Juilliard-Bound & In Need of a Bow!

Joshua McClendon is an 18 year old young man from Detroit and a cello prodigy.  He recently graduated from Interlochen and has been fortunate to study under some of the best teachers in the mid-west including Paul Wingert of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Josh has worked tirelessly to realize his dream and is now embarking on his 4-year journey to study at The Juilliard School in New York City, one of the most famous conservatories in the world!

The instruments required at this level are incredibly expensive. Josh needs a new cello bow to commensurate with the 1933 Karel Vavra cello (generously loaned to him by the Virtu Foundation) before heading away to Juilliard. Bows of this caliber run around $6,000.  

Why am I so passionate about getting this young man the money he needs for his instrument and to get to Juilliard?

1. I work with kids in THIS city (Detroit) throughout the school year. Do you know how hard it is to get a kid in Detroit (much less anywhere) to focus on something and to really be exceptional at it? Josh has done that. He is a cello savant. He was accepted to a conservatory with a 6% acceptance rate because he has worked very hard.

2. Josh's mom Voncile is a divorced single mom, a Detroit Public Schools teacher and has has had neurosurgery TWICE to remove brain tumors within the past 5 years.  However, she soldiers on with making sure her kids can reach their full potential. It's an incredible feat. Please help. Donate and/or share.  Joshua and Voncile appreciate your support! 

Fox 2 News Interview 

wdet 101.9 Radio Interview