Help Carlos afford his dreamed Master's degree

Hi, I'm Carlos, an Amsterdam-based jazz musician eager to pursue a Master's degree at the institution of my dreams. I aim to absorb valuable knowledge and experiences to enrich my future students' and audience’s lives.

When I was young, I was fortunate to have great teachers. They passed on their passion so much that I spent my days playing, and soon I started developing my own groups outside of school and attending specialised summer workshops, masterclasses, and concerts with my brother. During those years, I gradually became interested in American literature classics and the biographies of jazz musicians, which I read in high school. Since then, I've dreamed of studying in New York.

Moving to Amsterdam to study under Joris Roelofs was a pivotal step, despite the challenges of the pandemic. I will never forget the excitement of starting in Amsterdam and being surrounded by hundreds of musicians from distant countries, all united by a love for music that motivated us to leave the comfort of our homes to learn from the best teachers.

I made the most of my studies there. As I became more confident in my theoretical and technical fluency, I began to want something more. I wanted to use what I studied with such vigor for a valuable cause. So, I became interested in teaching.

Over the past year, I have taught 28 students each week. I have learned that I love teaching just as much as I love performing. I love the feeling of connection I have with my students, as it is the same as I have with my group and the audience. I love the discipline and patience required to teach, just as I use these skills to study my instruments. And I love the camaraderie I can share with my students every week.

Recently, I have been thrilled to have been accepted into the City College of New York (CCNY), and the Manhattan School of Music (MSM), which has offered me a $28,000 scholarship per year for my merits during auditions. After intense research and reflection, I have decided to focus on the offer from CCNY.

Why The City College of New York?

The CCNY program perfectly suits my needs. I seek to deepen my knowledge of traditional jazz clarinet styles, and this I could only find at CCNY under the guidance of Dan Block, a prominent international exponent of traditional jazz clarinet, who is also a professor at Juilliard and collaborates with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.

Furthermore, other faculty members have taught the professors I had in Amsterdam. At the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, we always eagerly anticipated the sporadic masterclasses from American artists like David Wong and Terrell Staford, which occurred once per semester. However, at CCNY, their classes are part of the daily routine, and seeing them perform with groups I've admired since childhood becomes much easier.

Additionally, they have a beautiful Gothic campus located in Harlem, with its rich history and easy access to the rest of Manhattan and to Brooklyn by subway. Each of these boroughs contains years of history that greatly interests me. Being part of the CUNY group of universities, they offer me free tickets and discounts to many museums, concerts, and events in New York. This will allow me to fully immerse myself in American art and absorb its knowledge, perspectives, and ideas.

After my studies:

I aspire to collaborate with initiatives that promote a healthy jazz education, helping young aspiring musicians feel connected and motivated. I have been fortunate to experience such initiatives firsthand since I was young, and their philosophies and values still resonate with me.

Apart from continuing to perform concerts, my goal is also to become a teacher at a higher conservatory. This way, I will combine what I have learned in Spain and the Netherlands with the values and knowledge acquired in New York.

At The City College of New York:

I want to challenge myself to become the best musician and person I can be. New York is one of the most multicultural cities, brimming with opportunities. There are hundreds of jazz musicians specializing in every imaginable subgenre. Each district has a unique scene where there is a lifetime of music to learn. I want to surround myself with like-minded peers and mentors, artists, and a community that propels me toward new experiences, cultures, and music. I aim to create an even broader network of professional experiences, share my work and musical voice with a wider audience, and learn as much as I can. I know the city still has much more to offer because I've been reading about it since I was a teenager.

I feel incredibly privileged to know that the City College of New York wants me as a student, and I am very grateful to you for having read my story and considering donating, which will allow me to fulfil my dream and greatly improve as a musician so that I can contribute my best version to the world.

I have been fostering and working on this dream for several years, and now I am only €20.000 away from making it come true. Your generous donations will help me pay the tuition fee and, if I am awarded any of the scholarships I am applying for, the donations will help me pay rent without diverting too much energy and time from my studies. Any contribution within your budget adds up and really helps! Thank you so much again! I will keep you posted on this page about any further progress.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or ideas: www.carlosruizserra.com

(My beloved trio!)