Raising Money To Go To Interlochen Summer Music Program

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My son Tommy is an incredibly talented musician.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He lives to play his alto saxophone, and he is brilliant at it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPG1IFgr4Ijql5q6-KGeYNUD8F7_qJCWP6mQqmyt_mxzWZsBvq1OEzOlRYru0q_2yeiX63RzsYVkhT-ocHIjKwy-yPNKtPcXXOW9LNKYe38xqRlQ3E7IDNcwrN43Z7cqpzLnD5xc1t-E0/s1600/IMG_8050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPG1IFgr4Ijql5q6-KGeYNUD8F7_qJCWP6mQqmyt_mxzWZsBvq1OEzOlRYru0q_2yeiX63RzsYVkhT-ocHIjKwy-yPNKtPcXXOW9LNKYe38xqRlQ3E7IDNcwrN43Z7cqpzLnD5xc1t-E0/s1600/IMG_8050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tommy aged 12, playing jazz outside the Phoenix Suns mid winter</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">By the age of 12 Tommy was already in his second year playing in the Berklee College of Music in Boston's City Music Program, through the Phoenix Conservatory of Music. He was also in his second year playing in a jazz combo that specializes in Latin jazz, swing and Bossa Nova, and takes paying gigs around the greater Phoenix area.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIe_SHqNM7qHvTRmwy_osmZwU94haNhyDhosHXE6VIxXFDlRls8HuVXLiHlSj-rVCinC5FdZ6TM6GcAzjxECI4YnHRerWEaxPU-Dr0Nx3lGS1Z_wOUh-S-7Az3sM0nFcrH2zFRevmGM-g/s1600/IMG_7873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIe_SHqNM7qHvTRmwy_osmZwU94haNhyDhosHXE6VIxXFDlRls8HuVXLiHlSj-rVCinC5FdZ6TM6GcAzjxECI4YnHRerWEaxPU-Dr0Nx3lGS1Z_wOUh-S-7Az3sM0nFcrH2zFRevmGM-g/s1600/IMG_7873.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tommy playing street music outside of Chase Field in Phoenix</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Most weekends Tommy plays street music outside stadiums and arenas, saving up to buy himself a pro tenor sax. (He currently plays a semi-pro alto sax, which he will upgrade to a pro alto at some time in the future).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Part of developing as a musician is learning how to audition really well, and you develop that skill by auditioning frequently. So we decided that he should start auditioning as much as possible, not necessarily with the expectation of being accepted for things, but just to build the skill set required to ace the auditions he really wants.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">For young people wanting to pursue a career in music there are a handful of summer music programs around the world that are internationally considered to be a vital step. <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/07/22/138540900/enterprising-young-musicians-on-the-road-to-interlochen"><span style="color: blue;">Interlochen</span></a>, based in northern Michigan is known to be one of the most prestigious. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The<a href="http://www.interlochen.org/high-performing-alumni"><span style="color: blue;"> list of famous and high achieving alumni</span></a> is spectacular, and includes <b><i>Josh Groban</i></b>, <b><i>Norah Jones</i></b> and <b><i>Beyonce</i></b>.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQOvCCcCaYWm0sFPk9hw5FCYcWZTWFsn9CdvuBdaGsmRe0lSft3Dm5skIl70DCPzAxF8nrMnqx-2O6Bmy5Vx9FUZXJ_vfjuVYrT6fbVvi3w7auKNxcWSlq4_nuI88rU3-dAxxxlD33Js/s1600/IMG_8045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQOvCCcCaYWm0sFPk9hw5FCYcWZTWFsn9CdvuBdaGsmRe0lSft3Dm5skIl70DCPzAxF8nrMnqx-2O6Bmy5Vx9FUZXJ_vfjuVYrT6fbVvi3w7auKNxcWSlq4_nuI88rU3-dAxxxlD33Js/s1600/IMG_8045.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Tommy decided to audition for this year's summer music program at <a href="http://interlochen./">Interlochen.</a> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Knowing that the very best young musicians from 50 countries around the world were vying for the same handful of alto sax openings, and knowing that his chances of getting in were slim to none, he decided to audition anyway, and keep trying each year just in case at some time in the future he could make it in. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Instead of flying to a live audition we made a video audition at home, and submitted it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We were totally stunned to hear from Interlochen that Tommy had been accepted into their Summer Music program, his very first time trying! </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>This is the opportunity of  lifetime.</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">He has also been awarded a merit scholarship which covers a portion of the enormous expense involved in being in this program.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNAjkMJclgRPKZxefnu4PKX-WIERAGciIHnPuyNMyCuKYjgovtaD6ccwIeaFPd0-No9DlHpZzgUHjT9JQ_tmMQimxLAUt-dXOURf7-itkHxkSPr-Ns9Rx8r0bEqk33PcWcZUFRqU9Xcs/s1600/IMG_7115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNAjkMJclgRPKZxefnu4PKX-WIERAGciIHnPuyNMyCuKYjgovtaD6ccwIeaFPd0-No9DlHpZzgUHjT9JQ_tmMQimxLAUt-dXOURf7-itkHxkSPr-Ns9Rx8r0bEqk33PcWcZUFRqU9Xcs/s1600/IMG_7115.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Tommy and I are now faced with having to raise an additional $5000 in tuition and costs, as well as financing round trip airfares and other travel expenses to get him there.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I have set up a <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/7727n0"><span style="color: blue;">Go Fund Me</span></a> fundraising page for Tommy to give friends an family an organized and official way to help us in this crusade.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">This blog has always been about fashion and beauty, but today it is also about helping a (just turned 13 year old) boy get to the </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://camp.interlochen.org/"><span style="color: blue;">Interlochen Summer Music Program</span>.</a> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">If you are able to donate any amount to his <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/7727n0"><span style="color: blue;">Go Fund Me</span></a>  fundraising page (linked here in blue), it will make a huge difference.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbED3lTJl0cWlj63B8LYlQRdTBstg8JvjZfvF3XfwzQ0PPi6AjxRzHZ04TqbmmZ0WBmJ_Vt2KzHCAw8VpdHPIQf5S_8j1lowQL4pil15WnLnfyoQlv2sDQKXWh3fO7Rh1CkxWRRw8qPxE/s1600/IMG_6929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbED3lTJl0cWlj63B8LYlQRdTBstg8JvjZfvF3XfwzQ0PPi6AjxRzHZ04TqbmmZ0WBmJ_Vt2KzHCAw8VpdHPIQf5S_8j1lowQL4pil15WnLnfyoQlv2sDQKXWh3fO7Rh1CkxWRRw8qPxE/s1600/IMG_6929.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tommy playing on live TV with 3TV's Carey Pena,<br /> to help raise awareness for the Christmas Angels charity,<br />Christmas 2013</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieC6pMq9WUP65Ye4Ra8w7Z_qU6XHGkSVcCpo3viHZeskxC6e2VWsiZj7M63rjaMtBK-2oYb9QPTsYYGF3yKfbIPObOhwH8nDK5Hk-QsLZRKKdhp6aiaGRK3T94M34vLfjiaGoR2GSSpw/s1600/IMG_6965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieC6pMq9WUP65Ye4Ra8w7Z_qU6XHGkSVcCpo3viHZeskxC6e2VWsiZj7M63rjaMtBK-2oYb9QPTsYYGF3yKfbIPObOhwH8nDK5Hk-QsLZRKKdhp6aiaGRK3T94M34vLfjiaGoR2GSSpw/s1600/IMG_6965.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tommy playing live on television, Christmas 2013</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_Bxz18ppa78ENDyacICCnC1VlZbTAmvqOaisZXvWPXxQB59rpXgdWZDIHPbotMG4Inbx0ZvJwXShE3tbOZkKhYWFnn1tytifK_5bi4Hj9rWJapRv53IXPX5oODuWoURbrVDiziO5X9A/s1600/IMG_7241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_Bxz18ppa78ENDyacICCnC1VlZbTAmvqOaisZXvWPXxQB59rpXgdWZDIHPbotMG4Inbx0ZvJwXShE3tbOZkKhYWFnn1tytifK_5bi4Hj9rWJapRv53IXPX5oODuWoURbrVDiziO5X9A/s1600/IMG_7241.JPG" width="180" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">As a makeup artist I recently had the pleasure of working with some members of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. They could not believe Tommy made it into Interlochen on his first attempt, and with a video audition that he made when he was still only 12 years old. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Some of them had been themselves, or had family members make it in, but most of them even with years of trying had never been able to secure a place at the <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://camp.interlochen.org/"><span style="color: blue;">Interlochen Summer Music Program</span></a>.</span> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">To say they were impressed is a huge understatement! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I had been thinking about turning this opportunity down, as the expense is so massive, but they were all emphatic that I couldn't let that happen. They told me that Tommy will quite possibly be the only musician from all of Arizona to be accepted.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm so very proud of my boy. He works so hard at his craft.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">To help raise the funds needed to get to Interlochen Tommy is playing at coffee houses and wine bars around town, and playin</span><span style="font-size: large;">g street music outside large venues as much as possible.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DJlWPGkGxLA" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This video is of Tommy playing in a wine bar, one week after turning 13</div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">There are two ways you can help him.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">1. Donate to his <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/7727n0"><span style="color: blue;">Go Fund Me</span></a> page. Any amount is greatly appreciated!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">2. Share this blogpost on your social media, via email, or any other way you can to get it in front of as many people as possible. The more people who know about Tommy, the more chance we have of getting him to Interlochen.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9k8f5AdaAIE" width="420"></iframe></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tommy playing Blue Bossa outside USAirways Arena in Phoenix</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you so very much!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Corinna</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>

Raising Money To Go To Interlochen Summer Music Program

My son Tommy is an incredibly talented musician. He lives to play his alto saxophone, and he is brilliant at it. Tommy aged 12, playing jazz...

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