Help me finish my studies at the Conservatory van Amsterdam

Hi, my name is Sasha - or Alex - Ivashchenko. I’m a singer, composer, and student of the Conservatory van Amsterdam. I hesitated for a while about making this video and launching a GoFundMe campaign, but I’ve reached a point where I’m not able to do it on my own.

Last year, I was fortunate to join a Master’s program in the Composing for Film department, which became a huge opportunity for me to grow as a musician and a human being. Despite different life-related issues on the way, I finished my first year, which was an incredible experience: we made 2 short films and 2 commercials in collaboration with the Dutch Film Academy, and we had plenty of interesting and challenging subjects and skills to master (like conducting, recording, mixing, orchestrating, learning modular synthesis etc.). Not to mention the wonderful creative people I met this year, who constantly inspire me and have become my close friends.

Unfortunately, this coming academic year, I struggle financially to pursue this program and finish my studies, because the tuition has become drastically higher, and it’s tricky to combine such an intense program with working (even though I still try to do my best teaching, performing, and working at the side jobs). Since the tuition is pretty high (and my education requires money investment in software and gear as well as a mandatory trip abroad as a part of curriculum), I have no parental support, and, as a non-EU citizen, I’m not allowed to work more than 16 hours a week under a contract, and am not eligible for Dutch Student Aid (DUO), it made it even harder for me to stay in the Netherlands and continue my studies.

So, I’m reaching out with hope. If you’re able to contribute to or share my campaign, it would mean the world to me. Thank you.