 We
Made It!
I
(Matthew) just flew up to Boston with erica and
dropped her off at The Boston Conservatory and
after helping her move in, realized there wasn't
too much more she needed from her dad except my
occasional encouragement and cooking ;) - she
will excel there, we have no doubt and I look
forward to seeing her on stage in Boston and beyond.
you all have been a community of support beyond
compare and our thanks go out to all of you, we
couldn't have done it without you! When she she
get her head above water in a couple of weeks
i will ask her to right us a note about beginning
conservatory studies... She will be back in Sarasota
for a month over Christmas and no doubt will fit
in a show or two for us all ;)
Just
before she left she performed (along with her
mentor and accompanist Jeanette LaVoy) to a very
appreciative crowd at the Waterside Retirement
Estates here in Sarasota - here is a picture from
that show-
Note
from Erica - August 2 , 2008
Dear music lovers,
I
am very grateful for your support and appreciation.
I will be attending the Boston Conservatory this
fall, and I need your help to make my dreams a
reality. I am now a graduate of the Visual and
Performing Arts Program at Booker High School
where I appeared in the musicals Guys and Dolls,
Hello Dolly, The Secret Garden, and others. This
year I won the award for Best Female Vocalist
(Syesha Mercado, our Sarasota finalist on American
Idol, took this award in 2005). I have been training
privately in Sarasota for four years with Jeanette
LaVoy, a wonderful mentor, trainer, and vocalist.
Throughout this time, she has helped me discover
my passion for opera and classical voice. I sing
in Italian, French and German from an array of
operas by Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti and others.
In
February 2007, I performed a debut recital and
raised the funds to attend a Summer Intensive
at Carnegie Mellon University. For this, I am
truly grateful to my community, family, friends
and supporters. This year I will attend the Boston
Conservatory and continue my studies in voice
and opera. I have received grants, loans, and
contributions from my family, covering half of
the $48,000 tuition for this year. The rest is
up to me. Every donation I receive goes directly
to pay my tuition payments. If you would grant
me this opportunity to sing for you, it would
give me great pleasure. This event is free to
all, and I encourage all opera and vocal music
lovers to attend. The program will include arias
and musical theatre pieces from Le Nozze di Figaro,
Romeo et Juliette, La Bohème, Don Giovanni,
Phantom of the Opera, Kismet and more!
Sincerely,
Erica
Reynolds |
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Update
on recitals: as of 9/2/08
We have
raised about twenty thousand dollars through concerts
and donations!
The total
cost for the Boston Conservatory is $50,000.
I have received $10,231 in Financial Aid
I have raised about $20,000 at two recitals last month
My dad is contributing $1,000 a month for the next year
I'm getting closer!
Why
you should donate |
| We have arranged a monthly
payment plan for the full amount minus the financial
aid. This comes to $3676 a month for ten months. So
this may make it more convenient for your generous donations
and for my family!
Click
here to send an opera singer to school!
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June
14, 2008 - A letter to the newspapers:
Here is a copy of the letter I have been sending to
newspapers including creative loafing, Anything Arts,
and the Sarasota Herald. Look for me in your local press!
My name is Erica Reynolds, a recent graduate of Booker
High School and the VPA program (visual performing arts).
For the last four years, I have appeared in many shows
including leads in Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, and
The Secret Garden. I have also won the award for Best
Female Vocalist 08’ (Syesha Mercado took this
award in 05’). I have been training privately
for three and a half years in Sarasota with Jeanette
LaVoy, a wonderful mentor, trainer, and singer. Throughout
this time, she has helped me discover my passion for
opera and classical voice. Opera provides me with challenging
and rewarding material. I sing in Italian, French and
German from an array of operas by Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti
and others.
In February 07’, I performed a debut recital and
raised $8,000 in one night to attend a Summer Intensive
at Carnegie Mellon University, an accomplishment that
makes me very proud. I have been accepted to The Boston
Conservatory, a four-year conservatory program where
I will continue my studies in voice and opera this fall.
Since receiving a bill for $48,000 (!!!) for one-year
tuition, room, and board, I have been raising money
to ensure that I will be on a plane to Boston by September
2. Including grants, loans and money I have raised I
am slightly more than halfway to my goal. I have done
this by performing two recitals in May, as well received
as my first. My supporters have been very helpful thus
far and I need to extend my network deeper into the
community. If you would grant me this opportunity it
would be a huge help in raising the funds I need. Thank
you so much!
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Click
here to send an opera singer to school! |
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