I am raising money to make payments on my new cello. I am a professional cellist, adjunct college cello professor, and the owner, cello and guitar teacher, and Director of Operations at Keizer Academy of Music & Arts. The cello I was using was a student-level cello at best, and was not adequate enough for me to be able to take higher-level orchestra auditions, which I need to do in order to continue my career. I had been borrowing cellos at the mercy of a local violin shop to make recordings and to give solo performances.
The money you donate will go toward the purchase of the professional-level cello I have chosen, at the shop which has been sustaining me. It is a cello by a Portland OR maker, who creates cellos which are in a reasonable price-range, yet have superior sound-quality, and are much easier to play than my former cello, which had devalued by several thousand dollars over the past 15 years. The devaluation of my former instrument (from market changes, and an accident that occurred at a performance which resulted in a major repair), the lack of instrument-loan programs, and the large expense of a professional cello, are what have prevented me from fully purchasing this new cello. The violin shop has been very kind to allow me to keep the cello while making payments, but I would like to own her once and for all!
Supporters can also help by putting me in touch with instrument investors, or fundraising performance opportunities.
Thank you so much for your interest in my story!
With gratitude,
Noah