Education for sponsored college student

Help Now! Fernando Josue Peraza Ruiz Needs Your Help to Keep His Scholarship:

Musicfor supports talented El Salvador music student’s dream

Fernando Josue Peraza Ruiz, a Salvadoran native, started playing the bassoon when he was very small, almost smaller than the instrument itself! Raised by his mother in a single parent family, Fernando did not have the money for lessons, but his determination impressed the principal bassoonist of the National Orchestra of El Salvador, who supported his musical growth.

Fernando knew from a young age that he would have to consider studying abroad, due to the lack of educational opportunities and non-existent music careers in El Salvador. While working with the young musicians in El Salvador’s Don Bosco Youth Orchestra, most of whom are self-taught, he had the opportunity to meet American musicians during the 2017 “Amistad en Accion” coaching residency pairing the United States Embassy, USAID and the Symphony of the Americas –The project incorporated side-by-side performances of the youth orchestra with the US professional musicians throughout El Salvador.

In 2021, Fernando, the youngest first bassoonist in the history of the Encuentro Filarmonico Centroamericano, was given an opportunity to study at Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University in Georgia. What an experience! To attend, he traveled for the first time out of his home country, flew on an airplane for the first time, and brought a borrowed instrument with him to a place where he knew nobody. He completed his first year of study with honors.

As a result of excelling in both performance and academics, Fernando received a full tuition scholarship to attend the esteemed University of North Carolina School of the Arts this year. However, he needs funding for his books, music, living expenses and supplies for the bassoon which is on loan to him from the University. If he cannot meet these expenses, he must go home to El Salvador.

Please help Fernando continue his education so he can fulfill his dream to teach young musicians in his home country. MusicFor will match a percentage of every donation made online – please join us in helping Fernando's dreams come true. No donation is too small or too big: together we can make a difference. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this worthy cause.

Musicfor America is dedicated to the humanitarian use of the arts to improve individual lives and communities throughout the United States and abroad.