Help Mebrakh Get To Juilliard School of Music
Mebrakh has been ACCEPTED INTO THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL!
Juilliard only accepts 7.6% of its applicants per year and Mebrakh is one of them. Please help him fund his dreams of attending Juilliard and support his devotion towards music.
Undertaking study at a world class institution in the USA is incredibly expensive. Fortunately, Mebrakh has been offered a full scholarship to study classical music at The Juilliard School; however, this does not cover the full cost of the 2 years he will be studying there. Please don't think that your kindness is too small. See below for Juilliard Scholarship Letter and Projected Costs.
MEBRAKH’S STORY:
Mebrakh first encountered the clarinet, towards the end of his primary school education, his teacher brought her instrument in for ‘show and tell’. It was broken so she couldn’t really play a tune but, it was enough to captivate him. From that moment, Mebrakh knew he had to get one!
“My birthday was fast approaching; I was given the option to buy a second-hand clarinet or the latest games console which, at the time, was a Nintendo DS. Without hesitation, I chose the clarinet. From there, I taught myself some pieces with the ‘A New Tune A Day’ book and performed these at the Year 6 end of year party!
My secondary school had a scheme that required all incoming students to learn an instrument. I ended up choosing the cello as urged by my family; perhaps they weren’t fond of the relentless squeaking that came with me learning the clarinet…
Alongside this, I was offered some saxophone lessons as there was a vacancy.
I started having actual clarinet lessons in Year 9 at the age of 14 with the introduction of a new teacher. I very much enjoyed my clarinet lessons but would never practise my scales.
The school didn’t have an orchestra so I played in their wind group and jazz band during breaks and after school. I also went, on Monday evenings, to a jazz improvisation class - at World Heart Beat Music Academy - which was a great way to keep my saxophone skills up.
Towards the end of Year 12, I was told that Saturday music centres and youth orchestras were a thing! I applied to a centre, for a very late audition, and they made an exception and decided to see me. I was fortunate to be admitted with a full scholarship and finally, at 18, I experienced the unique; life-changing experience of playing with an orchestra.
My school loaned me an old pair of donated clarinets for use during my gap year. I didn’t yet own a pair and wanted to continue studying at the Saturday centre.
At this point, I had already been volunteering at a hospital and witnessed open heart surgery among many other medical procedures for work experience; I was excited to go down the medical route. However, I proceeded with the subject that I most enjoyed which was, of course, music.
As I was auditioning for music colleges, I decided to take my ABRSM Grade 8 Clarinet and Saxophone exams. This was probably the most I had ever practised, for anything, at that point! Much to my delight, I received 2 distinctions in my exams and admission with scholarships to all the institutions to which I applied.
I accepted a full-tuition scholarship at Royal College of Music and Lady Victoria Robey OBE was incredibly kind to buy me an alto saxophone and a pair of clarinets – my first professional-level instruments.
It was in my first year at RCM that I watched Chineke! Junior Orchestra perform at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. I had never attended a classical concert outside of school before. I remember them playing Coleridge-Taylor and Grieg; the concert gave me goosebumps.
I contacted Chineke! Foundation immediately to see if I could land an audition or get involved in any way.
Chi-chi accepted my request, auditioned me via zoom and gave me the opportunity to play in some of their upcoming festivals and concerts. I had never felt more at home.
Since then, I have been fortunate to perform with Chineke! Orchestra and Chineke! Chamber Ensemble for CD and on stages worldwide, amongst other ensembles including my BBC Prom debut with Nu Civilisation Orchestra. I look forward to returning on stage with NCO for the Queen’s Jubilee at Queen Elizabeth Hall in June.
More recently, the final week of February to Mid-March was certainly my busiest patch yet. I had to prepare over 20 separate pieces of music, in total. This included repertoire for an orchestral project with Chineke!, my Juilliard audition in NYC and two programmes worth of chamber music for the tour with Chineke! Chamber Ensemble to Adelaide Festival, South Australia.
A day after returning from Australia, I received notification that I was successful in my audition and I then accepted a full scholarship to study for my Master of Music degree at the renowned Juilliard School. This was a huge blessing; I am so grateful to everyone that has supported me throughout my studies, and I am ever so excited for the next stage of my journey. I would like to thank you all for your kindness and support on this next chapter, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I feel very honoured”
Please see below for Mebrakh's Scholarship Letter and Estimated Cost of Attendance as projected by The Juilliard School. Please do get in touch if you would like to see the full letter as this site does not permit the upload of documents. 'Books, Supplies and Personal' include instrument insurance, US SIM card contract, instrument equipment and maintenance, recital repertoire etc.
He is not permitted to work in the US under his F-1 Visa except for on-campus 'Work-Study' - which Juilliard has factored in below. 