Creating music and memories

Hello. Thank you for taking a minute to read about an organization that I adore, Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras (EYSO). I am working on behalf of EYSO to collect donations as part of our annual fundraising campaign: NOTES 2024.

I began playing the violin in June of 2022 with my private teacher, Simonne Tingley. She makes it so much fun and I like to play with my sister, too, but I was not yet old enough to play in a Geneva school orchestra. Miss Simonne recommended I audition for EYSO’s Primo orchestra in May 2023. I joined the Primo orchestra in August of 2023.

EYSO is very special to me. Primo has been a great first orchestra experience for me, and I look forward to many years playing with EYSO in the five different orchestras. I work on challenging pieces and perform with an orchestra led by a very nice conductor, Ms. Dullea, in the Elgin Community College Blizzard Theater. I enjoy it so much and have even been inspired to learn a second instrument, the viola. I will start viola lessons in June.

One of my favorite memories from my first few months with EYSO was when my orchestra, Primo, got to play side-by-side with the most senior orchestra, Youth Symphony. Each Primo musician was partnered with a Youth Symphony musician who worked with them to improve and then perform together at the March concert. My partner was very nice, and she helped me so much!

Amazingly, tuition covers only one-third of the total cost of each member’s participation in EYSO. EYSO is having a NOTES campaign where they ask each musician to donate and collect money to continue providing a fun, educational environment for young musicians. This NOTES campaign helps keep tuition reasonable and offsets program costs. EYSO has asked us to help by raising at least $175 per person. My individual goal is to raise $200. 😊 If you could help me reach my goal, I would very much appreciate it. Any amount of money is awesome.

Here is a little more information about EYSO:

Now in our 48^th season, 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, and a thriving Chamber Music Institute. 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. By supporting the NOTES campaign, you are impacting the lives of many young musicians!

Donations of any size can make a real impact! This campaign ends May 5, 2024. Will you help us reach our goal? Thank you so much for considering a donation, for supporting my love of music and for supporting all the EYSO students.

Thank you,

Lauren Sawitz