Hi, my name is Bennett and I'm the section leader for the percussionists in the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association (CSYSA). This is my 4th year with CSYSA but I've been a percussionist since 4th grade and am also first chair in my high school Symphonic Band (that got to perform at both Carnegie Hall and the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas). I'm also the trap set player in our top high school Jazz Band. The CSYSA is going on an international tour to Australia and New Zealand in the Summer of 2024 and we'll get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at the Sydney Opera House. This isn't just a musical performance tour - it's educational! We will get to go to museums, stay with a host family in Aukland, visit & learn about the Maori culture, go on a rainforest excursion, SCUBA dive in the Great Barrier Reef, surf in Brisbane, have a joint concert with the Queensland Youth Symphony, and more! As you can imagine, this is an expensive endeavor. I'm asking for $8,500 because there are more associated costs on top of the group trip price (about $7100; airlines have one of the highest rates of inflation and we will have 7 different flights on this trip): there are some meals we have to provide for ourselves (they suggest an extra $600 for food and other items not covered), passport costs, SCUBA class costs, travel insurance (not just for the trip, but for the percussion instruments), and GoFundMe takes a % of each donation. I do work in the summers at a country club snack bar and have been trying to save money to pay for college since my only other help is from my mom, but everything seems so expensive these days. This trip is very important to me because I will never have another opportunity to perform at the iconic Sydney Opera House; I know it sounds like First World Problems, but music really is my passion and my therapy. I've been playing the piano since I was 5 years old and have been taking percussion lessons since I was 9 years old. This is my last year with the Youth Symphony because you age out at 18 years old. I would be grateful for any contribution, however small, to making my dream come true. Thank you for reading my story and for considering helping me out.