The String Contingent

Dear friends and fans of TSC - (if you don't know who were are, head here to find out)
An opportunity has arisen that we are really excited about. We've been invited to spend two weeks in Afghanistan at the end of May 2016, teaching and performing at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music
(http://www.afghanistannationalinstituteofmusic.org/). Unfortunately the funding they rely on to bring in guest tutors/mentors was not successful this round, due to factors outside the control of the school/us. We can't afford to pay for the trip, but would love to donate the 2 weeks of work, if we can find the funding to get us there. Flights, visas, driver/car, accommodation and food come to about $12,000 according to previous visits by other guests. For all those who know me, imagine me jumping around with kids in Afghanistan getting all excited about music and life. Same thing as here in Australia actually, just in Afghanistan.

This opportunity comes at a very busy time for TSC. We've had an intense, wonderful and in some ways, a tough year, and next year will be even busier. Taking on this project next year, in the midst of all our touring, recording, teaching, travelling and other life pressures and stresses, seems pretty overwhelming. But, it also has the potential to be the best thing we do in 2016. So we're going to do it! Every time we say yes to something, it means saying no to something else, and we don't want the idea of us teaching at ANIM to get put in the default 'no' box because we are busy touring, say, Sweden. So we are saying YES! We can't dig wells in Africa, but we can share what we have with the kids at ANIM. I'm so keen! PS, we are still going to Sweden :D

Thanks so much for any support you can offer us. 

This is an excerpt from ANIM's mission statement:

"The institute is committed to providing a dynamic, challenging, and safe learning environment for all students regardless of gender, ethnicity, or social circumstances. We have a special focus on supporting the most disadvantaged members of Afghan society- orphans and street vendors- to help them attain a vocation that will allow them to reach their full potential, while contributing to their emotional healing."

This is what we've been asked to do:

"In terms of the activities, we would like you to teach individual lessons on your instruments, master classes, maybe a few music academic classes (theory, ear training, music business, orchestration - whatever you feel comfortable with!) and definitely at least one performance. But please feel free to give us your ideas as well on what you'd like to accomplish during a residency.

Generally international guest artists not only bring musical expertise to the country, but provide opportunities for students to get extra one-on-one time with a teacher, experience musical diversity, and expand their horizons both personally, musically, and professionally. Often the relationships formed between guest artist mentors and students continue on for years to come via Skype, email, and additional visits." Chris for TSC

Here is an extract from an email from Allegra Boggess, our contact at ANIM:

"Dear Chris,

Wonderful that you may be able to raise funds on your own. Please see below the breakdown of costs we've generally planned in the past:

$2,500 flight (but that would depend on where you're flying from)
$150 visa
$80/night/room accommodation
$50/day rented car and driver for daily transport
$30/day stipend"

This works out to about $12000 for the three of us. Any extra funds will be donated to ANIM, or put towards future visits.

Getting to Afghanistan. After that, we hang out with the kids, make music, share what we have, and see what happens. No stress.