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Juilliard & Concert Violin

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Hi! My name is Maya Kilburn, I’m a 17 year old violinist from Indiana, and hope to raise funds to help me pay educational expenses to attend The Juilliard School and purchase a concert violin. Although it says above that “this fundraiser is on behalf of Ray Kilburn”,  this is only because I am a minor and cannot receive the funds directly. I began my violin studies at age four and have been immersed in a love and pursuit of all things violin ever since. It has been my fortune to have great teachers. That combined with many hours of daily practice has resulted in successes which include concert and concerto performances nationally and internationally, and many competition prizes. I graduated from high school a year early this past spring and will be attending The Juilliard School in New York City for my Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance.

Despite a generous tuition scholarship and work-study arrangement, living in New York City and receiving a Juilliard education will cost a great sum of money over four years. College tuition costs are something most people can appreciate, but the purchase of a concert violin deserves further explanation. One of the limiting factors for any aspiring concert violinist is the instrument. Great concert violins range in price from $100,000 to more than a dozen million dollars. At this point in my career, a violin of high calibre is vital to the process of developing my musicianship and artistry, and will help me attain the kind of color, power, and projection needed to compete at the highest of levels. Recently, a group of investors has approached me with the intent to purchase a rare concert violin and loan it to me for a decade. If I am successful over the next decade, I will have the option of first refusal to purchase the violin. A potential violin has been identified, but the total cost is toward $300,000. This exciting development has the potential to change the trajectory of my future. 

The purpose of this GoFundMe is to help with educational expenses such as tuition and dormitory expenses, and enable me to purchase a share of the concert violin. Thank-you for considering!

Concert Excerpts:


Testimonials:

Maya is an extremely gifted player who clearly pushes herself constantly and her growth has been exponential in each of the years that I have known her. This last season alone, she performed with multiple orchestras throughout the state as a result of winning every major concerto competition. It is inspirational to witness Maya's passion for music and performing.

               Glen Kwok, Executive Director, International Violin Competition of Indianapolis

Talent is difficult to define, but Maya represents this word to the fullest. She has the innate ability to understand music (and music of different styles), and the passion and determination to work many hours day after day, month after month and now years later. Maya is only 17 years old, but her performances are not of a teenager, but of an artist in the making.

               Mimi Zweig, Violin faculty, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music

I had the distinct pleasure of working with Maya last year when she performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony. Throughout our collaboration, I was amazed with Maya’s dedication, industriousness, creativity, and raw musical ability. She was a pleasure to work with, and many members of the orchestra remarked that she was one of the most talented and impressive competition winners they have ever seen.  Maya has all of the characteristics of someone who still be a successful professional musician, and I am excited to watch her career blossom.

               Jacob Joyce, Associate Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony  

I had the privilege of working with Maya Kilburn as the Associate Conductor with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Maya was the winner of the 2018 Young Artist Competition and performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the orchestra. This performance was part of our Family Series and was put together on one rehearsal. Even with a seasoned soloist, this would be difficult, but Maya handled the situation with aplomb. I was truly impressed with her stage presence, professionalism, and her stunning playing.

                Caleb Young, Associate Conductor Fort Wayne Philharmonic

I am writing on behalf of Maya Kilburn who I had the pleasure of working with when she was a soloist with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra.  Maya is a very talented, young violinist with serious intent and drive combined with a sense of humanity and humbleness.

               Janna Hymes, Artistic Director, Carmel Symphony Orchestra

I can say without a doubt that Maya Kilburn was both the most talented and most promising young musician that I have had the pleasure with which to work. She is a virtuoso, through and through. She cast a spell on all of us (Sibelius, March 2020), orchestra, staff, and audience alike with, not just her playing, but also with her musicality, expression, and presentation.

              Adam Bodony, Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra

This is a letter of support for Maya Kilburn, who is embarking upon a most promising solo career as a concertizing violinist. She has won an impressive number of major competitions and has performed as soloist with a number of orchestras.  I would anticipate that she will continue to develop her remarkable talents and will continue to gain significant attention as an artist.

              Dr. Sara Edgerton, Artistic Director, Southeast Missouri Symphony

I have conducted concerti with Maya on two occasions with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, as the winner of both the junior and senior divisions of our Young Artist Competition. Maya plays with incredible maturity at a young age. In 2015, she successfully performed the 3rd movement of Wieniawski: Concerto No. 2, already demonstrating a well-trained concept of sound that was beyond her years. Last October, she performed the latter two movements of the Sibelius concerto. I was quite impressed with not only her advanced technique, but the overall growth of her sound.

              Douglas Droste, Artistic Director, Muncie Symphony

Biography:

 A native of Muncie, Indiana, Maya Kilburn is 17 years old, and this summer began her studies at The Juilliard School in Violin Performance under Donald Weilerstein and Catherine Cho.  For the last seven years, Maya has studied with Mimi Zweig at the Indiana University Jacobs School String Academy. and prior to this studied with Chin Mi Kim at Quattro String Academy. She began playing violin at age 4 working first with Anna Vayman at Ball State University. Recent accomplishments over the last several months include performances of the Tchaikovsky Concerto (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Carmel Symphonies), Sibelius Concerto (Muncie and New World Youth Symphonies), and Mozart 3rdConcerto (Orchestra Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica), recitals in the US, Mexico, and Central America,  and 3rdplace in the Eisemann International String Competition.  
 
Maya has won numerous competitions at the regional and national levels. As a result, she has performed more than a dozen times as concerto soloist with such orchestras as the Indianapolis Symphony, Southeast Missouri Symphony, Louisville Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Carmel Symphony, New World Youth Symphony, and the Muncie Symphony. She has been active performing and touring with the IU String Academy Violin Virtuosi. Highlights include two 3-week concert tours throughout Argentina and Chile, various performances arranged through the IVCI competition at Circle Theatre in Indianapolis and the Indiana Landmarks Center, and opportunities to perform with such artists as David Chan, Atar Arad, Joseph Swenson, and Luke Hsu. She has also performed in master class and lessons for violinists such as Pamela Frank, Vadim Gluzman, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Jinjoo Cho, Henryk Kowalski, Mauricio Fuks, Richard Lin, Simin Ganatra, and Sarah Kapustin. Maya has performed on many recitals with her parents in the US, Japan, and Central America, and has been featured on both radio and television broadcasts.  In the 2017, 2018, and 2019, she was a featured guest at the Universidad National de Costa Rica and the La Castella Arts School in San Jose, Costa Rica, where she performed recitals, concerti with orchestra, and worked with violin students.
 
When not playing the violin, Maya enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, and spending time with her dogs Cocoa and Sophia.

Resume:

1) Musical Studies

2020-present, Donald Weilerstein and Catherine Cho, The Juilliard School, New York City
2013-2020, Mimi Zweig, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Pre-College Strings and Summer String Academy
2012-2013 Chin-Mi Kim, Quattro String Academy
2007-2012 Anna Vayman, Ball State University
Recent masterclasses and further study: Vadim Gluzman, Henryk Kowalski, Jinjoo Cho, Sarah Kapustin, Blair Milton, Pamela Frank, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Kyung Sun Lee, Richard Lin, Mauricio Fuks, and Simin Ganatra
 
2) Selected Scholarships and Awards

- 2020 Eisemann International String Competition, 3rd place, $1,000
- 2019 Louisville Orchestra Competition, 1st place, $750
- 2019 Indianapolis Symphony "Maurer" Competition, 1st place, $2,500
- 2019 Muncie Symphony Competition, senior division 1st place, $500
- 2019 New World Symphony Competition, senior division 1st place, $500
- 2018 Fort Wayne Philharmonic Competition, senior division 1st place, $1,000
- 2018 Carmel Symphony Competition, 1st place, $1,000
- 2018 Johansen International Competition, semi-finalist
- 2018 Southeast Missouri Symphony National "Rising Star" Competition, 1st place, $1,000
- 2017 MTNA National competition, junior division 3rd place, $300
- 2016 Fort Wayne Philharmonic Competition, junior division 1st place, $500
- 2015 IMTA Hoosier Auditions State Finals, Middle Strings 1st place, $100
- 2015 Muncie Symphony Competition, junior division 1st place, $250
- 2015 New World Symphony Competition, junior division 1st place, $250
- 2013 Matinee Musical Competition, 1st place, $250
- 2013 IMTA Hoosier Auditions State Finals, Elementary Strings 1st place, $100
- 2009 IMTA Hoosier Auditions State Finals, Early Elementary Strings 1st place, $100
 
3) Selected Public Appearances

2/16/20 Chamber, IVCI Laureate Series, Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis, IN
2/13/20 Solo, Ball State University in Muncie, IN
11/22/19 Solo, University of Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica
11/21/19 Solo Concerto Appearance, UNA Orchestra in San Jose, Costa Rica
11/20/19 Solo Recital, Universidad Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica
11/10/19 Solo Concerto Appearance, IYS (formerly NWYSO), Hilbert Circle Theatre, IN
10/30/19 Solo, University of Guadalajara Museo Series, Mexico
10/20/19 Solo, Coastal Carolina University, SC
10/11/19 Solo Concerto Appearance, Muncie Symphony
7/11/19 Solo Concerto Appearance, Indianapolis Symphony, Hilbert Circle Theater, IN
6/19/19 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina/Chile Tour, CCK in Buenos Aires, Argentina, solo and ensemble performance
6/18/19 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina/Chile Tour, Universidad Nacional in Buenos Aires, solo and ensemble performance
6/15/19 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina/Chile Tour, solo and ensemble performance in Neuquen, Argentina
6/13/19 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina/Chile Tour, solo and ensemble performance at UNAB Teatro Campus Oriente in Santiago, Chile
6/12/19 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina/Chile Tour, solo and ensemble performance in Santiago, Chile
6/11/19 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina/Chile Tour, solo and ensemble performance in Santiago, Chile
6/10/19 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina/Chile Tour, solo and ensemble performance in Mendoza, Argentina
6/8/19 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina/Chile Tour, solo and ensemble performance at the Teatro Bicentenario in San Juan, Argentina
4/28/19 Solo Concerto Appearance, Fort Wayne Symphony
2/24/19 Solo Recital, Music @ Bethel, Chicago, IL
1/27/19 Solo Recital, Ball State University
11/18/18 Solo Concerto Appearance, Carmel Symphony
5/29/18 Conservatorio De Castella, San Jose, Costa Rica, solo recital performance
3/7/18 Solo Concerto Appearance, Louisville Symphony
3/6/18 Solo Concerto Appearance, Southeast Missouri Symphony
3/30/17 La Castella, San Jose, Costa Rica, solo recital performance
3/29/17 Universidad Nacional, San Jose, Costa Rica, solo recital performance
3/19/17 MTNA National Conference, Baltimore, MD, solo competition performance
9/26/16 Ball State University Recital, Muncie, IN, solo recital performance
4/30/2016 IU Violin Virtuosi Conrad Recital Hall, Hillsdale College, MI, solo and ensemble performance
5/7/2016 IU String Academy Spring Gala Concert, Recital Hall, solo and ensemble performance
5/15/16 IU String Academy Violin Virtuosi, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, solo and ensemble performance
5/22/16 IU String Academy Recital, IU Jacobs School, solo and ensemble performance
6/9/16 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina Tour, Auditorio Juan Victoria in San Juan, Argentina, solo and ensemble performance
6/11/16 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina Tour, Centro Cultural Córdoba, Argentina, solo and ensemble performance
6/14/16 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina Tour, Teatro Municipal de Olavarría, solo and ensemble performance
6/18/16 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina Tour, Teatro Español, Ciudad de Neuquén, Argentina, solo and ensemble performance
6/20/16 School concert, Buenos Aires, Argentina, solo and ensemble performance
6/22/16 IU Violin Virtuosi Argentina Tour, Teatro Gran Rex, Buenos Aires, Argentina, solo and ensemble performance
7/22/16 Gala Concert, IU String Summer Academy, Chamber music performance
6/13/15 Solo Concerto Appearance, Muncie Symphony Orchestra, Muncie, IN
2/22/15 Solo Concerto Appearance, IYS (formerly NWYSO), Hilbert Circle Theatre, IN
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  • Anonymous
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Organizer

Maya Kilburn
Organizer
Muncie, IN

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