Help me study double bass in Chicago

Since the day I first picked up a prop double bass on the set of the George Gershwin musical 'Crazy For You' at the age of 14, I knew what I was going to do for the rest of my life, and with my recent acceptance into the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, my dream is very much becoming a reality.

Classical music has always spoken to me on an incredibly deep level. As a baby, the only remedy to get me to stop crying was listening to my Mother play Schumann's Arabesque on the piano, a piece I hold dearly to this day. I was started on the piano very young, but was never pushed into being a musician. No matter what phases I went through as a child, it always came back to music, so when I started on the bass at the age of 14, it was no surprise to anybody that I was immediately infatuated enough to want to pursue it. With the unconditional support from my family, I was able to explore the possibilities of the instrument and the career it can lead to, and for the last 4 years I knew I wanted to be a professional orchestral and solo bass player for the rest of my life.

In September this year, I am moving to Chicago to begin my undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, under the tutelage of esteemed pedagogue Andrew Raciti, the Associate Principal Double Bass of the Milwaukee Symphony. Andy's students have seen incredible success, playing in orchestras such as the St. Louis Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and more. Learning from Andy for the 4 years of my undergraduate degree, in a vibrant and active city like Chicago, and spending my time surrounded by the amazing peers and acclaimed faculty at Northwestern will undoubtedly set me up efficiently to enter the world of orchestral auditions with confidence.

I have received a generous scholarship of $45,000 USD per annum to attend Northwestern, however the tuition fees are still incredibly high, on top of the cost of living in Chicago, and flying internationally with a double bass. Your donation will go a long way towards keeping me supported throughout my degree, so I can one day represent Aotearoa in a major, world renowned orchestra.

P.S

If you're interested in hearing me play, please follow this link to see my performance of the first of movement of Bottesini's concerto no.2 in B minor with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

https://youtu.be/K6dtPoPu0lk