Donate to NOTES 2023 today!

Dear friends,

As you may know, for the last year I have been part of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra (EYSO). Prior to that, I had been in the West Suburban Home School Band for 8 years. I am truly grateful for the years in band, but the band experience pales in comparison to what my orchestra has offered. The roles of the clarinet in these two ensembles are quite different. In band, clarinet is the “grunt worker” instrument. In band adaptations of orchestral pieces, the clarinet often takes the role of the violins. In orchestra, the clarinet is a “solo” instrument. Its job is to add another unique voice or “color” to the ensemble. To accomplish this, clarinetists must work rigorously to improve their tone, technique, and ability to project their sound to the entire audience. EYSO is a college-level organization, and all its members are ambitious musicians. Our musical literature has included masterworks such as Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide,” Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations,” and “Pini di Roma” by Ottorino Respighi. We practice vigorously to bring the joy of live music to our audience. Throughout the last semester, our director has taught us to tell a musical story and to execute musical emotion in our playing. My love of music (stifled during two-and-a-half years of covid) has been reinvigorated. EYSO has lent me a professional bass clarinet, and you can see me playing it in the video clip attached.

I have been homeschooled for my entire education and, thus, exempt from fundraising of any sort. Until now. My orchestra expects me to fundraise. I humbly ask you to consider donating to this organization that has exceeded my expectations in four short months. Lastly, I hope you enjoy one of our finest moments on stage! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvElTu8XHyM&featur... And if you find this intriguing, our next performance is at 7:00 pm, March 12^th at Elgin Community College (ECC) in the Blizzard theater.

Thank you for your consideration.

--Aaron

Additional info: EYSO's Youth Symphony is collecting donations as part of our annual fundraising campaign: NOTES. This campaign runs from January 22 to March 26.

This year, we are celebrating our 47th season with the theme Design. Today, EYSO serves nearly 400 students in 4th grade through college from 70 different communities via five orchestras, as well as percussion ensembles, Brass Choir and Flute Choir. The mission of EYSO is to create a community of young musicians, enriching their lives and the lives of their families, schools, communities, and beyond, through the study and performance of excellent music.

In addition to offsetting the cost of tuition, the generosity of people like you also helps to:

• Offset program costs.
• Provide a more diverse repertoire of music.
• Support guest coaches and conductors who are leaders in the field of music education.
• Allows EYSO to have a broader reach by offering innovative community programs and initiatives.