I just finished giving money to a wonderful organization that helps young musicians, and I strongly urge you to do the same. The organization is the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation, which provides resources for young string musicians. Rachel Barton is a Chicago-based violinist who has a busy solo career (and happened to record the Brahms and Joachim concertos with our own maestro Carlos Kalmar), and who is also very interested in giving back to her community and fellow musicians around the world. There are several areas of focus for the foundation:
- the String Student’s Library of Music by Black Composers that seeks to research, commission and collect music for string players by composers of African descent;
- the Instrument Loan Program, that provides high-quality instruments for recipients who otherwise might not be able to afford such an instrument;
- Grants for Education and Career, which provides for expenses not normally covered by traditional scholarships, such as accompanists’ fees, sheet music, travel expenses to competitions, and competition entry fees;
- and Global HeartStrings, which provides basic musical supplies for musicians in developing nations. Currently, GHS is involved in Haiti, Kenja, Ghana, and Nigeria.
I strongly urge you to support this worthy organization in your holiday giving this year!
