NOTES 2024: Youth Symphony

My name is Alyssa Dzien, and this is my first year playing the viola with Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras(EYSO). We are collecting donations as a part of our fundraising campaign NOTES. It runs from March 24th to May 5th. We have a goal of $56,450 this year. The purpose of the NOTES campaign is to help keep EYSO tuition affordable for all young musicians such as myself. All contributions to EYSO are tax deductible, as allowable by law.

If you, or someone you know would be willing to donate to EYSO, please either donate online by credit card via my campaign page(visit eyso.org/notes-2024, select “Youth Symphony,” and scroll to find my name), or mail a check. Any donation can make a real impact to EYSO. While helping reduce the cost of tuition, it also provides the students with a more diverse repertoire of music, guest coaches and conductors, and allows EYSO to have a broader reach by offering innovative community programs and initiatives. We receive around 400 students from fourth grade through college from many different communities through five different orchestras, percussion ensembles, Brass Choirs and Flute Choirs. Our mission is to create a community of young musicians, enriching their lives as well as the lives of their families, schools, communities, and more through the study of performance of music. By supporting the NOTES campaign, you are impacting the lives of so many, including myself.

Before EYSO, I was stuck trying to figure out music by myself. I had help from some teachers, however I never had the luxury of being a part of an ensemble that was filled with dedicated musicians that were just as interested in music as I am. Joining EYSO for the first time was scary, as I never had experience with playing in such an advanced group. I never expected to be as supported by the students as I was. Being able to make music, learn, and contribute to this group has been such a fantastic experience for me, and through the help of donations to the campaign, it can open up this experience to many other musicians as well.

Thank you so much for your support!