Help William Harris Advance His Musical Education

I am William Harris, a disabled music composer, and I have been invited for 2 weeks of intensive study at the International Summer Academy of Music in Ochsenhausen, Germany sponsored by the Landesakademie f.d. musizierande Jugend in Baden-Wuertenburg. This summer academy (July 26-August 9) is geared at both young and/or emerging composers, and this opportunity also includes an invitation to enter the contemporaneous International Joseph Dorfmann Composition Contest which carries three generous cash awards.

I will also take some days before and after attending the institute to pursue several networking opportunities I have identified, in an attempt to secure a German performance of my Master's thesis composition, "Zersetzung", which deals with German historical events of the late 20th Century.

This opportunity is important to the advancement of my career in several concrete ways. Firstly, I was unsuccessful in gaining admittance to a doctoral program in the last round. As I prepare for fresh application submissions, it is critical that I be actively pursuing continuing graduate-level composition study in the interim. Secondly, this opportunity allows me to refresh my German which is a necessary skill in the fields of composition, theory, and musicology in which I operate. Third, fresh eyes on a composer's work can cause a monumental shift in vision or open a new direction for a piece in progress, which keeps composers fresh. That, and the opportunity to network and learn from international colleagues makes this an extremely attractive option for artistic growth which will enrich me as an artist and by extension, my audience. I will also have access to the Benedictine monastery there.

The amount of support I am seeking is based on the cost of the airline ticket, which I have already purchased, (USD 1,250), replacement of my lost passport (about USD 240 with expedition fees), the cost of the Institute (USD 1,500), and the cost of coach class train travel and extremely modest accommodations to take meetings in Munich (USD 365) and Berlin (TBD) as well as several standing bills which must be paid in my absence as I will be unable to fulfill my organist duties for several weeks and I am not compensated for absences. Being on SSDI, my ability to save is limited by statute. This educational opportunity is already a necessary but real financial risk and any assistance I may receive will be greatly appreciated.

Donors who request it will receive regular updates about my progress at the institute and an invitation to view a live feed (if one is provided) of the competition concert. If one is not available, the piece I submit for the competition will be sent as an audio/video file as soon as it is available to send. Donors who request this will also receive several short articles with photos about historical and other interesting places and people I encounter as well as reflections on art and music. Donors may request to join my blog group. You will then be invited to the Facebook group here: Friends of William Harris' ISAM-Germany Study Trip,

https://fb.me/g/8pbPgAtQu/ZPsYjQno

More information about the Institute can be found here: https://www.isam-masterclasses.de/

A link to my master's thesis, Zersetzung, will be made available to donors on my dedicated donor-artist Facebook page as well as links to other works in progress which I will bring to the lessons and masterclasses of the institute.