#SupportCamarataMusic!
Camarata Music is the premiere music organization in Korea for expats and Koreans alike.
This fundraiser has been created and organized by friends, current, and past members of Camarata Music's choirs and orchestra, to support Camarata, make sure that it survives this pandemic, and ensure the future of the organization for countless members to come! Please help to ensure the survival of this amazing organization, so we can continue to enjoy the culture, friendship, community, education, and music that this multicultural organization provides!
It has been a musical home for all of its 300+ active members for more than eleven years. The organization has forged countless friendships, relationships, comfort, and memories from the over 5,000 people from 107 countries, who have sung in its choirs, played in its orchestra, volunteered in its outreach program, taught in its educational programs, and attended a concert.
COVID-19 has had a deep impact on many organizations, but few as much as Camarata Music has. As you can imagine, an organization that features live music by choral singing, the organization has been decimated by the pandemic. Further complicating things is the lack of support that has been given to non-profit organizations,and those who run them.
Ryan Goessl, our conductor, is adamant on making sure that our members health and wellness is always the top priority. Thus, one year ago, March, 2020, he made the decision (even before restrictions forced closures), to postpone rehearsals, out of concern for all of the Camarata family.
However, we made sure that things were still happening! During this time, Camarata Music put on a virtual Christmas concert , combining past concerts, and small group and solo performances, broadcasted live for the Christmas season. Further, Ryan felt that it is our duty to support those most in need. So, together with the Four Seasons Hotel, Camarata ran a "Gift From the Heart"charity drive, to make sure those children most in need had a Christmas present this past holiday season. Camarata, through our "Helping Hands" program, has also partnered up with the Galwol Center, Yongsan-gu's official welfare center, to support those families most in need! To date, Camarata has provided enough food, clothing, and financial resources from donors to support many families the past three months.
Why is Camarata Music in need of support?
Covid-19 is a terribly contagious disease. Although it affects people differently, it has the potential to debilitate and kill. This has forced large groups, such as choirs, to suspend their meeting, rehearsals, and concerts, of which was more than 80% of Camarata Music's revenue.
Camarata Music has been looking into many options, such as:
1. applying for government support (there is nothing that we qualify at the moment)
2. Searching out donors and sponsors
3. Working on providing small concerts with solo singers
4. Starting to design a virtual concert series for patrons who support
Unfortunately, due to Ryan being a foreigner (permanent resident), the organization does not qualify for most programs, including loans, government support, and more.
Furthermore, Camarata Music's major sponsors have mostly rescinded support, due to regulations and spending freezes in their own companies.
We need YOUR help! Camarata Music must survive the COVID-19 pandemic and thrive. This amazing and unique organization, which has made countless lifelong friendships, relationships, marriages, cultural exchanges, and so much more is a home for so many people here in Korea, and we need to make sure that we continue and persevere!
This fundraiser is being made by friends, fans, and lovers of Camarata Music.
#SaveCamarataMusic
How will funds be used:
Funds will first be used to cover all the contractual costs of Camarata Music.
Funds will be used to support the staff of Camarata during this difficult time.
Funds will be used to help Camarata Music persevere and hit the ground running post-pandemic.
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Help us support these wonderful choirs and orchestra, so we can ensure that we bring great music to Korea, while providing a home and safe-space for everyone, for years to come!
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