Support a musician building a professional orchestral career

Hi, I'm Daniela, a cellist from Colombia. For those who know me, music is my life—I love creating music for people and sharing it with the community.

After a challenging selection process, I was thrilled to be accepted as a fellow in the OA Academy Conservatory for 2025. Being part of this program is a significant milestone for any musician pursuing a professional orchestral career. Through this fellowship, I’ll have the incredible opportunity to hone my orchestral skills under the guidance of world-renowned musicians from esteemed orchestras like the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the MET Opera, and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Here’s the link with more information about the program: https://oacademy.live/orchestra.

Due to recent life events, I am seeking financial support to cover my tuition. Currently, I'm in the U.S. completing an Artist Diploma at TCU with a full scholarship. However, as anyone balancing adult life in a foreign country, covering essential expenses independently is not easy. I work in orchestras to gain experience, and while I embrace these responsibilities, sometimes life throws challenges that make it difficult to manage everything on my own.

To give you a bit of context, the same day I received the wonderful news about OA Academy, my car’s transmission failed—a repair cost that rivals buying a new car. Then, just days before recording for the Sphinx orchestral excerpts competition (a major orchestra competition here in the U.S.), I had to pay for international health insurance, which, although split into installments, is a significant expense required to stay enrolled at my university. These unexpected challenges have made it harder to stay focused on my art at the level I aim for, yet my passion for music and my desire to make a positive impact keep me motivated.

Your support would mean the world to me and would allow me to fully engage in this incredible opportunity at OA Academy. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Daniela H.