“When I was 20 years old, I came to New York as a graduate student at the prestigious Mannes School of Music.  The school had generously granted me a full scholarship that covered all of my tuition, but I still had to face the challenge of covering my living expenses in New York. Although I remember this time of my life fondly, I also can’t forget how difficult it was to fend for myself while pursuing a full-time programme at one of the world’s leading music schools.

 

Today, many young musicians, especially from countries facing economic challenges such as Greece or the Latin American nations, have shared with me their similar story. They have been admitted to leading schools and have been awarded a full-time scholarship to cover their tuition, but they find little time to practice as they spend most of their day doing the odd job in order to make ends meet.  Admission to these elite music schools is extremely competitive, with thousands of applicants from all over the world vying for a few select openings.  It is a great privilege to be admitted—even more so with a full scholarship. I find it tragic that these young people, who have had the drive to make it so far, cannot fully rise to the occasion because of financial constraints. I aim to give these aspiring musicians the opportunity to immerse themselves in their art for a year, and to fully apply themselves during this important period."