Valeria's Dream: American Institute of Music, Graz Austria
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Hello, I am Valeria Dapena Torres! I am a Master's student in Vocal Performance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I am looking to raise $3,860 to attend the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. It is a program that I am extremely grateful to have been accepted into. The program costs $7,250 USD total; however, I have been extremely blessed to receive a $3,000 scholarship and a $250 work-study grant from AIMS. The amount I am fundraising for would cover the remainder of my tuition, which includes:
- Housing, breakfast daily, lunch Monday – Friday, individual voice lessons (twice weekly), individual coaching on arias (twice weekly), conversational German (Monday through Friday), diction coaching in German, as well as Italian, French, English, and Russian, master classes, audition training seminar, acting classes and individual coaching, musical/dramatic preparation.
While the tuition covers a generous amount of my time in Austria, I will have further expenses to cover including:
- Rent for the month I am gone, airfare, Incidental expenses ($1000 to $1500 on average), Evening meals and snacks & beverages, Streetcar/bus tickets and travel within Austria, German text book, photocopies of music, Incidental expenses like laundry and the Meistersinger Competition fee.
I plan to try and cover as many of these expenses as possible through my two jobs and generous assistance from my parents. I would be so incredibly grateful and touched by any level of assistance and generosity. Every little amount truly helps towards making this experience possible and less of a financial burden. I have attached a letter of support from the program as well as a video of me performing a short excerpt. If anyone would like, I'd love to share more of my voice. **If you are interested in making a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation through the AIMS program please reach out to me***
This program would be extremely beneficial to me as a singer and student. The curriculum will allow me to build the skills and discipline necessary to succeed in the business of singing as a profession. I truly believe this experience will set me up for success as I begin to navigate the professional world of singing and opera. I will be attending this institution going into the second year of my Master's Degree program. Through this experience I can begin my journey entering the professional world of opera while simultaneously continuing my higher education. I have been blessed to attend a summer program for opera before and the amount of growth I experienced was monumental. I am ecstatic to experience even more growth and evolution, not only a singer but on a personal level as well.
I have been infatuated with music from a young age, and watching myself achieve things I could have only dreamed about has been an incredible experience. Music is such a special gift to share with others. I have encountered numerous roadblocks along my journey from stage fright to illness and the reason I have made it this far is due to the kindness of family, friends, and strangers. I hope to repay everyone's endless love and support through my continued dedication as a musician. My main goal in life is to touch others through my music and voice which has been built by an incredible team of teachers, family, friends, and others.
Organizer
Valeria Dapena
Organizer
Las Vegas, NV