Support Karalina's Education

I was accepted into and committed to two summer festivals this year and don't have all the funds to support going, also I am trying to prevent my family from taking out loans! I committed because going to these experiences are extremely important to my career as a composer and musician: by going I have a bigger chance at amounting to something and not being extremely poor after college. I work extremely hard at everything I do and I put a ton of passion into everything I make. It's my life's goal to be able to support myself by making music with others.

At the Divergent Studio, I was selected to write for the prestigious chamber ensemble loadbang, who have had works written for them by composers who have won awards like Pulitzer Prizes and the Rome Prize. I spent months writing a piece for them that pushes the boundaries of what I am able to write and I'm super proud of it. Over 2 weeks, I will be taking lessons and masterclasses with musicians including Pamela Z and Oscar Bettison.

The other festival I was accepted to, the Etchings Festival, is a big deal to me! They've had Kaija Saariaho and Georg Friedrich Haas as guest composers in the past. This year, they have a few big composers including Melinda Wagner and Kate Soper, whose music I really enjoy. I believe that going to this festival will provide me with new perspectives and instruction to become better at what I do.

Altogether these festivals amount to around $4,000 excluding housing, travel, and food. I was able to secure grants that helped me get the price down but there's still a long way to go, especially since I need to start paying rent for my own apartment next year because I can't stay in the dorms at school anymore. Just a little bit helps!!