This article was originally shared in the Tinley Park Patch. Please click here to view the original article.
Tinley Park High School senior, Sean Ford plays in the school band and jazz ensemble. In his free time, he plays the French horn for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) which you must audition for and which has been internationally recognized.
"I never imagined that I would be in the position I am today, playing for such a talented orchestra filled with so many outstanding individuals," says Ford. When I auditioned for the program in my eighth grade year, my sole hope was to simply make it into one of the ensembles. Last summer, when I received the news that my two years of hard work had paid off and that I would be playing with the highest orchestra in the program, I was elated, having finally made it to the top! Upon starting the season in my new group this past year, I realized that it isn't so much about the level of group I'm in or whether or not I hit the right notes as it is about delivering the beauty of music to an audience waiting to feel something, an emotion or even a memory, elicited by our playing. Music is not just a hobby anymore; it is something I want to pursue for the rest of my life."
The orchestra rehearses every Sunday for three hours in downtown Chicago and routinely plays shows on various stages. This coming year, CYSO is taking a trip to Estonia, Finland, Sweden, and Russia. At each stop, the CYSO will give a concert.
Ford, who is clearly dedicated to his music and aspires to be a professional French horn player, wanted to go on the trip but needed to find a way to raise the funds. Determined to go, Ford reached out to various community members asking for help. He managed to have four Chicago Cubs tickets, four Chicago White Sox tickets, and a Mario Tricoci gift card donated by his school, Tinley Park High School. He also created his own prize to be included in the fundraiser – seven piano lessons taught by Ford himself.
With all of his prizes secured, Ford then walked around his neighborhood and school asking if anyone would buy a raffle ticket to support his goal to go abroad and play with his orchestra group. With everyone's help and generosity, he fundraised $6,500 which will allow him to travel with the CYSO in Spring of 2019.
In an email, which he sent to Tinley Park High School staff he says, "It is hard to find words that express my gratitude to its fullest extent. I would not have dreamed of asking so much of the school in helping to fund my tour. Never could I have expected to even ask for such generosity and kindness from anyone, and never will I work harder to make the Titans proud as I will on the tour, sharing the beauty of music with audiences in foreign nations thanks to the opportunity that I have been given to pursue my passion on a tour that may only happen once in my life. In short, thank you."