Geoff's Funding for Interlochen

Music has followed me around pretty much every where I go; I cannot remember my life without it. When I was four years old, my grandmother bought me a piano, and it was all downhill (or uphill!) from there.

Growing up, I've always had music inside my house, with my mum being the Chief Executive of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition as well as a former cellist, and my dad being the Principal Double Bass of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. I started formal piano lessons with Tatiana Lanchtikova at age 7, and slowly began to develop an increasing interest in what it was I was playing.

Fast forward to 2023, where I've been studying with Stephen De Pledge for several years and in my final year of high school, I am heavily involved in the music program of Westlake Boys High School. Having branched out into other forms of music beyond the piano, I play percussion in my school's Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra, sing in both Voicemale (all boys choir) and Choralation (mixed choir) and am the pianist for the Westlake Big Band. I've composed a work for solo piano and concert band being premiered by Westlake. On top of my school commitments, I lead a jazz combo, a classical chamber trio, and still give an intense amount of time and effort into my solo piano repertoire. In short, the music that I experience from every facet of my life means the world to me, and I connect with it in a way that I never have with anything else.

On the 30th of August, having secured my University Entrance NCEA credits,I am leaving New Zealand to study for a 'post graduate year' at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. This is the premiere arts school for teenagers in the states and their claim in the world. I already have a familiar sense of the school as my dad went there when he was my age. It was a decision that was made very quickly and suddenly, and I will admit that I am still quite overwhelmed about this gigantic leap-forward. While there, I will be fully-immersed in many different aspects of musical development, from a variety of incredible educators that specialise in young artists. Even though at this moment, I aspire to one day potentially go into film score composition as a future career, I am not fully certain what exactly it will be that I go into. I am hoping that Interlochen gives me a clear idea as to what is the direction that I would like to take my life as I get older.

I was accepted into Interlochen earlier this year with the highest scholarship they offer pianists: $15,000 USD.

However, the fees and boarding costs are considerably higher. My parents have asked that I make a serious investment in my education and we have agreed that I reasonable contribution would be for me to cover two return airfares to Michigan (so I can come home at Christmas!). Therefore, I am aiming to raise NZ$8000, with each donation being matched dollar for dollar, to put towards the overall Interlochen costs.

I am hoping, with your kind donation, you can help me realise my ambitions and my life choices as I venture into this next stage of my musical and personal journey in America.