Reed's Piano Education Brevard, CCMI & Lessons

Hi.  My name is Reed Kurtz. 

I am so excited!  I got accepted to the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute! 

I started music lessons at age 6 at Hungry Monk Music in Charleston, SC and fell in love with the piano and performing in front of an audience.  I’m currently taking lessons with Laura Ball and have been fortunate to belong to her dynamic studio for the past 4 years.  I also take theory lessons. 

I am the pianist for the Summerville Orchestra under the baton of Wojciech Milewski.  Next year will be my third season with this amazing group of musicians.  In addition to volunteering for the orchestra, I regularly volunteer to perform for nursing home facilities, charity events, and fund raisers throughout the Lowcountry.

You may have seen me play in the Bach Festival of Charleston or at Piccolo Spoleto as part of the Rising Stars program.  I’ve also love playing at the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League’s Designer Show houses and their tour of Kiawah Island homes.

I am passionate about music and plan on majoring in piano performance after I graduate high school next year.  That is why attending Brevard this summer is so important to me.  I will get to be immersed in nothing but music!  This is from Brevard’s website,

“Brevard Music Center stands as one of this country's premier summer training programs and festivals. More than 500 gifted students, ages 14 through post-college, come to the Music Center every summer to study with a distinguished faculty of over 80 artists from the nation's leading orchestras, colleges, and conservatories.”

I am so excited!!!  

After I get home from Brevard I will continue to be immersed in music.  I’ll be attending the Charleston Chamber Music Intensive.  I am delighted to be able to participate in this intense week of chamber music again this year.  It is held at the College of Charleston. 

I have never tried to raise funds for camps or lessons before.  I decided to ask because the worst that could happen is no one would donate and I wouldn’t be out anything expect the time it took to figure out how to set up this page.  I am reaching out to try to help defer the cost of Brevard, CCMI, private lessons, and new URL text music (sheet music adds up quickly!).  For those of you who are not aware, my dad’s job was cut due to restructuring in December last year.  He is actively applying and interviewing in the Lowcountry so I don’t have to move my senior year of high school.  I know I am fortunate and am so very grateful for all my parents do to allow me to study piano. 

 I have been so grateful over the years to be able to audition and win scholarships from the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League to help fund my studies.  I won the Ruth and Barry Goldsmith Award from the CSOL this year and those funds partially paid for Brevard.  I also won a merit scholarship from Brevard and a merit scholarship from the Charleston Chamber Music Intensive.    Even after that monetary help,  the journey to becoming a classical musician is expensive.   

Thank you.  Please pass this on to anyone who you think might be interested in donating.  Every little bit will help.   All donations will go towards paying for Brevard, CCMI, private lessons, and sheet music.

Thank you,
Reed

Here's the link to my youtube channel if you want to see me play.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Io8Pj7cm9YQoyjZcvqQMQ/featured