Hello! My name is Mária Reháková, and I’m a jazz flautist, singer, and composer. For those who don’t know me yet, my journey into jazz began with my bachelor’s studies in London, which I was able to complete only thanks to the support of many of you! Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to take advantage of incredible opportunities, such as performing in the prestigious National Youth Jazz Orchestra of the UK, countless international tours across many European countries (SK, CZ, AT, UK, ES, IT, DE, NL) and the USA, and collaborations with jazz legends like Norma Winstone (UK), Zoe Rahman (UK), and Martin Valihora (SK), among others. Some of my own projects include my band TOPOĽANA and my organisation Za hranice s hudbou (Beyond Borders with Music), but more on that later…
Now, I’m about to embark on another great adventure, this time in America!
But in order to make it happen, I'll need your help!
Berklee Global Jazz
I have been accepted into a master's programme at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, specifically one of the most prestigious jazz programmes in the world, called Global Jazz. This programme accepts only 20 students annually, with tens of thousands of applicants from around the world, so I’m incredibly honoured to be the first Slovak to be accepted.
Global Jazz focuses on three things:
- jazz performance,
- connecting jazz with traditional music from various cultures,
- and making the world a better place through music and socially-oriented projects
When I found out that such a program existed, my heart skipped a beat, because these are exactly the topics I want to focus on and have been involved with for some time now:
One way is through my band TOPOĽANA, where I combine Slovak folk music with jazz.
And also through the organisation “Za hranice s hudbou” (Beyond Borders with Music), which I co-founded, and with which we have been bringing innovative music education to Slovakia for the past 8 years, transforming the lives of young musicians.
Studying at Berklee will help me continue developing my projects aimed at positive change in Slovakia, and it will also significantly advance me as a musician and artist since I will be studying under the guidance of the greatest jazz legends in the world including Joe Lovano, Danilo Perez, John Patitucci and more.
Why I need financial assistance
Studying and living in America is incredibly expensive, and due to student visa restrictions and the intensive one-year master’s programme, I am unable to work during my studies. Although I’m deeply honoured to have received a full tuition scholarship covering the $60,000 tuition fee, I am still in need of another $20,000 to cover my living expenses for the upcoming year (an average of $2,000 per month for 10 months).
So far, I have covered the following expenses from my own savings, family support, and the scholarship:
- $1,500 – Berklee registration fee
- $2,500 – annual health insurance
- $500 – flights to Boston
- $1,200 – rent for September
- $60,000 – tuition scholarship
This totals $65,700. However, my savings will run out by the end of September, and without your help, I won’t be able to stay in Boston and complete this amazing programme.
Help me become a world-class musician, representing Slovak music around the globe, and bringing the acquired experience back home.
Help me complete my studies at Berklee!
I am immensely grateful for your support.
Mária
