras, recording CDs and writing music.
Well, with all of this in mind we went harp hunting! I played a lot of instruments, talked to harpists and thought a lot about what I want my future to be like with my harp. Then I played a Lyon and Healy Style 100 Concert Grand and it was like a light came down and you could hear a choir singing "Ahhhhhhhh!" It was love at first play! The instant I started playing it was like the harp and I became one! Just like 10 years ago when I KNEW I had to play the harp, I KNEW this harp was the one for me! Even my parents and the other people in the room said they could tell from the very first notes that this harp was meant for me.
Well, buying a professional level harp is not an easy or cheap decision. This harp will cost me $24,000. And that is $24,000 more than I or my parents have! So now I am doing everything I can to raise the money for this harp and get my career really going. And it would mean the world to me if you could help!
My ultimate goal is to raise the full $24,000 but because I really need this instrument as soon as possible my parents worked through the numbers and decided that if I can raise a down payment of at least $14,000 they can manage to make monthly payments with my help whenever I can until I can completely take over payments myself. Of course if I can raise the whole $24,000 that would be amazing because then I can concentrate on paying for music, lessons and masterclasses instead.
I thank you all so very, very much for your donations. Every little bit helps and I really do appreciate every single dollar!!! When I get my new harp I will write a new piece just for YOU, my donors, and I will videotape it for YouTube so you can see and hear it. I will even list all of your names in that video (unless you ask me not to or you donate anonymously). I really hope that can start to express how grateful I am. :)
Love, Autumn"
Autumn's Website
Autumn's Facebook Fan Page
Autumn's YouTube Channel
Note: Because Autumn is not yet 18 this GoFundMe website and all funds received are overseen by Maria Ramey, mother of Autumn Ramey.
In Autumn's own words:
"Hello! My name is Autumn Ramey and I will be 14 in November. I have had a strong passion for music since, well, since before I can remember! My parents are both professional musicians so I've been going to concerts ever since I was in the womb. I love listening to and playing classical music and I especially like to compose my own music. I also like to sing while I play the harp. I chose the harp when I was just 3 years old and I remember thinking what a beautiful instrument it is; not only the shape of the instrument but also in the music it makes. I just knew the harp was the perfect instrument for me. My parents thought it was a passing phase like anyone would think of a 3 year old begging to play the harp but I stuck to it, pestering them non-stop and when I was 5 they finally bought me a small lever harp. I had lessons just once in awhile because I was still a fidgety kid but I LOVED performing right from the start. My love for the harp helped me through a tough year when I was diagnosed as legally blind in one eye and had to wear a patch over my good eye for 8 hours a day to force the other one to work. It was hard to see the strings but I did what I could because the music made all of it just go away. Then when I was seven I finally started regular lessons on the harp. I had so much fun with it that I started writing my own music when I was eight!
As I got older and better I needed bigger instruments, eventually changing to a pedal harp. Harps are expensive so we rented and until a couple of months ago I was playing almost a full size pedal harp but then the owner suddenly sold the harp to someone else and I was left without an instrument! Luckily my teacher was able to let me use her harp for a few months but now she needs it back. I can't imagine life without a harp and now it's time for me to get my own instrument. One that will be with me through college and play with me in lots of orchestras. :) I have already recorded on a CD with the Song of the Angels Flute Orchestra and have started putting together my own CD of my compositions. I have also been invited to perform concertos with some groups in the area, am doing competitions now and will be auditioning for some great youth orchestras. So I really need my own instrument - one that I can really develop my own sound and style on! I am very serious about making my career performing in orchestras, recording CDs and writing music.
Well, with all of this in mind we went harp hunting! I played a lot of instruments, talked to harpists and thought a lot about what I want my future to be like with my harp. Then I played a Lyon and Healy Style 100 Concert Grand and it was like a light came down and you could hear a choir singing "Ahhhhhhhh!" It was love at first play! The instant I started playing it was like the harp and I became one! Just like 10 years ago when I KNEW I had to play the harp, I KNEW this harp was the one for me! Even my parents and the other people in the room said they could tell from the very first notes that this harp was meant for me.
Well, buying a professional level harp is not an easy or cheap decision. This harp will cost me $24,000. And that is $24,000 more than I or my parents have! So now I am doing everything I can to raise the money for this harp and get my career really going. And it would mean the world to me if you could help!
My ultimate goal is to raise the full $24,000 but because I really need this instrument as soon as possible my parents worked through the numbers and decided that if I can raise a down payment of at least $14,000 they can manage to make monthly payments with my help whenever I can until I can completely take over payments myself. Of course if I can raise the whole $24,000 that would be amazing because then I can concentrate on paying for music, lessons and masterclasses instead.
I thank you all so very, very much for your donations. Every little bit helps and I really do appreciate every single dollar!!! When I get my new harp I will write a new piece just for YOU, my donors, and I will videotape it for YouTube so you can see and hear it. I will even list all of your names in that video (unless you ask me not to or you donate anonymously). I really hope that can start to express how grateful I am. :)
Love, Autumn"
Autumn's Website
Autumn's Facebook Fan Page
Autumn's YouTube Channel
Note: Because Autumn is not yet 18 this GoFundMe website and all funds received are overseen by Maria Ramey, mother of Autumn Ramey.
Organizer
Maria Ramey
Organizer
Anaheim, CA
