We recently made a $3,440 down-payment on a college-ready cello and case (total cost $17,240). Your donations can help cover the remaining cost (currently about $11,200).
Sponsor Priya's Musical Education
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Goal: $20,000
Donated:
$7,725.33
(+ transaction fees)
Balance:
$259.05
(- $3,440 cello payment)
(Last updated 8/10/2026)
Priya performing in the Solo Honors Recital at MasterWorks Festival 2026.
Your donations since late 2024 (when this site launched) have covered most of Priya's music expenses since then. Thank you! So far, your donations have purchased...
A "transition" bow ($318), a used cello case ($297), two summers at Masterworks Festival ($2,036), Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra fees for '25-'26 ($475 after a scholarship), a piano accompanist for competitions and auditions ($640), college application fees ($335), competition entrance fees, audition trips direct expenses (not lost work time for Dad), and more! Thankfully, some of these represent savings compared to our original estimates.
The dream
Having graduated from high school, Priya plans to continue cello studies at the Hodgson School of Music (UGA). Her dream is to play cello professionally, as an orchestral musician and a private artist doing gig work.
The costs
Priya's musical education so far has been financed by family, friends, and Atlanta Music Project, where she received tuition-free cello lessons. Thankfully, her direct college expenses at Hodgson School of Music should be mostly covered by scholarships, including a generous extra $7000 scholarship requested for Priya by her future teacher.
For years Priya persevered with beginner or borrowed instruments. Now that she is going to college, it's essential for her to have a better cello of her own. We've made a down payment on a better cello and case for Priya, but still owe most of the cost. (Priya paid for the $1000 case herself.)
There will also be summer music intensive programs and other training opportunities over the next four years that require additional funding. These typically cost several thousand per year.
A better bow, replacement strings, travel expenses, accompanist fees, and more are on the horizon.
And it's not too early to start saving toward graduate studies--expected training for orchestral musicians.
The dedication
We could count on one hand the days over the past couple years that we've had to nudge Priya to practice cello. She normally plays for 1 to 3 hours per day and sometimes more. We've never pushed Priya to take her musical skills to a professional level and we won't. Our goal is to guide and equip a young lady already in motion.
The cello we've begun purchasing for Priya was made in 2006 by Lawrence K. Brown, a luthier in North Carolina.
The opportunity
To help sponsor Priya's musical education, please see the donate button above. For further questions, send a message using the link below. Thank you for your support!