Hi, my name is Naamia Rivera, and I am fundraising to purchase my first professional flute as a young music artist starting my first year of college at Mannes School of Music at The New School’s College of Performing Arts in New York City. I am both a flutist and composer of Black and Hispanic heritage who hopes to greatly contribute to the flute community through my performances and compositions. The flute is my voice, and it’s how I make myself heard in the world. Having an instrument that will grow with me as I strive for excellence is critical to my studies.

About me: I grew up with my single mom in Brooklyn and attended public school where arts and music studies are typically not readily available, making classical music studies a luxury for most in my neighborhood who could not afford it - including me. But, I was determined and persistent. I sought as many no- or low-cost instrumental music learning opportunities as possible at school, after school, and on the weekends. I attended Salute To Music, Summer Arts Institute, The New York Pops Kids on Stage Program, Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, and MSM Summer, commuting on the subway, flute in hand, before 7:00 a.m. every morning at least six days a week. My hard work, commitment to artistic excellence, and scholarship support led me to The Juilliard School’s Preparatory Division Music Advancement Program where I majored in both flute and composition. Through my flute, I hope to show that Black/Hispanic artists are classical music artists too, and through my music, I want to express the beauty of my heritage, the pain, sorrow, joy, and hope. I am also passionate about collaborating with other artists on groundbreaking, new, and experimental music, and expanding the boundaries of my instrument.

About my new flute: I want a Miyazawa handmade flute (features I’d like include: offset G, Split E mechanism, C# trill key, C# and D# rollers, B footjoint, and an MX-2 cut headjoint with 9K lip plate and 14K gold riser). While play testing professional flutes, I found that for me a Miyazawa flute has a more rich, resonant sound and it allows me to make a more colorful tone. The Miyazawa flute has the responsiveness I need for truly crisp, rapid articulation to play more advanced pieces that I cannot play on my current flute, and has more resistance, which offers more projection power and a thicker, room-filling sound.

I would greatly appreciate your help by donating any amount you can - every dollar helps me reach my goal.

Thank you so much, in advance, for your generous contribution that will help me to purchase the professional flute I need for my continued musical growth at the conservatory level of study and performance.