Hi everyone — my name is Allison Nicole Key, and I’m raising money to help cover the costs to participate in Sparta Winds this upcoming season.

Asking for help like this is honestly really hard for me. I’m working on overcoming social anxiety, and putting myself out there doesn’t come naturally. But music has always been the place where I feel the most confident — and I’m trying to lean into that and take a big step forward.

I’ve had a passion for music for as long as I can remember. I started singing lessons when I was six, and when I was eight, I discovered the alto saxophone… and the rest was history. After starting saxophone lessons, I joined my middle school concert band, then auditioned for (and was selected to be part of) my school district’s jazz band program. I was also awarded a scholarship two years in a row for the San Jose JazzEnsemble at Santa Clara University, which was a huge honor and made me feel like all the hard work was paying off.

Now I’m part of my dream band — the Independence High School Cavalry Marching Band. I’ve been in marching band for two years so far, and I plan to continue all the way through senior year.

I want to join Sparta Winds because I’ve seen how much a program like this can help musicians grow. I watched one of my fellow bandmates improve so much through the Sparta indoor program — his playing jumped to a higher level, and it really inspired me. I want that kind of growth too. I want to be pushed, challenged, and trained to perform at a higher caliber than I do right now.

And if I’m being really honest, there’s another reason I want to do this: I want to challenge myself personally. Joining a program where I won’t know anyone is intimidating, but I also know it would help me grow in a way that matters to me. I’m trying to step outside my comfort zone — not just as a musician, but as a person.

My goal

I’m aiming to raise $2,000 to help cover tuition and participation costs for Sparta Winds, including things like:

• Program tuition / membership fees

• Required items (uniform pieces/gear as needed)

• Travel to rehearsals and performances (gas/transportation costs)

If you’re able to donate, thank you so much — truly. And if you can’t, sharing this fundraiser helps more than you know. I’m grateful for every bit of support, and I promise I’ll work hard and make the most of this opportunity.

With love and gratitude,

Allison Nicole Key