Hello Friends! It’s been one week since the campaign launch!
I cannot thank you enough for your generous contributions so far and such kind words of support. Together we have raised $2475.75! Almost 1/4 of the way! 3 weeks left to go. While I know support through donation may not be accessible for all, I have felt the support from your kind words. It is just as valued. I also am still looking for corporate matchers for the IJM specific portion … NOT the album support but the donation going to IJM only. Please be open to sharing to anyone you may think might be interested in this project in any way. Sharing by word of mouth is a huge help!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to these first donors! I will tell you with 100% honesty each one of these donations made me tear up. I don’t really know how to say it better than that. You’ve given me hope this project may actually be possible, and will really mean something in the work IJM is doing for the world.
Heather Perkins LeBlanc
Meghan Althouse
Cheryl Wojcik
Frank Berno Timm
Susan Mutter
Jan Malmo
John Varineau
Beth Colpean
Patrick and Mary Kuras
Martha Bowman
Billy Orr
Andrew Dodson
Robert Lindahl
Robert Voisey
Danielle Sullivan
IJM UPDATE:
I have been in contact with the U.S. giving team and will be having a meeting this week to sign my pledge paperwork to designate this officially through their office and abide by all applicable government cause marketing regulations. I can’t wait to have it in my hands and ready to post and share!
** Because of the regulations surrounding what is considered a two tiered donation – ie. to an artist project as well as social justice organization, The Field is unable to host my language regarding the album’s support for IJM on their donation platform. For all your donations to be tax deductible to a 501c3 such as the field, they are bound to their accreditation requirements.**
The donation plans stay the same, I just make my pledge directly with IJM with the final amount once the campaign closes. So all details will remain the same on my website. I wanted you to all be in the loop.
While I would love this newsletter to be only fun and positive…..Given what many of us have already seen on social media and the empowerment I am trying to foster with this entire project….
There is something I am compelled to share and address. Below you will find an article detailing the horrific rape of a friend of mine by members of the New York Philharmonic Liang Chang ( who drugged her) and Matthew Muckey (who was the confirmed rapist through DNA evidence).
The article is outstanding in terms of the depth of reporting, factual evidence, and thoroughness of investigation.
Cara is a friend. We met and became instant friends our first summers at Aspen when we were only Sophmores in college. We dreamt of a position with NYPhil. Hero worship among pedigreed teachers and orchestras was commonplace, encouraged, and rewarded. She achieved “The Dream” only to be drugged and raped, then gas lit, and ultimately removed from what had become a nightmare because her perpetrators were protected. What a constant violation. Yet she never stopped playing the horn. She never stopped being amazing. She had to heal in silence. She had to persevere in silence. She had to find power within herself because all other power and protection meant to come from the police, her employer and OUR union, failed her. And has continued to fail way too many others. Not to be forgotten are the principal players and audition committee members that withheld tenure to anyone that supported her to avoid scandal. What I must to say about this coming to light is that all of the classical music world must do better. Every orchestra, union representative, colleague, pedagogue, and educational institution. For the many others just like Cara. She should not be defined by this article or this trauma and violation for the remainder of her career. Her playing and strength as a musician and human should define her. But, these criminals SHOULD be defined by this forever. I ask all of you to remember their names: Liang Chang and Matthew Muckey. And know they are not fit to be on a stage anywhere to make music that should unite and transcend. They are not worthy and are a disgrace not just to our profession, but humanity. The New York Philharmonic has issued a statement as well as the new president of the local AFM. The NYTimes article can be found here. It does look like there seem to be positive steps moving forward.
IJM not only liberates those that are oppressed, but prosecutes the perpetrators and lobbies for legislation to stop trafficking, and abuse at the source. Does the symphony community need to enlist their expertise? Let’s not ever be silent again.
All My Best,
Mary Beth
Mary Beth Orr 