Replacing a once in a lifetime instrument

Hey there! I’m reaching out because I recently lost my cherished violin bow and need help raising funds to replace it, as it’s crucial for my upcoming postgraduate studies and auditions. Every contribution will make a significant impact on my journey, and if you can't donate, sharing the link would mean the world to me. Thank you so much!

As you may or may not know I am Luanah, a violinist from France currently studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. This September I will be starting my first year of postgraduate study with an 85% scholarship under the watchful eye of Nathaniel Vallois, who has been my tutor for the past 4 years during my undergraduate studies. I will start working with Services For Education this September, and audition for UK colleges this December to hopefully start a life and career in London and pursue a masters degree or PhD in pedagogy or/and performance.

I have decided to create this crowdfunding after having my bow stolen on the 21st of August on a coach from Syracuse (Sicily) where I live to the Catania Airport. We have looked everywhere, called every bus driver from that company, searched all coaches notified all lost and found in every bus station in case it was taken by mistake or simply dropped but to no avail.

This was a beautiful bow made by P.Bergeron in Lyon, it was love at first sight when I tried it in his workshop, the perfect balance and the perfect weight in my hand. This bow did change my technique for the better, I got to explore much more articulation, clarity and attack and it enabled me to focus and explore much more my expressive and musical side than before. Truly it was an extension of myself and I am shattered, devastated, and grieving the loss of such a beautiful instrument. Words cannot describe the feeling of having lost an instrument and I never thought I would experience it. In a way I have lost a part of myself and a close friend of some sort. I wholeheartedly believed that it would be my forever bow.

It has already been strong streak of bad luck this August, my bag was stolen with my phone, book and my precious journal with many souvenirs, we had a huge flood in our rented flat in Sicily which damaged many of our belongings and and now this.

Thus I am asking our community of musicians, artists, philosophers, scientists and friends if you could contribute to this potential new bow by the same maker, as he is willing to try and make something similar, in a way I would be buying it’s brother or sister.

The full price of the bow would be £3900 (4600€) without the travel expenses to go to Lyon/London. It is entirely handmade by Bergeron in his workshop in Lyon, France.

I have applied to loan schemes such as the Harrison Frank Foundation, in the hopes of getting a decent bow for some time and am contacting luthiers and dealers to see if I could potentially borrow one at least for the audition season. I will keep this page updated for any changes in the status of loan schemes, or funding.

I will also be applying to the Student Awards Committee at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire when the time comes for extra funding, and potentially organizing fundraising concerts and thank you concerts to all who donate.