Tuition Deposit & Visa for Master's at Guildhall
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My name is Maxwell Harrison Ratzky and I’m an American guitarist and composer. I’ve recently been offered a place at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, one of the world’s leading conservatories, to study for a Master’s in Electronic Music.
Although I’m awaiting the results of a scholarship application and have the option to take loans out for tuition, I still need your help to make ends meet for a tuition fee deposit and visa application. I previously studied music in the UK at both the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) and Trinity College Music, self-funding my studies with part-time work and savings/loans. As I was made redundant/laid off from my full-time job in music tech some months ago, I’ve struggled to make ends meet lately, and trying to put money towards this Master’s is proving virtually impossible given my recent unemployment and the difficulty of securing steady work when I've got a timeline to leave.
Ever since I was a teenager scouting for music schools, Guildhall is where I wanted to go, but I was intimidated by its elite reputation, high cost, and low acceptance rate. I applied twice in 2011 and 2020 but was rejected. The third time's a charm they say, and this opportunity provides not only the chance to hone my musical skills at a conservatoire I’ve always aspired to, but the stability to live and work in the place that’s become home after years of struggle, pining, and visa woes. My years in London have been my most productive, rewarding, and affirming; it’s where I want to put down roots. This is now possible due to the introduction of a post-study work visa, in addition to connections I’ve established over years of hard work.
This journey started at 19 when I decided to attend college abroad, and after graduating from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) I moved down to London where I worked diligently in various roles. I later self-funded a certificate programme in composition at Trinity College of Music, graduating in 2018, which was immediately followed by work with both the BBC Proms and renowned pop artist Halsey as her guitarist/arranger. The current financial obstacle is a 15% tuition fee deposit by July 15th and subsequent visa application.
Being made redundant from my full-time job in music tech a few months ago in addition to performance engagements and copywriting work with a fellow British music company fizzling out shortly thereafter, I’ve not been able to save money to put towards Guildhall. My residency in the United Kingdom always coincided with strict immigration policies; even after graduating and proving myself sought after and self-sufficient, I was forced to leave in 2019 due to visa rules for graduates who wished to remain legally. I felt crushed, having to give up on the place I built a life in for the second time (I had to give up my career in London in 2012 for similar reasons).
It was in England, however, that I found not only a musical community but a faith community in the Anglican tradition. This community nurtured my compositional aspirations in addition to strengthening my resolve to eventually return, ensuring my dreams didn’t dither away.
Thank you so much for any amount of donation, and my promise is to repay your kindness with eternal gratitude and abundant success in my career, life, and musical endeavours which I’ve no doubt will blossom once I get back to London.
God Bless!
You can find a few performances of mine on the links below:
For more information, please visit: https://maxwellharrison.com
Organizer
Maxwell Harrison
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA