Help Fund My UK Graduate Visa - Guildhall Master's Scholar

Hello, my name is Max and I'm a lifelong musician who has recently graduated from the renowned Guildhall School of Music & Drama where I was a Master's Scholar in Composition. I'm setting up this page to help fund my application for a graduate visa, which is available to recent UK postgraduates and would allow me to continue my life and career in Britain which, over many years, has become home.

As I originally hail from the US, I cannot remain in the UK unless I get a work visa, either through a graduate visa or special talent visa. Given that the former is more of a guarantee, it will allow me to remain in the UK for a further two years, after which I will explore the possibility of a talent visa or other settlement route.

While I had put money aside for this over the summer, I've had much difficulty securing steady work these past months due to being preoccupied with my studies, and as a result I've had to use the money intended for this visa on rent and medical/survival costs since August. I'm starting this crowdfund campaign to help with my visa fees so that I can stay and continue my life in Britain, which has become my true home over the past several years.

During my time at Guildhall, I collaborated and composed for a wide array of artists and ensembles. Some accomplishments include: a piece for string quartet debuted at the National Gallery (below), a score for a short film which was screened at the Barbican, a collaboration with mezzo-soprano Lucy Gibbs in which I composed and performed alongside her, and various visual media works.

As I've now finished my Master's at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, I'm required to switch to a new visa in January.

I've recently been hired as a music tutor and have had more promising interviews for concurrent music-related positions. This is the last hurdle I face before I can be comfortable and secure here, so I'm asking very humbly for your support no matter how big or small... any donation helps! Anonymous donations are also welcome.

The funds will be put towards the visa fees, which amount to around 3000 total; a little less than 1k for the visa application itself, followed by the "healthcare surcharge" which requires upfront payment for use of Britain's NHS for the duration of your visa. As the visa is two years and the cost is a little over 1k per year, this amounts to a little over 2k, so I've rounded the total goal to 3k.

Making my permanent home in the UK has been a decades long dream of mine and something I've worked incredibly hard at; with your support, and with this visa, I can start taking long-term steps to make this a reality and to finally settle down and flourish in my musical life and career in a country I've grown to love.

Musical Biography:

Maxwell Harrison is a composer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for his extensive work with various solo artists and bands throughout the UK and US. He's established himself as a sought after guitarist, performing and recording with notable names such as Halsey, EERA, Kitten, Katie Burden, Veronica Bianqui, and Meg Myers. As a composer, he’s written works for media and the concert hall.

Proficient in guitar, piano, bass, and percussion, Maxwell’s style is often described as haunting and restrained; emphasising dark tones and colours. As a guitarist, he's known for using effects pedals to achieve unique sound worlds and advocating a less is more approach.

A graduate of the prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in England, he also studied composition at London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance with composers Soosan Lolavar and Deirdre Gribbin. More recently, he was a Master’s Scholar at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and has had his music performed throughout London in venues such as the Barbican Centre and National Gallery.