Help Anna become the First Female Scottish Drummer at Berklee College of Music!! 

Hello everyone!

My name is Anna Fettes. I am a 17-year-old session drummer from Scotland, and I need your help to make a historic dream come true.

I have been playing drum kit since I was just 3 years old, but I truly found my passion at age 11 when I decided I wanted to be a professional musician. Since then, I’ve worked tirelessly. I’ve been fortunate enough to secure endorsements from incredible companies like Vater Drumsticks and Code Drumheads, play with various bands and artists (including a band in Iceland!), and even perform my very first drum clinic. I have also been teaching private lessons since I was 14. I live at home with my mum and younger brother, who do all they can to support me, and I am so incredibly grateful to both of them. I am really lucky to have a network of friends and family who love and support me so much and to whom I am so grateful, and I really want to do them proud!

I grew up in a lovely tiny village in Fife, Scotland, and as beautiful as it is, the local music scene is incredibly limited. With no local jam sessions, very few bands, and scarce opportunities, I’ve always had to look far and wide to pursue my passion. And that search led me to my ultimate dream: Berklee College of Music.

My Journey to Berklee

My first encounter with Berklee was in 2024 when I was 15. I flew to Boston by myself to attend their 3-day Drums and Percussion Workshop. Even though it was short, I was completely hooked. The world-class lecturers, the mind-blowing resources (including a $15 million recording studio), and the sheer energy of the campus captured my heart. For someone from a tiny Scottish village, being surrounded by people who are just as obsessed with music as I am was an indescribable feeling.

Last year, through fundraising and a hard-earned scholarship, I was able to attend Berklee’s intense 5-Week Aspire Program. It was out of this world. Five weeks of intense classes, jamming in practice rooms until 3:00 AM, and performing constantly. My playing, music theory, and musicianship progressed more than I ever thought possible.

To be able to do this for four years as an undergraduate student is my lifelong dream.

The Challenge & How You Can Help

Recently, I auditioned for Berklee's undergraduate program and was thrilled to be accepted with a $120,000 scholarship split over four years.

While I am incredibly grateful for this, the remaining tuition, housing, and living expenses still leave me with a massive bill to pay each year. I am actively applying for grants from various societies and companies that help young students study abroad, and I am working hard to fundraise myself—but I cannot do this alone. Your help would be going towards tuition, housing, health insurance, travel and study resources so

I am asking for your support. Any donation, from 5p to 40 grand would be incredibly appreciated, and you would be helping someone - whose entire life is music to fulfil her dream of becoming the first FEMALE Scottish drummer to EVER study at Berklee College of Music.

I want to make Scotland proud, and one day, I want to use my education to help the next generation by building a more versatile, modern music education system back home.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for helping me drum my way to Boston!

With endless gratitude,

Anna Fettes x

Check out my drumming journey on Instagram: @anna_fettes