Help me think about Music,not Money

  Hello everyone, my name is Marina, a 21-year-old pianist from Bulgaria. In September, I will begin my 2nd year at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada.

  I had posted a campaign last year reaching out for financial support with buying plane tickets, paying my first deposit of my tuition, and paying the fee for my Canadian visa. I guess back then I was so embarrassed that I had to ask other people for money that I didn't even want to share my campaign and reach out to potential donors. So, as my family and I weren’t able to find the money, we had to take a loan for a large sum of money back home in Bulgaria, which we are still paying off.

 I had an amazing opportunity to continue my studies abroad with two of the most well-respected and renowned piano teachers in the world. From the United States, Professor John Perry , and Professor David Louie  from Canada were the piano teachers of my dreams when I was only 15, and I sometimes find it hard to believe that I am now studying with them at the Glenn Gould School.

  However, my expectations for life in Toronto did not play out as I had hoped. To have enough money to feed myself and pay for school, I was spending the absolute bare minimum on my living situation, and my roommate and I had a terrible experience with an older man we were forced to live with. As you can imagine, all of this made life on my own in a foreign country far worse.

  I am incredibly fortunate to have received a scholarship from the Glenn Gould School; but still, I have to cover all of my living expenses without the aid of my parents. I am very much on my own, in every way possible, and any help at all will put me in a better position than I am currently in. 
 
  While I will continue to work throughout the school year when possible, it is my main priority as a student of music to practice as much as possible on a daily basis. For Professors Perry and Louie to have accepted me into their studio, and for the personal satisfaction that comes with my progression as a musician, it is in the best interest of everyone at the Glenn Gould School that I play my best day-in and day-out. The jobs I will be working have in the past caused injury to my hands and back, which not only affects my short-term playing, but my long-term physical health which is of utmost importance as a musician.

  Without additional financial support, time I should be spending in the practice room will be spent working a job, possibly a physically-demanding one, and therefore make a direct impact on all of those who depend on me to be the best pianist I can every time I sit down to play.

  I just paid  the remaining $2,000 CAD to the Royal Conservatory for last year. They have graciously worked with me one-on-one, and extended the deadline for last semester’s payment to the 31st of August. But for me to do this, I had to take loans from many different places which I have to pay off soon.
 
  Graduating from the Royal Conservatory would be such an honor, and would give me great opportunities to build a career abroad, which is all I’ve ever wanted.

  Below, you can see my biography and links to various sites where you can hear my playing or view detailed information about my performances. At the very least, I would like to thank you all for your consideration in this matter. Whether or not you can help me in any way possible, all my best goes out to anyone who took the time out of their day to listen to my cause.



Biography

  Born on March the 31th, 1994 into a family of journalists, Marina Simeonova began playing the piano at the age of six with Tsvetelina Borisova as a teacher in NSMDA ‘Dobrin Petkov’, Plovdiv.
From 2010 to 2013 she studies with associated professor Alexander Vassilenko, Ph. D. in NMS ‘Lyubomir Pipkov’, Sofia, where she graduates in his piano studio.
In 2013/2014. she studies with with associated professor Iliya Chernaev, Ph. D. at the National Music Academy ‘Pancho Vladigerov’, Sofia.

  Marina's performances start at early 7, and her first recital is at the age of 9.

  As a soloist, she is a winner of piano competitions such as:
- First prize and a golden medal at the Sixteenth International Youth Festival-Competition ‘Hopes, talents, masters’ - Dobrich-Albena, 2011
- Second prize at the Ninth intl. competition ‘Albert Russel’ – Sofia, 2012
- Second Audience Award at the ‘Klaviersommer Cochem’ festival – Germany, 2013
-First prize at the 2nd International competition for young pianists -Tunis, Tunisia 2014,

  and, as part of a piano duo:
-Third prize (2nd not awarded) at the "Music and Earth" Intl. Competition, Sofia, 2010
-First prize and the Special Public prize at the "Florinda Santos" Intl. competition-San Joao de Madeira, Portugal, 2014.

In June 2012 Marina receives a Diploma for outstanding artistic achievements from the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria and is invited to perform at the 48th ‘Festival of Chamber Music’ – Plovdiv.

At the beginning of 2012 she is a soloist of the ‘Orpheus’ chamber orchestra and Vratsa Symphonic Orchestra. In December 2012 she performs W. A. Mozart’s Piano concerto KV 415 in C Dur, with the ‘New Simphony Orchestra’ at the Concert Hall of NMS, Sofia.

  Marina recently performed F. Liszt's piece for piano and orchestra "Totentanz" ("Dance of death") under Samuel Tam and orchestra of musicians from the RCM, UofT and NYU. A link with the performance will be shared here soon.
  She has given two recitals in the Glenn Gould School's Conservatory Theater hall, both in 2015. 

  Marina actively performs as part of a duo and trio in Europe and Canada.
  She takes part in the “Pillow concerts” project, awarded as "Best project of the year" at the "Musician of the year" awards-2014.
  In the GGS, Marina has the chance to work on chamber music in the studio of Peter Longworth as well as to participate in various masterclasses given by world renowned teachers and performers.

  Marina has given two concerts in the cities of Porto and Agueda as part of the festival "Musica sem Fronteiras"("Music without borders")-Portugal, May 2014.
She has also performed for the "Famous People Players " organisation as a soloist as well as part of 2 violin duos, in June 2015. 

  She is a regular participant of masterclasses of worldwide solоists and pedagogues, such as:
prof. Michelle Beroff (France);
prof. Victor Chuchkov(Bulgaria), prof. Tamara Poddubnaya (Russia), Marina Horak(Slovenia);
prof. Lyudmil Angelov(Bulgaria-Spain)-Sofia, Bulgaria, 2010, 2011 and 2012, with gala concerts in ‘Bulgaria’ Hall and Hall №9 of the NPC ;
prof. Natalia Troull(Russia), prof. Shantal Stilliagni(France); Oyvin Osse (Norway);
prof. John Perry (USA), prof. Ettore Causa (USA), Johannes Debus (Canada), John O'Conor (Ireland),etc.
 
  Marina is a three-time scholar of the ‘Comunitas’ Foundation, in Music department, in the project ‘1000 scholarships’ (2008, 2009, 2010), and a winner of ‘Exclusive Scholarship’ for the 2012/2013 scholar year.
Scholar of the Ministry of Culture (2012), ‘American Foundation for Bulgaria’ (2012, 2013), winner of the ‘John Perry’scholarship from ‘MODO’ Foundation (2013).
In the Glenn Gould School, she is a recipient of The Marilyn & Charles Baillie Family Scholarship, The Helen Valenska Memorial Scholarship and The June Morley Ward Memorial Scholarship.

In March 2013 she gets acceped in Mannes College, the New School for Music and City University of New York- Hunter College, New York, USA.

She is currently attending the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory-Toronto, Canada, in the studio of prof. John Perry and prof. David Louie.

Contact me here:

e-mail: [email redacted]

https://www.facebook.com/MarinaSimeonovaPianist
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marina-simeonova/73/12/801
http://www.youtube.com/user/pianomarina/videos