Damien is a Victor High School flutist and is raising funds to travel with Northern Musicians Abroad to perform in a high school honors band, along with other students from Montana and North Dakota, in several countries in Europe during the Summer of 2024. He was nominated by his band instructor to accompany this prestigious group for a once-in-a-lifetime music education opportunity. The group will be traveling for 15 days to 6 European countries, with performances in London, England; Fontainebleau, France; Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland; Seefeld, Austria; and Dinkelsbuehl, Germany. However, it is a costly trip - about $12,000 (which includes airfare, most meals, lodging, tour opportunities, chaperones, travel insurance, mandatory pre-travel meeting in Bozeman, the Pre-Tour Rehearsal Camp in Fargo, the shuttle from Fargo to-and-from the Minneapolis airport, travel from western Montana to-and-from Fargo twice, spending money, and band uniforms) per student. February 16, 2024, Update - Damien is $3500 from his goal. We want to express immense gratitude to everyone who has donated to his trip. We have all been overwhelmed with the generosity of our community. The video below is from the Western Montana State High School Band Festival (May 2024). Damien began diving into music when he came across a piano, sitting outside of a hardware store, which was free for anyone to play. After that, we got him an inexpensive piano to learn on and he taught himself to play. In elementary school band, he started with an Alto Sax and moved on to Tenor Sax within a year. From there he added clarinet then switched to oboe. After finding it difficult to continue playing the oboe with braces, he began teaching himself the flute and piccolo. During the high school band festivals, his adjudicators were impressed that he was self-taught. The video below is 5 months after he began playing the flute (May 2024). His favorite pastimes include creating music online and playing with the local Bitterroot Community Band. Thank you for your consideration and please feel free to share this fundraiser.
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