OPERA-tion Send Sophia Singing
Hi! My name is Sophia Sesha (Grieb)!
I am a young opera singer (soprano) who is just starting out with my career, but, I need your help to get there!
(Listen to 3 more of my songs below!)
I have always loved to sing and have been singing, for as long as I can remember.
I knew that I wanted to be a singer,
after I sang in front of a large audience for the first time, when I was 7 years old.
After seeing my first opera, at age 12, I knew that I wanted to be an opera singer.
I have been working towards my goals/dreams, ever since.
Unfortunately, opera singing is not the kind of career where you can go straight from getting your degree
to getting a job.
Before you can do that, you must first participate
in apprenticeship programs.
Many of these programs are like unpaid internships
and actually cost quite a bit of money
just to participate in (in the thousands of dollars)
and come with a number of related costs, as well.
These expenses add up very quickly
for someone who is doing all of this, so that they can
get into their career (and who is also still working to pay off student loans).
In addition to the cost of tuition for such programs, young opera singers deal with many related expenses such as, but not limited to:
- Airfare to and from audition and program locations
- Hotel accomodations
- Food
- Taxi and public transporation
- Voice lessons
-Fees for piano accompanists
- Recordings
- Headshots
- Performance Clothing
- Application Fees
- Fees for membership to web sites that list auditions
- Postage for application materials
- Sheet music
- Website domain and hosting
I am asking for your help, because,
I have been accepted into
and been given the opportunities to participate in
2 amazing opera apprenticeship programs
(both of which are run by very famous opera singers)
and will also be continuing to try for other programs,
in the near future, so as to get my career off the ground!
I believe that I have the talent required for these programs and for this career, but, I just don't have the funds.
The first program I have been accepted into
is the Milnes Voice Studio which is run by
the legendary baritone, Sherrill Milnes.
The program will take place, in August,
in Savannah, Georgia and will be put on
as part of the Savannah Voice Festival.
You can read more about this program,
by clicking on the following link:
Milnes Voice Studio
The second program I have been accepted into
is the Opera Audition Preparation Masterclass
which is run by world-renowned soprano, Cheryl Studer.
This intensive training program will take place,
at the end of September and into early October,
and will be held in Berlin, Germany,
at the Universität der Künste Berlin
(Berlin University of the Arts).
You can read more about this program,
by clicking the following link:
Opera Audition Preparation Masterclass with Professor Cheryl Studer
I am also hoping to continue to make enough money, both via gofundme and fundraising recitals,
so that I may travel to different places, while in Europe, and do some other auditions.
Since I will be in Europe, anyway, and have no idea when I will get the chance to go back, I figure that now is the time to take full advantage of being there.
Break-down of Costs
aka
what exactly you will be helping me to pay for:
While I am in desperate need of as much help as I can get in covering all of the above-listed costs that come with being a young opera singer, this gofundme page and goal amount is aimed to raise money speficially for the expenses related to my 2 upcoming programs and trips.
Rest assured that I have taken a lot of time to do tons of research and math, in order to come to these numbers.
The break-down of said expenses is as follows
(Est.= Estimated Cost)--
Before the trip:
Passport Renewal: $135
Passport Photo: $12-15 (Est.)
New Headshots: $200 (Est.)
Georgia Program/Trip:
Program Tuition: $1950
Round-Trip Flight: $600 (Est.)
Hotel: $880 (16 days) (Est.)
Food: $960 (16 days) (Est.)
Taxi, Etc.: $55 (Est.)
Berlin Program/Trip:
Program Tuition: $900
Round-Trip Flight: $2100 (Est.)
Hotel: $1227 for 15 nights
Food: $1000 (16 days) (Est.)
Taxi, Etc.: $120 (Est.)
European Auditions/Other travel expenses:
Est. $3,000
A little more about me and my experience:
In spite of many major challenges and setbacks
that I have faced through the years,
I have accomplished the following:
- earned my degree in Music (Vocal Performance)
from New Mexico State University
- performed 4 leading roles in operas
- sung with various choirs and musical groups
- won a number of voice competitions
- helped in launching, coordinated for, and regularly
performed with Operation Spread the Music,
a volunteer organization that brings singing into
nursing homes and schools
- given numerous recitals
- had my own small voice and piano studio
- been the vocal coach for a group of young mariachis
Being accepted into these programs
are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities
and I am SO excited to be having
all of my years and years of hard work paying off!
Thank you SO much for considering helping me
in launching my career/making my dreams come true! <3