Can you help a young opera singer?

Baritone Jacob Bettinelli, who is currently studying at the Royal College of Music in London, one of the top conservatories in the world needs your help in accomplishing his dream. Faced with a demand for £20,000 for the final year's tuition fees, he is under serious and immediate threat of not being able to complete his studies.

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Let me tell you a bit about myself, my name is Jacob Bettinelli and I am a baritone student currently in the final year of my undergraduate degree at the Royal College of Music, London.

In 2013, I made the decision to come to London, from my native Hong Kong, to fulfil my dream of becoming an opera singer. I was very proud to be one of only 7 singers accepted onto the undergraduate course at the RCM.


I have a dream!
Aspiring to become a professional opera singer was not an obvious choice when considering my upbringing. My parents divorced when I was two and a couple of years later, my mum disappeared entirely.

Luckily my grandparents and aunties raised me as a son and saw me through my schooling, I owe everything to the support and love they gave me. Although a difficult start, it taught me endurance, toughened me up and has given me a cause to fight for my dream.

 
By chance, I joined the choir as a boy soprano in high school. 
I gradually developed an interest in singing classical music, like a snow ball rolling down a hill. My interest, talent and skill grew with unstoppable momentum, leading me to where I am today.


The feeling and knowledge that through singing I can touch the hearts of people is just beyond description. It gives me a burning motivation to improve not only my craft, but also myself.

I am proud to tell my grandma so confidently that she doesn’t have to worry about me anymore because I have found my true vocation, and that’s what makes my life keep going.

The more I work at my discipline the more convinced I am about my ultimate goal: to be a professional opera singer. 


For the last three years of my studies at the RCM, I have been extremely lucky. Many hours of coaching and lessons as well as hours of study, have set a high benchmark of skill necessary to achieve success in this profession. I have worked hard over the course and I have been spurred on by the high standard of singing from my peers and the intensity of the learning.

Although I have managed to fund myself from paid gigs as well as numerous part-time jobs, this just about covers my living expenses. Due to visa restrictions I am only allow to work 20 hours a week - if I could work more, I would.

Needless to say, none of the constraints, stresses or obstacles have doused my diligence in continuing my passion. I have performed as a soloist in prestigious and high profile venues across the country including:

-       The Cadogan Hall,
-       Wilton’s Music Hall,
-       Victoria & Albert Museum,
-       Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford,
-       St James's Piccadilly
I have played the roles of
-       Schunard in La Bohème,
-       Uberto in La Serva Padrona,
-       Masetto in Don Giovanni.
-       Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore

I have also been fortunate enough to gain invaluable opportunities to study with some of the great singers of our time. I was chosen as a Britten-Pears Young Artist to take part in the Brahms Song project with Thomas Quasthoff at the Aldeburgh Festival in 2016.

I also performed in other public masterclasses with Christa Ludwig, Sumi Jo, Susan Bullock, Kim Begley and Roger Vignoles.  

 
Most recently in Jan 2017, I made my Italian debut singing in Lucca and have since been invited back in May 2017 to perform in Auditorrium Boccherini under the baton of Bruno Nicoli, a La Scala conductor, my proudest achievement to date.
 
  
The good news is…..

I have successfully been offered a place with some scholarships for my Master’s Degree starting in Sept 2017 at both the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. I am extremely overwhelmed and thrilled to be able to say that after much consideration I have decided to stay at the RCM!


OK now the bad news is…..

However the challenge I am now presented with is that my financial situation puts me in danger of not being able to afford to continue my studies.

 
As an international student, I am not eligible for any student loan or grant in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Hong Kong does not provide any assistance or support, my studies have so far been self-funded and a Master’s Degree is even more costly than what I have had to previously fund.

For the past few years my family and friends have kindly helped me as much as possible, but I am not from an affluent background; support and encouragement isn’t enough to see me through.

I am humbly grateful for what I have already been given, and consider myself to be fortunate that as I have made it so far. I really want to finish my studies and to be able to graduate in July 2017.


Please take a minute and consider this. This is my desperate plea to anyone with a love of opera, music or anyone who can help me from a near impossible situation.

I will appreciate any financial aid or donations you can offer that will help me to achieve my dream from the bottom of my heart, I will repay for your kindness with concert invitations and updates on my progress. If you are unable to donate anything please will you share this message with your friends? Just remember that even a little donation will help me tremendously. It will mean the whole world to me.

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I will send an email and updates to everyone, who is generous enough to donate, to express my appreciation for your generosity.

 
£10+
Thank you!
Your name will be listed on my website and Facebook page.

 £15+
Thank you!!
I will send you the personal invitations to my upcoming performances, and an acknowledgement on my website and Facebook page.

£25+
Thank you!!!
I will record a personal thank you video for you, plus an acknowledgement on my website and Facebook page.

£40+
Thank you!!!!
I will write you an individual thank you card, plus an acknowledgement on my website and Facebook page.

£60+
Thank you!!!!!!
All above plus two tickets for my recital.

£100+
Thank you!!!!!!!
One hour singing crash course and I will hand in the thank you card to you when we meet! Get to know me! Plus an acknowledgement on my website and Facebook page.

£150+
Thank you!!!!!!!!
You will receive a recording of my recital, I hope you’ll like it! I’ll also handwrite you a Thank you card and record a video for you. I’ll acknowledge your generosity on my website and Facebook page.

£250+
Thank you!!!!!!!!!
One hour singing crash course and I will perform a duet with you! Let’s practise together!
I will also acknowledge your generosity on my website and Facebook page.

£500+
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
I will make you a dinner at my home, and give you an entertainment like the TV show “Come dine with me” and you can score me 10 out of 10.

I will of course acknowledge your generosity on my website and Facebook if you give me a full score. 

£1000+
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
I will perform at your event in the U.K.

£5000+
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will perform at your event anywhere in the world!