Help Hudson get to Interlochen

First of all, thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering making a donation to my tuition fund. My name is Hudson Orfe, and for as long as I can remember, music and theater have been my passion, my love, and my solace. The idea of being at a school where everyone around me is as inspired and serious about the arts as I am is a dream come true, so I was beyond excited when I was accepted to the internationally renowned Interlochen Arts Academy.  

When my parents saw the price of my tuition for Interlochen (even after a very generous scholarship) they told me I wouldn't be able to attend. It was just too expensive. But after many conversations and brainstorming sessions we decided we would "cut corners", “pick-up shifts”, and try to raise the money for my tuition. A friend of my moms told her that going to Interlochen was "the best gift her parents could have given her". Now, we’re hoping our friends and family might be able to help make that gift happen for me too. 

I know I have had a lot of people cheering me on over the years, and I am so grateful. Whether you can make a monetary donation or not, please know that I am so appreciative of your good wishes and support!

To help raise money for my tuition, our family is hosting a Mini-Musicfest at the Hopewell Valley Vineyards on August 14th starting at 6:00 PM. Many AMAZING musicians have agreed to donate their time and talents and it's going to be an incredible night of music! Your donation is very much appreciated (and needed) whether you're able to make it to the Musicfest or not, but making a donation to my Go Fund Me will gain you entry for the evening.  You can also purchase tickets at the door.

Hopewell Valley Mini-Muiscfest! TUESDAY - AUGUST 14 starting at 6:00 PM @ the Hopewell Valley Vineyard, 46 Yard Rd, Pennington, NJ 08534

If you prefer to donate directly, you can mail a check to: 22 Nedsland Ave. Titusville NJ 08560. 

In case we're not already acquainted, here's a little bit about me. (Gammy, you can stop reading now). I am a rising freshman in high school and a straight A student. I first fell in love with performing when I was in second grade and played the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland in a Hopewell Valley Children's Theater show. That was followed by many other shows at our local community theaters, as well as getting to perform at a number of concerts with the Music Together Band. If you’ve ever heard a Music Together Rhythm Kids CD, you’ve probably already heard me sing. I’m the child voice on over a dozen Rhythm Kids songs. 

When I was in fifth grade, I was recruited by the American Boychoir School, who gave me a HUGE scholarship, (and we had lots of help from Ken Guilmartin, the co-founder of Music Together). The American Boychoir School turned out to be a real game changer for me. During my years with ABS I toured extensively throughout the United States, as well Hong Kong and China, performing in over 300 concerts, and sometimes getting to be a featured soloist. 

Some of my favorite performances with the Boychoir were: 

·  What Makes It Great?® (NPR) With Rob Kapilow (Britten’s Ceremony of Carols)

·  The American Christmas Carol with Sarah McLachlan, Zachary Levi, and Neil Sadaka at Carnegie Hall, NYC

·  Orff’s Carmina Burana, Philadelphia Orchestra, Kimmel Center for the Arts,  Conductor: Cristian Macelaru

·  Britten’s War Requiem Philadelphia Orchestra, Kimmel Center for the Arts, Conductor: Charles Dutoit      

·  Mahler’s 8th Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Kimmel Center for the Arts,  Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin                 

·  Reading and Carols with Westminster Choir College, Princeton University Chapel

·  Bernstein’s Mass, Philadelphia Orchestra, Kimmel Center for the Arts, Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin                   

Every day at ABS included several hours of rehearsal, vocal studies and theory.  I loved it! It’s because of what I learned while at ABS that I started writing music. Last summer I wrote a Kyrie for  four voice parts in Latin. I also write contemporary songs, jazz and I'm currently working on a musical that’s inspired by the book “Where the Sidewalk Ends”.

In the spring of my sixth grade year I was hired to play Colin in “The Secret Garden” at the Arden Theater in Philadelphia, my first professional acting job, and the thing that made me realize what I wanted to do with my life. 

At the end of my 7th grade year, I was the recipient of the Founders Award (for scholarship, musicianship and citizenship) and named Head Boy for the following year at ABS. Unfortunately, the American Boychoir School closed just before the start of my 8th grade year. It was incredibly disappointing but because I wasn't away on tours, or having 10 hour school days, I was able to do shows at the Bucks County Playhouse, as well as be a lead in my local middle school show. I was able to take tap and ballet classes and continued to study voice, write music and spend thousands of hours at the piano. Now I am ready to continue my studies at a place that is known for it's excellence and can help me become the best that I can be.

And now we have come full circle and I'm back to sending out my plea, along with my gratitude, for your donation. Thank you for reading my story and thank you for supporting my dream!
~ Hudson

With Bailey Ryan in The Secret Garden. 

Rehearsing for Bernstein's Mass


"Warts and All" from Honk!