Contact:

Studio: 118

Website: carlsencellofoundation.org

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About:

Meet Ray Carlsen who uses his studio in Building 30 West as a place for young cellists to audition as part of their application to be awarded a cello by the Carlsen Cello Foundation.

 

"Our studio is nice and large and we appreciate the space...I don't consider myself an artist but I am very pleased to help talented students who are unable to afford an instrument that they deserve. We are now into our third decade and we have loaned over 150 instruments to students across the entire country (a student can keep the instrument for 5-8 years as long as they remain in school). Some have graduated from music schools, e.g. Manhattan School of Music, Curtis in Philadelphia, and Julliard. A few are playing in major orchestras. We have received grateful letters stating that, without the Foundation, they could not have continued.

 

The pandemic has had a profound effect on many charitable organizations and we too have experienced a reduction in contributions. We expect the influence of the pandemic to continue for an indefinite time but we intend to continue our service regardless of hardships." Find more information on the Carlsen Cello Foundation website.