Michael Kamen Solo Award recipient Ryan Norville from Fort Myers FL:
I would like to begin by saying thank you for your enormous donation to make my future as a professional musician possible. My life so far as a musician has been filled with many financial hardships, and there was no way I would have been able to purchase my dream flute without your help. I am a 17 year old flutist from Fort Myers Florida. I began to play the flute at age 12, and fell in love with music. From the beginning I have always needed scholarships continue my musical study, and because of that I always needed to show why I was deserving of those scholarships. I Study with Nancy Stagnitta at Interlochen Academy of the Arts now, and I am very happy with my experience here. Your donation is very inspiring to me and gives me even more motivation to help young musicians like me, because they will always exist. This beautifully handcrafted flute will allow me to have a better chance of getting into schools like Colburn, Julliard or the Curtis Institute of music next year. Thank you.