Our friend, pianist/composer/music director/piano teacher Ellen Hoffman, has had a series of ongoing health challenges since 2019. She’s had multiple surgeries (including breast and colon cancer), broken bones, and a debilitating and ongoing bout with Long COVID since 2022, which has led to multiple other health issues, including dental problems and severe GERD.

Because of this, Ellen has been hospitalized several times and is mostly home-bound. She is able to teach a limited number of piano lessons at home but is not yet able to go out and perform as she normally does. And on May 5 she will be undergoing another surgery that could potentially prevent her from teaching for up to 8 weeks.

Ellen is an award-winning musician, co-founder and pianist of Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, co-founder and music director of Jazz Camp West and Berkeley Broadway Singers, pianist/music director at the Dickens Fair, and composer/arranger for Oakland Symphony, among many other accomplishments.

We are hoping to raise enough money to cover all of her bills for two months while she recovers so she can focus on getting better and not worry about whether or not she can keep the water on.

This is not an easy ask for her, but she thanks you all sincerely for helping her get through this. And despite it all, Ellen retains her upbeat nature and sense of humor, but unfortunately, that doesn't pay the bills. Because if it did, Ellen would be filthy rich!

Best,

Mary Hill