Hello! I'm Benjamin Champion, a 15 year old composer and pianist from Madison, SD.  I'm a Sophomore at Idyllwild Arts Academy in California, and a Composer Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (cover photo). I also just got accepted to the Boston University Tanglewood Institute's (BUTI) Young Artists Composition Program for the summer. I need your help to get there.

Attending Idyllwild and BUTI is expensive, and while I am lucky to have partial scholarships, I need to raise $7500.00. I know this is a lot to ask, and I know there are many other worthy causes out there. But if I have any chance of achieving these goals, I know I must reach out for help.

I need to raise these funds by mid May. I would be honored to receive your support, and will strive to make you proud of my achievements. I hope you will visit my YouTube channel, and check out some of my music. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzfp32TJvMOkSI549yo7WlA

More about me:
In 2014, I started a GoFundMe campaign that helped me get to Idyllwild.  I work very hard to make the most out of the opportunities your generosity has given me.  I don't play video games or waste time. I'm on the Dean's List at Idyllwild and I practice at least 4 hours a day during the week, and 6-8 hours a day on weekends. I compose for roughly the same amount of hours each week, if not more. This year I've had two chamber pieces performed by L.A. Phil musicians, and the LA Phil premiered my piece “Pale Blue Dot” in their Symphonies for Schools concert program. Later this year I will have two more pieces performed by L.A. Phil musicians and the LA Master Chorale. I'm also really excited that I will have a solo piece premiered by I.C.E. (International Contemporary Ensemble) at the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center in August. Thanks to all the people who are supporting me, I can hardly believe that by the time I begin my junior year of high school, I will have had my music premiered on the West and East Coasts. (Los Angeles and New York) Music is my life, and I love it!

Thank you so much for reading about my campaign!
~ Benjamin Champion