Firstly, hello all! Welcome to my story, and thank you for showing interest and taking your time to read all about my project!
My project is to release my debut album and to help kick-start my career as a solo performer.
My album features exciting new music written for classical saxophone, and is the result of five years of hard work and dedication.
I began laying the groundwork for this Album in 2010, during the final year of my undergraduate degree, where I was studying a bachelor of music in classical saxophone performance. In that year I began to commission original music for the saxophone, enlisting the aid of local composers, but also commissioning UK composer and saxophonist Andy Scott to begin work on a tenor saxophone and piano piece, Deep Blue, that appears on this album.
Since then I have continued commissioning composers to write new saxophone works for me. Initially these works were all for the tenor saxophone, but during my Masters at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester I also commissioned a soprano piece, and wrote my own alto composition, which also both feature on my album.
The opportunity to record my first album came to me whilst studying my Masters at the RNCM in 2013/14. As part of my degree I had to undertake a recording unit, where we were required to record fifteen minutes of music for a demo CD. This opportunity, combined with the music I had previously commissioned, provided the impetus to go beyond what was required, and to separately record another thirty minutes of music so that altogether I would have enough music to launch my debut album. I was very fortunate to be offered help from UK saxophonist and record engineer Rob Buckland, who allowed me to record all the music for my album, even though I didn’t have the funds to do so. This has enabled me to get all the initial leg work down, and given me the opportunity to seek financial support to help me turn these fantastic recordings into a very exciting album, which I believe will help my career immensely.
I am currently at the stage where I have all the tracks recorded, and some of them mixed. The layout and photography for the album and booklet has been organised, and I have some promotional materials prepared.
Once my Album is printed the plan from there is to use the contacts that I have made during my time abroad and to tour my Album in July of this year through England, Wales, and ending at the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg. I currently have confirmed performance opportunities for these three countries, but need all your help to make this all possible!
What I am seeking support for in this project is funding to allow me to:
1. Pay to complete the mixing and mastering process for the tracks, along with payment for the initial recording of the tracks
2. Manufacture 1000 copies of the CD, including paying copyright costs for the various composers,
3. Fly to England, Wales, and France to launch and tour my Album, ending at the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg.
There are many ways in which you can help me get this Album up and running and they are all listed in the Rewards section of my project. Also if you have any further questions about my project or would just like to have a chat, please feel free to visit my website and send me an email, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you all for your time and generosity and I hope that you can help me get my career off the ground!
Many Thanks,
Erin.