Oluwagbenga Ajila

Hi, my name is Pitnarry Shin, and I'm fundraising for a cellist from South Africa who has been trying for many years to come study in the U.S. I met Oluwagbenga when Minnesota Orchestra was on tour in South Africa in 2018 and we did a side-by-side with a youth orchestra in Cape Town. Since then, I've had the honor of keeping up with his progress. I've never met anyone with more determination and grit and passion for music. In spite of incredible odds and many setbacks due to COVID, he has managed to win a graduate assistantship at Illinois State University for a Master's in String Pedagogy, studying with Dr. Cora Swensen Lee, starting this fall. He needs additional funds to cover his housing and living costs. Please read his story and help him realize his musical dream.

My name is Oluwagbenga Ajila, I am a cellist. I completed my BMus Honors at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. I was fortunate to play side-by-side with the cellists of the Minnesota Orchestra on the 12th of August, 2018. I was motivated by the Minnesota Orchestra by the coaching I received while they played with the Youth Orchestra.

Ever since then, I have been striving to further my studies in the United States of America. I kept working to improve my cello playing and being the fantastic musician I aspire to be. Because of my eagerness to learn, I contacted Pitnarry Shin after my great experience with the MSO cellists. Since then, she has been giving me online lessons, which I enjoy, and I wish to be in the state in person. Thanks to her kind willingness to help me be my best.

I did not want my wishes and dream to stay that way but to come to reality. I started applying to schools in the United States in 2018 till date, and I have been getting a lot of admissions, but I could not afford the tuition fee because I do not have it. In 2021 I got an opportunity to go for an exchange programme at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, which was the beginning of my dream. Still, sadly, Covid-19 affected my trip to the United state for the exchange programme.

After my endless tries over the years, I secured admission at Illinois State University for my Master’s in String Pedagogy this year, and I will be resuming classes in August. My entry came with a graduate assistantship which covers the tuition fee and some monthly stipend. I am left to get thirteen thousand dollars ($13,002) for my housing and medical, and I will also need some money for upkeep.

Kind regards,

Oluwagbenga Ajila