Can you help Carmel get to Europe?

Hi, my name is Carmel Kelly and I'm raising funds to go on a music camp overseas with the Regional Youth Orchestra (RYO).

i play viola and have recently sat a grade 8 viola exam in July last year on which i got an A, I practice a lot most days and have lessons regularly with my amazing teacher Stefan Duwe who we travel 1.5 hours both ways to see, i also compete in the local eisteddfods, and play music at our local church. I have won various scholarships with my viola, including an ‘Endangered Instrument’ Scholarship. Coming from a small country town, about 2 hours from the closest Conservatorium and music teachers.

I grew up in a small country town called trundle, about 2 hours from the closest music conservatorium and music teachers, and have been playing music since I can remember, I know that may sound strange to you coming from a 15-year-old but growing up in a house full of musical instruments and a bus load of siblings the odds were in my favor. My older sister started teaching me violin seriously at age 4, and since then I have played music in many different settings including in our family bush-band playing fiddle-like bushdance music, at our local carols and Anzac Day service, and at our local church leading hymns and church music.

A big part of music over the last few years has been the Regional Youth Orchestra Camps that I audition for and am always excited to attend. The RYO is a youth orchestra made up of musicians like myself who are from regional conservatoriums throughout NSW. These projects are 5-6 day intensives mostly held in Sydney, each project we have a repertoire of mostly classical music and rehearse anywhere from 5-10 hours each day as a tutti orchestra and in sectionals, our rehearsal space varies greatly, from old churches to the Sydney Opera house. The project always ends with a concert performed in one of Sydney’s concert venues, like the Opera House.

On these projects we have the privilege of working with and being tutored by many world class musicians including members of the London Symphony Orchestra, Australian World Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

This Year the RYO is doing a 15-day music tour over to Europe, visiting Salzburg, Linz, Vienna and Berlin. We will be spending 6 days attending and participating in the Summa Cum Laude Festival in Vienna, which is Europe’s Leading Global Youth Music Festival for Choirs, Bands and Orchestras that has been running since 2007.

On tour, we will also be performing in Salzburg, Wachau Valley, Vienna and Berlin, and attending workshops including the University of Music in Vienna.

This is the most incredible musical opportunity and I am really looking forward to experiencing all the different types of musical groups at the Festival, playing as an orchestra, and being immersed in the rich musical heritage and culture of Germany and Austria.

This Orchestra tour costs over $10,000 to attend for each musician. I have already raised $5,000 of that sum doing fundraising including a bushdance, concerts, and running a pop-up coffee shop for 3 days at our local ABBA Festival. I still have about $5,000 yet to fundraise before I am able to go.

It would mean so much for me to be a part of this a unique and incredible opportunity which I know will bring so much growth for me both musically and personally. I would be absolutely thrilled if you were able to contribute towards helping me get to Europe in July this year.

If you want more information about the Regional Youth Orchestra and this tour see: https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=41646e61229e9cbf4f6b39443e674500f13bff99e78870ddfbac855f693e2e21JmltdHM9MTczOTkyMzIwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=02911f21-b28d-6183-1836-0a2bb3546032&psq=regional+youth+orchestra&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly9hbnN3cmMub3JnL3JlZ2lvbmFsLXlvdXRoLW9yY2hlc3RyYQ&ntb=1