A Double Bass for College

I've been playing the double bass for about five years. I started learning through the free double bass class that the Portland Youth Philharmonic offers, which was a great opportunity for me, as my family couldn't afford lessons at the time. Today, I play with the Philharmonic and have won several awards for my playing. I would love to continue playing the bass through college and after.

Unfortunately, basses are expensive. Very expensive. To get a good one that will last me, it'll cost around $10,000 at the minimum. I also need to get a bow and other things, which aren't cheap either.

Currently, I'm playing a bass that my high school is lending me. It's very nice -- around $10,000 when it was bought quite a few years back at a shop here in Portland. The bow I'm using belongs to my teacher and is also of excellent quality (I believe it cost her around $5,000). I'm very grateful to be able to play on such a great instrument, most high school students don't get the chance to. In the past, I've played an instrument that would be considered cheap in the market for basses -- around $1,000. That $1,000 dollars is cheap shows something about the high prices for basses. 

I've also been very fortunate in my education. My high school orchestra teacher is a bassist and gives me free lessons. She went to both Juilliard and the New England Conservatory. I wouldn't have been able to get as far as I have without her instruction. 

I want to pursue music in college, possibly majoring in it. I'm interested in many different genres, jazz, classical, and others. The bass is the perfect instrument for me as it's so versatile.

I don't have much time, as I'll be starting college the fall after this one. To make it even more urgent, the bass I am currently using might not be available to me much longer. I've been doing what I can to raise money for myself, but I don't think I can get what I need in the short amount of time that I have. 

My goal is to have $20,000 dollars in the end. Around $14,000 for a bass, $4,000 for a bow, and $2,000 for various other things, such as a case and strings. Please consider donating to help me buy an instrument that will bring music and joy for years to come.