James B. McCleary Music Scholarship

My name is Chy’Ana Lee but that is not my name. I don't know what it was or how it was spelt before but I was adopted around 3 years old. My biological mom was a drug addict. I have 3 biological siblings. The judge gave her time to get clean while she was pregnant with me and if she wasn’t by the time I was born they would put me in the foster system. So yes I am a product of the system. When I was born they called me a crack baby. No one had hope for me before I was even born, that says alot about humanity and what happened to faith seriously. With a clean record and a couple of mental health issues, besides that I think I came out pretty decent. I'm not writing this to tell you a sad story, my story actually has meaning behind it, it may make your blood boil with how unfair and unfortunate the events i had to deal with came at me. But let me restate. My name is Chy’Ana but I am actually an artist. Music is my outlet. I am blessed to say I have a gift I can run to for comfort. I have been singing my entire life and playing guitar for 11 years. Besides the obvious, many look at me differently when I tell them I'm a rapper. It's not usually what you want to hear from a young beautiful girl who is supposed to stick with society's standards of success. I'm sure we know nicki minaj, Cardi B, City Girls etc. but that's not my style. I aim more towards inspiration from great artist such as 2pac, biggie, Eminem, The top rap groups and Emcees of the 90s. When you hear female rapper you immediately think the music of today, sexual and explicit. I am grateful to have a gift where I can express myself lyrically while being clean. My concepts consist of divine comfort in femininity and masculinity, mental health, black and social injustices. I like to point out the things that make others uncomfortable,the truth is ugly and lies are beautiful. I believe in accountability and acknowledging everything for example, your wrongs, the world, how to handle a situation , and how someone else handles a situation. I call it “GAME” , guidance above my emotions. It took me 17 years to finally understand what my gift was and how to hone it and now that I hold a lot of power because of my knowledge, all I want to do is inspire and educate. If I weren't adopted I ask myself alot where I would be. Truly it is a constant question in my daily thoughts, would I be making music,would I have gone down another path of bad choices , or would I have followed the path of addiction. I'm proud of myself because I'm more than what they intended I would be. I am a black kid in America. I didn't have it easy since I was born so making something out of my challenges is the reason I have this voice to be for those who relate to the predestined lifestyle of the system. I found my gift.

Music has changed my life by revealing my psyche to myself, by allowing me to disappear and become a part of something larger, and by finally allowing me to feel as though I have a medium that enables me to contribute something meaningful to society. As a rising college freshman, I was completely lost: I come from two extremely talented musician parents who always pushed the idea that I can do "anything I want" when I grow up. The freedom, though intended to liberate, seemed to confine me to a few thoughts: "I'm nowhere near as good as they are with music and I have no experience- so I'll study a science" or "Music demands too much luck and I'll never live up to my parents' expectations of me". So I moved out to college and began my Psychology studies... In New York City. I'm sure you can imagine where this goes. During my senior year of college I started teaching myself guitar. By the time I was living away from my parents in New York City and had the cosmic space to explore my own ambitions, I couldn't drop the guitar- I couldn't unclench my hands from holding the pen and paper. I began to feel free, to feel as though I could interpret the world around me by writing and feeling it in my music. I pulled a few thousand bucks from my saving and invested into a Music Theory course from Berklee, and by the end of the year I was applying to intern at studios back at home in South Florida. That very summer, I got the job and began to delve into the universe that is writing, recording, producing, mixing, cable wrapping, handshakes, networking, jam sessions, collaborating, MAKING MUSIC! And since then, I've cracked myself open like pandora's box, and I couldn't fathom ever trying to close it again. Music has proven itself to me as not a profession but rather a lifestyle, an identity for me. It's the way I live my life, always creating and hearing music in each breath I take, tree I hug, loss I incur, hug I embrace, win, loss, heartbreak, disappointment- music is the way i translate life into a more digestible, delicious language. On a less hazy, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club" level explanation, music has also opened a plethora of doors for me. For example, I met a fellow artist in New York doing a show, and I recently began recording and producing our SECOND song together! Another great opportunity has been scoring a fellow artists pilot episode for television. It's the first time I've been referred to as a "composer", let alone the Lead composer in any project! It has also allowed me the chance to not only write and direct, but act in a music video! Music has allowed me to explore my artistic capabilities, and I intend on pushing the limits on them. Music has absolutely revolutionized my perspective of life.

For as long as I can remember I have loved music. When I was four years old my mom put me in a charter school in the Bronx. The charter school was bilingual and offered music and dance classes. In this school, I learned my love of music. I learned to play the violin until 8 when I switched to the cello and was always involved in the school choir. After elementary and middle school, it was time to graduate and start looking for high schools. For me, my top high school choices were either Talent Unlimited or Laguardia High School. There were so many kids auditioning and only a 10% acceptance rate. But I went for it anyway. Then a few months later, I opened up the portal and it said I had gotten accepted to both Laguardia for vocal and Talent Unlimited for vocal. I was shocked, to say the least, but I immediately put in my decision and went to Laguardia High School. This is where I discovered my love for performing. I was involved in chorus, opera, and musical theater. All the while making my own music to post on YouTube. It was the most amazing experience and now I'm at Hofstra University studying Music Performance with a minor in Musical Theater. I owe my love for music to my mom. She has been there for me through everything and has always supported my decisions. Without her and without music, I don't know who I would be today. Music has taught me how to be more confident in myself. I'm an overthinker and honestly my worst critic. Music and performing have allowed me to express myself and just grow more confident in my abilities. When it comes to music I'm always pushing myself and surprising myself with the things I can do. Like writing an EP, learning how to mix my songs, creating an acapella mashup for a club I'm trying to start up at college, writing actual sheet music, and so much more. In music, I'm always learning and trying new things to expand my abilities. Music has given me a passion and that alone has changed my life completely. My entire life has revolved around it and I can't imagine me wanting to do anything else. As a performer, I love music’s ability to transport audiences to another world, away from the struggles of everyday life. That's why I would love the opportunity to do the same. Living in NY all my life I've always loved going to Broadway shows and it would be amazing to do what those performers do, spreading joy through music. As a songwriter, I aspire to create music that resonates with others. I hope to release my album and EP very soon. As a singer, well I just want the opportunity to do what I love. However, my ambitions extend beyond personal success. I plan to establish my own record label, creating opportunities for artists of color to pursue their dreams. Making a living in the arts is hard enough and I want to give artists a chance to express themselves and be heard by others.

I am writing to express my profound interest in applying for this Music Scholarship. I am currently doing my undergraduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music. My major is classical piano. As a passionate and dedicated musician, I believe that this scholarship will provide me with invaluable opportunities to further my musical education and contribute meaningfully to the field of music. From a young age, music has been an integral part of my life. My journey began when I started taking piano lessons at the age of eight. The melodies and harmonies I created on the piano became a source of joy and a means of expressing my emotions. As I grew older, my passion for music only deepened, leading me to practice more and to surpass my limits. I always loved to go to listen to orchestral cocerts because each instrument opens up a new world of musical possibilities and broadened my understanding and appreciation of music. Throughout my academic career, I have sought every opportunity to enhance my musical skills and knowledge. I have participated in numerous school and community ensembles, including chamber music and choir. These experiences have taught me the importance of collaboration and teamwork, as well as the discipline required to excel as a musician. Additionally, I have attended several music workshops and masterclasses, where I have had the privilege of learning from distinguished musicians and educators. These experiences have not only honed my technical skills but also inspired me to pursue a career in music. For example, I had the opportunity to be a student of Dimitri Bashkirov in Spain. He was one of the best teachers I ever met. He was a great treacher and person. Sadly, he passed away in 2021. I also had the privilege to study with Dr. Solomon Mikowsky in NYC for the past academic year. Unfortunately, he also passed away this year. Despite the short collaboration we had I learned many important things from him. These experiences were both demanding and rewarding, and solidified my desire to pursue music at a higher level. I am particularly passionate about classical music, and I am eager to delve deeper into music theory, composition, and performance. This Scholarship will be instrumental in helping me achieve my academic and professional goals. The financial support will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on the financial burden of tuition and other related expenses. Moreover, the scholarship will enable me to access advanced musical training and resources that are crucial for my development as a musician. I am committed to making the most of this opportunity by dedicating myself fully to my studies and contributing positively to the musical community at MSM. In conclusion, I am confident that my passion, dedication, and achievements in music make me a strong candidate for this Musical Scholarship. I am excited about the possibility of furthering my musical education and making meaningful contributions to the field of music. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, David Solomon.