Help Brandon Shine on Global Opera Stages

Hello Family, Friends, Friends of Friends, Friends of Family, and/or People Who Just Dig the Arts!

We are Brandon & Sarah, and like many people out there these days, we're asking for your help.

We know times are tough and lots of people are out there asking for help, and now we are among them. As you may or may not know, Sarah has been out of work since October with a workplace injury, and had surgery in January to repair a tear to her rotator cuff. Worker's Compensation pay has kept us more or less afloat, but it is a significant decrease in income, and she won't be back to work until late Summer or potentially the Fall.

But the news is not ALL grim! In May, Brandon graduated from the Manhattan School of Music (with a near-perfect GPA!) and is moving on to the next phase of his musical career. Through hard work and a healthy dose of talent, he has earned the unique opportunity to perform in two full-length operas overseas this Summer, and we are raising funds to pay for his living expenses while abroad.

First up, he is playing the dual roles of Don Basilio and Don Curzio in Mozart's "La Nozze di Figaro" in Saluzzo, Italy. Check out that view!

Housing is covered while in Saluzzo, but we will still need to cover food, transport, and day to day expenses.

After Saluzzo, the next stop is Berlin, where he will be playing Eisenstein (the lead!) in Strauss's "Die Fledermaus," with the Berlin Opera Academy. BOA is a prestigious institution and pivotal next step in Brandon's career.

In Berlin we are responsible for covering housing costs in addition to food, daily expenses, and daily commuter train tickets. We were fortunate enough to find a room for around $1200, which is impressive considering Berlin (like much of the world) is in the midst of a housing crisis, but is still a hefty chunk of change.

The purpose of this GoFundMe is to raise that housing cost, cover food and daily living expenses for both cities, and potentially recoup some of the travel costs. Any assistance you can offer, no matter how small, will make a difference as we move into the next phase of our life together.

Sarah's plans may be on hold due to this injury, but you can help keep Brandon's goals on track with your donation, or even just by sharing this fundraiser with anyone who may be interested in helping an artist further their career.

We are grateful for the love and support of our family and friends through what has been a tumultuous year. We're all in this together, and some of us make music along the way.