Abby's Amazing Austria Adventure
Donation protected
Dear Family and Friends,
In October last year, my fiance Jeffrey and I competed in a competition to travel to Austria to attend the Mozarteum. Jeff took first prize and I was the alternate. The Mozarteum is a prestigious 2 week program where we would study with world renowned voice teachers, coaches, participate in multiple master classes, and study German and Italian language. My ambition is not only to attend the Mozarteum but to utilize my time in Austria to take auditions both there and in Germany in the hopes that I might create opportunities that would allow us to return to Europe and kickstart my career singing in German/Austrian opera houses. Jeff and I both applied for various travel grants and scholarships. Jeff was awarded a travel grant and I seem to be missing the mark. I am asking for your support and generosity which for those of you who know me well, is not easy for me. It has been my dream for many years to travel to Austria and Germany for an opportunity precisely like this one.
Furthermore, I will be writing my doctoral thesis on the vocal music of Richard Strauss, my favorite composer. I will need to travel to these countries to research this composer in order to complete my thesis. I had been studying the German language for nearly two years with ambitions to earn a Fulbright scholarship to travel to Austria, delve into the culture and research Strauss before I was accepted as a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota. Since the opportunity has presented itself, I have been applying for many types of funding and working to save money. I'm afraid my efforts have not paid off which is why I am turning to you. To attend this trip to Austria and participate in this prestigious program would open many doors for my career. To be able to attend with Jeff at my side would be nothing short of a dream come true.
My itinerary would include departure for Munich, Germany on August 6th. Jeff and I would take that weekend to explore some of Germany and accustom ourselves to the time change. Sunday August 9th we would travel by train to Austria and settle into some affordable housing, ideally. On Monday morning I would be required to audition before the faculty of the Mozarteum to be placed with a voice teacher and determine my participation in the master classes. Additionally, I have been offered an audition with an international agent based in Austria. A successful audition could ensure my return to Europe to sing for the Deutsche Staatsoper among other opera houses in Austria and Germany. So you see how important this trip would be in the development of my international career!
No gift is too small. I thank you most sincerely for your generosity and consideration in helping me to reach my goal so that I may give back by serving the grandest of the arts, music.
In October last year, my fiance Jeffrey and I competed in a competition to travel to Austria to attend the Mozarteum. Jeff took first prize and I was the alternate. The Mozarteum is a prestigious 2 week program where we would study with world renowned voice teachers, coaches, participate in multiple master classes, and study German and Italian language. My ambition is not only to attend the Mozarteum but to utilize my time in Austria to take auditions both there and in Germany in the hopes that I might create opportunities that would allow us to return to Europe and kickstart my career singing in German/Austrian opera houses. Jeff and I both applied for various travel grants and scholarships. Jeff was awarded a travel grant and I seem to be missing the mark. I am asking for your support and generosity which for those of you who know me well, is not easy for me. It has been my dream for many years to travel to Austria and Germany for an opportunity precisely like this one.
Furthermore, I will be writing my doctoral thesis on the vocal music of Richard Strauss, my favorite composer. I will need to travel to these countries to research this composer in order to complete my thesis. I had been studying the German language for nearly two years with ambitions to earn a Fulbright scholarship to travel to Austria, delve into the culture and research Strauss before I was accepted as a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota. Since the opportunity has presented itself, I have been applying for many types of funding and working to save money. I'm afraid my efforts have not paid off which is why I am turning to you. To attend this trip to Austria and participate in this prestigious program would open many doors for my career. To be able to attend with Jeff at my side would be nothing short of a dream come true.
My itinerary would include departure for Munich, Germany on August 6th. Jeff and I would take that weekend to explore some of Germany and accustom ourselves to the time change. Sunday August 9th we would travel by train to Austria and settle into some affordable housing, ideally. On Monday morning I would be required to audition before the faculty of the Mozarteum to be placed with a voice teacher and determine my participation in the master classes. Additionally, I have been offered an audition with an international agent based in Austria. A successful audition could ensure my return to Europe to sing for the Deutsche Staatsoper among other opera houses in Austria and Germany. So you see how important this trip would be in the development of my international career!
No gift is too small. I thank you most sincerely for your generosity and consideration in helping me to reach my goal so that I may give back by serving the grandest of the arts, music.
Organizer
Abigail Leah Seaman
Organizer
Woodbury, MN