Empowering Young Musicians with Microgrants

Our mission is to empower young musicians with limited financial resources to pursue their artistic passions without the fear of financial burden.

We are dedicated to being a consistent resource that provides high school musicians with the financial support they need to alleviate “invisible” music costs, such as accompanist fees, application fees, new sheet music, and instrument maintenance.

With your help, we can make an impact within the music community.

Together, we can start to bridge the gap of equity and accessibility within music!

Intermezzo’s current goal is to award micro grants to high school musicians that demonstrate a need for financial assistance in Southeast Michigan.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Alondra Damian-Noyola

"I started the Intermezzo Fund with the intention of helping young musicians break down some of the financial barriers within music performance. I am eternally grateful for the generosity I have received that provided me opportunities in classical music and to pursue a Bachelors of Music in Viola performance. As a First Generation student and daughter of a single mother and immigrant from Mexico, to be where I am today is incredibly surreal. If it weren't for the help I received that funded my private lessons, violas, and summer festivals, my path of pursuing my artistic passions would have been cut prematurely.

I am dedicated to providing opportunities similar to what I have received to younger music students to strengthen and build connections within our community and close the gap of accessibility."

Abi Middaugh

"I'm so excited to be launching The Intermezzo Fund so that we can make a difference for young musicians during an extremely critical point in their the lives. The amount of money that is required to be truly competitive in the musical field can be daunting and certainly isn't talked about enough. I was lucky enough to have been given certain scholarships and participate in tuition-free programs (NYO-USA, Round Top Festival) that launched me in my trajectory, and I want other young people to feel the same freedom that me and my family have felt because of this financial aid. The only way for the orchestral field to truly represent our country is to give anyone a fighting chance. The nature of the field can be very cut-throat at times, so having a passion, or "why", is extremely important in getting through common challenges like competition, self-doubt, and performance anxiety. If someone has that passion, they deserve a future of following it without money getting in the way."