Donate to Wild Notes: Music in State and National Parks

Mandy Guilfoyle is organizing this fundraiser.

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WILD NOTES: Music Worth Hiking For

Hi! I'm Mandy Guilfoyle, a cellist and educator with a vision for creating magical moments where music and nature become one. Picture this: You're hiking a woodland trail, and suddenly you hear warm musical tones floating through the trees. Following the sound, you discover a clearing where classical music blends with birdsong and rustling leaves, creating an unforgettable moment of wonder.

The Spark

Six years ago, I performed a solo recital in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The audience hiked to reach me, and as I played, the music merged with nature's own symphony. I did not expect a huge audience at the time, due to the unique nature of the venue, and because no one had done a concert like that before. After getting the proper permits and permissions, I hiked up to my concert location, which overlook the beautiful mountains at dusk. To my pleasant surprise, I had a bigger audience than expected, including those who hiked to that location specifically for the concert, with their own blankets and folding camp chairs, coming from as far as Arkansas to our North Carolina location. The audience wasn't just dedicated listeners, though- hikers passing by stopped for a few moments to listen to the music, and they told me afterwards that it was the highlight of their trip. Not only that, but they told me that there had been a bear lurking nearby- which means that not only did the humans enjoy that magical moment, but so did the animals!

That experience became one of the top highlights of my 22-year performing career and showed me how powerful these intimate encounters could be, where music doesn't just exist in nature but becomes part of it.

Protecting Our Natural Treasures

Our national and state parks are American treasures—living landscapes that tell the story of our land. From ancient geological formations to diverse ecosystems, these precious spaces belong to all of us. As these irreplaceable parklands face increasing challenges, it becomes vital to help people connect with them in meaningful ways. When you discover the resonance of a musical instrument mixing with a babbling brook or wind in the trees, you understand viscerally why these spaces must be preserved for future generations.

The Wild Notes Experience

This year, I'll launch Wild Notes with intimate trail performances in our country's beautiful State and National Parks, starting in Texas and expanding to the rest of the United States as we grow. Each performance will be:

Completely acoustic, with no amplification to interfere with natural sounds
Accessible via an easy to moderate hiking or walking trail
An intimate experience for small groups
A chance for both planned visits and serendipitous discoveries
Programs featuring classical and local folk music
As we grow, Wild Notes will invite professional musicians of all instruments, across the nation

About Me

As a Houston-based cellist with Florida roots, I've built a reputation as a kind, nurturing educator with 39 current students in Klein and Tomball ISDs. Having taught hundreds of students over my 16-year teaching career and performed countless concerts and recitals as a professional cellist, I understand how to connect people with music in meaningful ways. I've previously founded a multi-genre concert series (Classic Blend) and have experience with non-profit management and grant writing, giving me the experience to make Wild Notes a success.

Cost Breakdown:

Funds raised in our early stages will be used for things like-

Permits and fees associated with performing in our State and National parks
Insurance required for said permits
Misc. costs, including park entrance fees, minimal supplies necessary for performances, marketing, travel including but not limited to gas, etc.
If we reach past our goal, we will use the extra funds raised to turn Wild Notes into an actual 501(c)3 non-profit organization, so we can continue to bring music to the wild all over the country!

Help bring classical cello to America's hiking trails- where music and nature create unforgettable moments worth hiking for.

Supporting Wild Notes means pioneering a new way to experience both classical music and natural spaces. Your donation helps launch our first performances in state and national parks, document these unique encounters, and build a movement that connects people to both cultural and natural heritage in intimate, meaningful ways.

Every dollar brings us closer to our first official trail performance and helps create magical moments where hikers discover that some of life's most profound experiences happen when Bach meets birdsong.