Juan Andrés Lincango Educational Fund

Hello, my name is Elizabeth Gaus and I am fundraising to support my friend Juan Andres Lincango pursue his musical talents. I met Juan Andrés when he was 9 years old when my son Christopher was playing soccer with Juan’s oldest brother. I befriended Juan’s mother Marisol and we got to know each other well- sitting for hours watching our children play soccer. Marisol and I connected over our deep love and concern for our children- and our commitment to wanting to ensure they had opportunities to build friendships and nurture their talents. Unlike his brother and my son, Juan was not very interested in soccer.

As a former teacher, I suggested to Marisol that maybe they could encourage Juan to play music so that way he could make friendships and explore other options. My family eventually moved to the US but I reconnected with the Lincango’s one summer while visiting Quito. I got to see Juan, then around 12 years old, play a beautiful Ecuadorian pasillo (song) for our family with his violin. It was an amazing feeling to see how he had blossomed to develop such incredible talent.

Since Juan found his love for the violin, he has blossomed to become a prolific musician. At such a young age he has shown enormous discipline and leadership as evident by founding and serving as concertmaster for the Youth Orchestra of Ecuador (YOE) in 2016 but also performing in more than 70 concerns in 2019 among which he won first prize “Cum Laude'' in the European Music Festival For Young People in Belgium. At just 21 years, Juan has won numerous competitions and has been selected by the Ecuadorian government as a cultural ambassador to represent Ecuador at the United Nations, Colombia, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands and the United States. Juan has continued to serve as an instructor in the YOE Children’s Orchestra in Quito.

Juan’s musical talent and leadership have not gone unnoticed- as he was awarded a scholarship to continue his education in the School of Music at the College of Arts and Letters at The University of Southern Mississippi. This university has awarded Juan a 5 year partial service award. This award is extremely helpful for Juan while he continues his studies in the USA; however this amount only covers tuition. Juan will be eligible to apply for a work visa which will allow him to pay for some of his living expenses.

However, at this point in his music career and as an accomplished young violinist, he needs to invest in a more sophisticated violin to continue to develop his talent. Juan's mentors have suggested that Juan Andres invest in a new violin. Violins are extremely expensive, and the violin that his mentors suggested is $ 20,000. Juan has done some research about the quality of sound and the price for the next violin, and he has decided that for now, he would settle for a $10,000 violin. He has tried to save for his next instrument but it has been really impossible for him and his family. Juan Andres is the first in his family to go pursue his education abroad, and his family’s current income in Ecuador cannot make up for the remaining financial support he needs.

My dear friends and family, I am sharing this story with you to ask for your help and generosity. Juan needs a hand to pursue his dream. As most of you know my husband David and I have dedicated our lives to addressing the unequal access to justice and opportunity for historically marginalized families in my home country Ecuador. As a former student who had to pause pursuing her education due to financial constraints, I have always had a passion for empowering younger students like Juan. As the first in my family to graduate from high school and graduate college to be a bilingual teacher, I believe strongly in our ability to come together to make a difference. I believe in our ability to empower one person at a time- just like David and I were once supported in times of need. I feel that this is my chance to pay this generosity forward. Here in Ecuador, there are many talented children like Juan who are never able to reach their potential due to lack of opportunity and resources.

For my birthday this year, I am asking you all to please consider supporting someone for whom I care very deeply. Your contribution to Juan’s violin will permit him to share his knowledge and expertise with current and future generations of musicians in our home country- Ecuador.

With much love and gratitude,

Elizabeth Gaus Hinojosa