Help Fund Samuel’s Continued Musical Journey

Samuel Igbo is a 17-year-old violinist and outstanding student who has received generous scholarships to attend Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Without your help, he will not be able to realize his full potential. At Walnut Hill, his technique will expand through private lessons with teachers from the highest caliber of artistic institutions and provide exceptional solo, chamber, and orchestral opportunities, alongside rigorous academic training. To date, enough has been raised for him to attend Encore Chamber Music Institute and the Meadowmount School of Music, but Samuel needs your help getting over the finish line.

About Samuel:

In 2018, in the small town of Boerne, Texas, 12-year-old Samuel Igbo picked up a violin. With very few resources, Samuel took it upon himself to learn the instrument on his own. His natural talent and extreme proficiencies on the instrument were quickly noted by musicians and, after a year of self-teaching, Samuel was presented with support to begin private lessons. Under the tutelage of Eric Gratz, former concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony, and Mary Ellen Goree, principal second of the San Antonio Philharmonic, Samuel has rapidly progressed both technically and artistically to an exceptional level. He has participated in numerous highly acclaimed performance training programs including:

- Sphinx Performance Academy at the Curtis Institute of Music

- Carnegie Hall‘s National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA)

- Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA) Philharmonic

- YOSA Rising Stars Fellow Cohort

- Texas All State Orchestras

Samuel's work ethic and determined self-advocacy have opened numerous doors. He has received awards in the International ENKOR and Omega Psi Phi Competitions, and has been featured on NPR’s From the Top podcast program. Samuel has performed in masterclasses and worked with world-renowned concertmasters, soloists, and professors. With a passion for teaching, Samuel has been finding ways to enhance musical opportunities in his community by offering volunteer private lessons to younger students. His strong moral character drives him to serve others, especially underserved and underrepresented communities that lack access to music.

Now, at the age of 17, Samuel begins a new chapter in his musical journey by attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. This opportunity will allow Samuel to grow as a violinist so that he may continue to share his gifts and passions with the future generations of artists. Your generosity will ensure that Samuel can achieve his full potential.

YOSA Rising Star Fellow Spring Recital 2023

NPR’s From the Top Performance and Interview (June 2022)

https://fromthetop.org/musician/samuel-igbo/

NYO2 Summer 2021, SUNY Purchase College with conductor Mei-Ann Chen

NYO-USA Summer 2022, Konzerthaus Berlin with mayor Franziska Giffey

About the Fundraiser:

Samuel has received substantial scholarships for the programming above, thanks to the generosity of Walnut Hill School for the Arts, the New England Conservatory, and Youth Orchestras of San Antonio. However, he and his family need your help in covering the remaining amount needed in tuition for all three programs, as well as academic, boarding, and travel costs for Walnut Hill (Encore: $2,750; Meadowmount: $4,025; Walnut Hill: $12,500). To learn more about the incredible opportunities Samuel will experience at Walnut Hill, Encore, and Meadowmount, please read the information about each program below.

*A detailed breakdown of these costs is available upon request.

About the Funds:

Michael and Queen Igbo, Samuel’s parents and the beneficiaries listed on this GoFundMe campaign, will hold responsibility for the transfer of these funds to Walnut Hill, Meadowmount, and Encore Chamber Music Institute for tuition and payments for other living expenses on Samuel’s behalf. All funds will be used for Samuel’s full benefit according to the itemized breakdown. Any funds raised over the requested amount will be saved and designated as funds for unforeseen costs, extra lessons and/or for Samuel’s college. For persons who donate, all transactions and financial records will be made available at any time, as well as with regular updates of Samuel’s progress at these programs.

About Walnut Hill School for the Arts (2023-2024 School Year):

Walnut Hill School for the Arts is an independent boarding and day high school offering an intense yet immersive educational and artistic experience designed for student artists from all over the world, grades 9–12, in Natick, Massachusetts. Walnut Hill partners with the New England Conservatory in Boston, which provides the opportunity for its Music major students to participate in the NEC Preparatory School, including lessons with faculty, orchestra and chamber music. Walnut Hill has a set track record of many students matriculating into Ivy League Schools and top colleges such as Harvard and Yale, and top music schools such as Juilliard, Curtis Institute of Music, and the New England Conservatory.

https://www.walnuthillarts.org/

Thank you for supporting this incredibly talented, intelligent, and kind-hearted young man who will benefit greatly from these opportunities and serve as a critical leader in advancing the next generation of the arts!