Help me march my age out with INFINITY 2024

Hello! My name is Neil Mattson and I am a musician and videographer based out of Orlando, FL. For the last ten years I have been enthralled with the marching arts. If there's one thing I've learned in that time, it's that you can never do this activity alone.

It Truly Takes A Village.

We all know it takes a village to raise a child, but what does it take to raise a marching organization from the ground up year after year? This type of activity requires far more than a village, it requires a community! And that is exactly why you've received the link to this fundraiser! Without the support of all of you I could've never found myself in Dayton Ohio at WGI World Championships so many years ago in 2018 with INFINITY 2. And if I didn't have your support in 2020, I would've never accomplished my dreams of marching with INFINITY Percussion for the little time that we had together.

COVID-19 came after all of us in a lot of different ways, but for me it started with my dream season being cut short. Before we had even realized it, we had no time left. Since then I've found myself in lots of new places enjoying many new experiences. And along the way I still kept relearning that same lesson. Whether it's an ensemble I want to be a part of or a new skillset I want to learn for work, I can never do this alone! There were always people along the way lending a helping hand, teaching me to personally grant me further success in my life education. It always takes a village, no matter what.

Why do I do this?

Because the marching arts doesn't just build great musicians, it builds great people! In my time with INFINITY Percussion and as a marching educator myself I've learned to chase excellence in all matters of life. From getting out onto the floor to put on a killer run through to the workplace, utilizing the utmost efficiency and quality to deliver fantastic videos to my clients, and everything in between. This organization has raised me to be an excellent human being. And I have one last chance to do it one last time with your help!

In the marching arts you can only participate for so many years. WGI (Winter Guard International, the organization that puts on the international competitive circuit INFINITY participates in) allows members of Indoor Percussion Ensembles to participate from the ages of 14-22. We call this "aging out" once you've exceeded that age limit, and this upcoming season is my age out! Which means I have one last chance to finish out my goals as a marching musician!

In the marching arts, the members of every organization around the world come together with their own funds to participate in their yearly programs. INFINITY Percussion is no different. As the years go on and things get more and more expensive, so do equipment, uniforms, show designing services, travel fees and expenses and so on. In my time in the marching arts alone, I've watched member dues rise across the activity to extreme heights. Without your support, this time around especially, I will not be able to accomplish this goal. Your donations go straight to helping me endure the dues that I am responsible for as a member of this ensemble.

Whether you're family, a friend, or even just someone from the marching music community stopping by to help out! Thank you for taking the time to read my words. Your support is truly everything to me. Even if you can't donate, please share this fundraisers link to your socials or anyone you may know that is looking to help out someone trying to march this year! Again, thank you, and just incase no one has told you this today, you are beautiful and you are loved.