15/03/2020
Coronavirus COVID-19: Scandinavian Cello School has a turbulent month ahead… We want to continue on our mission, but also need your help!
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Since 2016 Scandinavian Cello School has existed as a non-for-profit to educate, promote and support young cellists. In 2018 with my partner Karen we bought and renovated a historic farmhouse into the world's first ever permanent cello center and retreat which is located one hour from Copenhagen close to the UNESCO heritage site of Stevns Klint.
We have never charged for tuition at Scandinavian Cello School and all projects come with a 100% scholarship for tuition costs when cellists are accepted to take part.
Things until just a few days ago were going amazingly for SCS and the cellists we support: Yet as with many musicians this month - we are at severe risk of having our dear project crumble due to a month without any income.
For full clarity and an explanation of what I mean, our “business model” for running the activities and the farmhouse at SCS:
- we have a large number of Airbnb guests who rent the farmhouse when not used for SCS
- our SCS residents donate a small contribution towards the running costs of the place
- since 2018 almost 100% of my earnings (and a great deal of my partner Karens) from performing and consultancy are paid directly into SCS (which are greatly needed for the missing costs in running SCS each month).
In other words a large deal of SCS has been almost only financially supported by myself and my partner Karen.
Some history of SCS:
- Prior to the farmhouse we helped over 100 cellists through lessons, masterclasses, career boost sessions, debut concerts, loan of instruments, scholarships, and more…
- Since we established the world's first ever permanent cello center and retreat we have had another 90 musicians come for mini-residencies, with an estimated 60 more until the end of 2020.
- In 2020 we expanded and accept all instruments for mini-residencies at SCS.
- This year alone we have already given 6 prizes as special prizes for competitions with travel, accomodation and “career boost” scholarships.
- Several groups have recorded in 2020 here in our music room, and a permanent exhibition of artist Martin Lohse has just been placed around campus.
Sadly this month like many musicians around the world, we find ourselves in a unique and drastic financial situation.
The grave reality is that by the end of the next 4 weeks we will have lost 2.500 euro of Airbnb reservations, whilst 12 cellists and 2 artists are unable to travel to visit us. Personally, I have had huge consultancy and concert cancellations citing “force majeure” (i.e. they won't pay anything).
All of these funds would have gone 100% into helping run Scandinavian Cello School.
Which means the next 4 weeks, financial support for SCS is 0 euro, yet of course the upkeep and payments for the campus and activities of SCS need to continue.
On behalf of SCS, I will continue to teach online, to lecture and give career boost seminars online, whilst maintaining the farmhouse without help the best I can: Karen and I continue with full energy and with not a moment lost to keep the activities and mission of SCS going.
The diary is now empty at the school: Which is a great moment for YOU musicians as we offer SCS online sessions the next month with the following guidelines:
1) cellists aged 16-25: if you are working towards a specific project and would like to have a lesson
2) any instruments 16-25: if you would like to have any type of career boost session (advice/brainstorming/project management/set up of festivals/other topics)
3) entrepreneurship any age: if you work in the arts or are wanting to go in as a non-performer we offer a range of options to take you through and help you with your personal projects
We are here for you.
Let us fill up our diary the next 4 weeks with online sessions to take our minds back to the real things in life: Art, culture, looking towards the future and making some fabulous plans.
Contact us via social media or email [email protected] and arrange a session!!
Both Karen and I agree - we will NOT allow this situation to change our one major ethical decision with Scandinavian Cello School and the reason it is established: So we will NEVER charge for tuition costs, these online sessions included.
Yet if you feel like you would like to support our mission - help SCS get through this month, and still be there to support young cellists after this unfortunate situation is over - you are welcome to donate:
1) through PayPal at https://www.paypal.me/SCelloSchool
2) by email [email protected]
3) for Danish/MobilePay 42765540
4) If you want to offer any support in other means, we ask you to get in touch with us directly through email or social media.
Let’s not let 4 years of supporting cellists and this unique project get crushed in a flash. We will keep going on our mission at Scandinavian Cello School as long as we can, to educate, support and promote young cellists. ❤️
Thank you for your time in reading this message.
Warmest wishes,
Scandinavian Cello School / Jacob Shaw
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