Dear Sarasota Music Conservatory’s friends and families,
I hope this email finds you and yours healthy. What a year it has been! I am in awe of all of our students and faculty for keeping music in their lives so vibrantly throughout these past few months.
When we stopped in-person lessons back in March, our mission became even clearer to us. We stayed determined to bring to the community a place where music loving children would have access to the best music teachers and programs. Keeping everyone safe while nurturing our students’ passion for music remained our number one priority. So we rose to the challenge of online-lessons. It was a learning curve for everyone, but I must say it did not take long to become the “new normal”.
As of today, we offer online and “masked-distanced” in-person lessons. 4 weekly online group classes, and a socially distanced chamber music program. Next week we will hold SMC’s very first “backyard student concerts” to celebrate the end of the year and our students’ hard work! It will feel like “old times” to Sean and I, back when SMC was just a “dream” and we would gather with our few private students at our house for small family concerts. (Except that we will all be masked and there won’t be a reception after!)
This year has been tough for everyone, but some families suffered more than others, and keeping music lessons became too big of a burden for some. Some families saw their income drop dramatically while others did not have the means to get streaming devices. SMC remained committed to its students and offered substantial scholarships to these precious families in need of “normalcy” for their children.
In September SMC’s board of Directors decided to go even further and opened a “diversity scholarship fund”, striving to support our entire community the best way possible.
In this holiday season, SMC needs your help in its efforts to keep music as a strong “constant” in the life of our children. By making a donation today, you allow us to make a profound difference in the youth of our community.
You may choose what program is important to you: For example, a $200 donation makes you the proud sponsor of one of our online group classes (Solfege or music theory). $800 makes you the proud sponsor of a young child’s private lessons for a whole semester! You may also donate any amount of course toward our diversity fund, or our general scholarship fund. Your donation goes DIRECTLY to benefit our students and programs.
Last but not least: We have some wonderful news to share: Your donation to SMC this year could have a double impact!
Thanks to a very generous donor: All donations made before December 31 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $30,000!
I hope you will consider making a 100% tax deductible gift, and thank you for your continued support.
Happy holidays to you, Sean and I wish you a very healthy and happy new year!
Léna Cambis, Violinist & CEO
Sarasota Music Conservatory
http://sarasotamusicconservatory.org
