Help Joe Continue His Education

Hello! My name is Joseph Keller, and I'm a trumpet performance major at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (UC CCM).

I am raising funds in order to continue my education, and complete my transition from undergraduate school to graduate school.

A little bit about me, I am a born and raised Cincinnatian, having been brought up through the Lakota School system, and doing much of my high school trumpet playing through the UC CCM preparatory program and the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. The reason for this gofundme is unfortunately due to the familial and financial hardships that I've faced, and my need to pay for school.

Unfortunately, my Mother left my family when I was 11, which happened to be around the same time my Father was first diagnosed with cancer. He fought an intense 7 year long battle with colon, liver and lung cancer until he finally succumbed to his illness in 2019. During the time he was battling cancer, we lived by the skin of our teeth, to the point we were forced to live in the office space of my uncle's rat infested warehouse for four long years, obviously facing housing insecurity if it wasn't for my uncles helping hand. I was often the only one by my dad's side while he was recieving life altering diagnosis and surgeries. He struggled to work, and we struggled to live.

This did not deter him from providing the best musical education he could for me, and my musical success reflected that I took advantage of his investment. I achieved honors such as admission into top programs like the Colburn School, as well as the Cleveland Institute of music straight out of high school. I gratefully accepted into the program at CIM, and began my education there. Unfortunately, after great financial stress, and the terrible burden of grief that I faced due to being orphaned at such a transitional period of my life, I was forced to transfer close to home, and continued my studies at UC CCM.

While the transfer was unwelcomed, the success I've had since has been nothing short of amazing.

Through the immense support I've recieved at CCM and the Cincinnati music community as a whole, I've been able to begin a true path towards becoming a professional musician. I have won a concerto competition, subbed in with regional orchestras and overall I've had nothing but great teaching and guidance from my amazing professors. Most recently, I was even able to perform at Carnegie Hall with CCM's Philharmonia and Musical Theater program, a once in a lifetime opportunity that many musicians dream of! Through this time, though, I've lived incredibly frugal, supporting myself primarily through working 7 days a week during breaks in school, and working as much as possible as a trumpet teacher along with retail jobs during the school year. Even with all of this work, I am in a situation where I can't pay the bill for my last semester of college. This brings me to my need for your help!

Recently, I auditioned for several great graduate programs, notably The Colburn School and New England Conservatory. I have recieved interest from both of these programs, but unfortunately my decision letters are on hold.

Due to my dire financial situation, I haven't been able to pay for this semester of my schooling. This has forced me into a terrible situation where my transcripts are held by the University of Cincinnati until I can get my past due balance paid off, and due to that, my decision letters from the schools I have applied for are on hold. Without family to help me financially or to cosign on loans, I am forced to pay out of pocket.

For 3 semesters, I have been able to make ends meet and pay off school, but due to the graduate school deadlines, I am forced to pay for school during a time in which I don't have any funds available. As of writing this, I have all of $44.17 in my bank account, if that puts my situation into perspective. Any and all of these funds will be going immediately towards my past due balance, and anything left over will greatly help in my transition to graduate school.

Your donation will not only take immense financial stress off of my shoulders, but will also work to continue my studies towards serving my community through music! Thank you so much for your support.

Please feel free to share this, if you feel inclined to support me in that way!