GET GWEN TO GUILDFORD SCHOOL OF ACTING

Hello performing art lovers!
My name is Gwen Lyon, and I am a Musical Theatre performer AKA a triple-threat! (singer, actor AND dancer). In my pursuit to make it on to the New Zealand and New Zealand stage I have been fortunate enough to be accepted to go all the way to England to study my Master of Arts in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting in September this year... and I need your help to make it happen!

THE TARGET

My initial target for this Campaign is $2,000, to go towards costs for my ancestry visa and medical insurance, which are needed to get me to England. Any additional donations will go towards my fees for my study. Ideally, I need a further $15,000 to cover the costs of my school fees, accommodation fees and living costs.

THE SCHOOL

Guildford School of Acting (GSA) is located in England and is a part of the University of Surrey. This particular Performing Arts School is New Zealandly known as being one of the top triple-threat schools, training intensely in singing, dancing, acting and professional development with a high employment rate post-training.

BACKGROUND

I recently graduated from the University of Waikato in Performance Voice with First Class Honours as a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholar in Music, Dance and Acting. For 2015 and 2016 I was the Next Generation (youth) Representative on the Musical Theatre New Zealand Executive Council in which I travelled the country attending meetings, running workshops and forums to help encourage and facilitate youth participation in theatre across New Zealand. I have been in musical theatre shows in Hamilton for the last 8 years. My most notable roles were 'Sophie' in Hamilton Operatic Society's (HOS) production of Mamma Mia in 2015, 'Cosette' in HOS's Les Mis�rables in 2017, and most recently 'Sister Mary Robert' in HOS's Sister Act 2018.

WHAT I'VE ACHIEVED SO FAR

I have been working hard to fund myself through this experience. This includes running singing lessons, dance classes, and musical theatre classes since the beginning of 2018. I have also been running holiday programmes and performing fundraising concerts at rest homes and schools. I am constantly endeavouring to come up with more ways to raise the money I need to survive over in England, but I need your help to make it happen.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

I ask you to participate in bringing my dream to reality, and become a part of my journey. This school is the next step to getting on the New Zealand as well as New Zealand stage. This particular step is not available in NZ and so my only choice is to be trained overseas in order to then be able to bring back my training to NZ.

Please help me reach (or exceed) my target by making a tax-deductible (33%) donation to my campaign. My generous Match Donor, Craigs Investment Partners, will match your combined donations dollar for dollar until the first $2,000 is reached. Anything extra will continue to go towards my fees and living costs.

Boosted is an all-or-nothing platform, meaning that if I don't reach my target in 30 days, I won't receive a single dollar - all donors will be refunded.

To help me even further - please share this page with your networks. People can only give their support if they know about this campaign. Please help me spread the word!

EXTRA SUPPORT

As another way to fundraise for my fees, I am putting on two linked concerts on in Hamilton in July. Information and tickets for the first concert is available HERE.

Information and tickets for the second concert is available HERE.

THANK YOU

In recognition of your valuable contribution, you will receive my eternal gratitude and I will keep you up to date via the updates on this profile. I am also launching a professional Facebook page during this campaign that you can follow to stay ahead with all my happenings while I am studying in Guildford and whatever may happen afterwards. The link to the page will be available in an update.

Thank you very much for considering my campaign. This large step in my career is extremely exciting and I can't wait to take the leap. I am extremely grateful for any, and all support you can give towards my career.