Hello! My name is Brooke Hammons. I am a passionate musician and violist from a low-income family. Music has always led me down positive and exciting paths, and this is why I am fighting to keep it in my life. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Spring 2026. My major goals as a musician are to audition into and play with the best orchestras that I possibly can, and to use my own education to pass knowledge and opportunities along to people of the next generation who are facing similar barriers to my own. However, I need support in order to pursue the next steps in my career: purchasing professional-quality instrumental equipment that will help me succeed in auditions, and covering tuition fees to attend Penn State University in the Fall.
I started my music career pretty late in life due to finances and family chaos. I began playing viola in fifth grade orchestra classes and always loved it, but my first-ever individual viola lesson was during my freshman year at IUP. Though viola is my passion, I do not own a viola or a viola bow. I currently play on equipment loaned to me by my professors at IUP. My previous viola was gifted to me by my high school orchestra teacher.
I was raised by my grandparents, and grew up with four siblings and two cousins. It was difficult for my grandparents to support all of us. We all lived in a two bedroom house, so sometimes there was no room where I could practice. We also had limited transportation between all of us, so it was difficult to get to rehearsals or other music events outside of school. My teachers were really gracious and sometimes donated supplies or equipment to me. It is thanks to them that I was able to practice at home at all.
The communities I developed through participating in ensembles were always an escape for me, even when my home life was chaotic or difficult. My orchestra and youth orchestra teachers created learning environments so welcoming that I knew as soon as I walked in the door, I would feel comforted and less alone.
I have been fortunate enough to be admitted to the Penn State School of Music beginning later this month to work toward a Professional Performer’s Certificate (PPC) in Viola. Getting to go to Penn State and work with seasoned faculty will help me gain the experience and network I will need to pursue being a professional performer and teacher. Professor Timothy Deighton and I have agreed that completing two years of the PPC will best set me on the track toward earning a Masters degree in the future. The PPC, which focuses exclusively on playing and practicing, will give me a chance to prepare thoroughly for Masters auditions which are highly competitive. The PPC program only costs $2000 per year, which is affordable compared to other graduate music programs. However, there is no scholarship available since a Certificate does not qualify as a full-time degree program.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT...
I can meet these major expenses totaling around $15K:
-$12,000: the purchase of a professional-quality 15 ¾” Sebastian Ordziniak viola
-$2,000: tuition for one year of a Performance Certificate curriculum at Penn State, which will help me prepare for a Masters program
-$1,000-2,000: the purchase of a professional quality bow
-$300-500: a year’s worth of maintenance fees to ensure the good health of my future viola and bow
You will help me gain these resources and experiences:
1) An instrument and bow that can likely last me the rest of my professional life and that will make it possible for me to successfully audition into a Masters program, professional ensembles, and supplemental music education workshops
2) A year of regular lessons with world-renowned viola professor Timothy Deighton
3) Small-ensemble collaborations with other PSU students who are highly trained, and weekly coachings from PSU artist-faculty
4) The chance to play major orchestral repertoire with a team of highly capable PSU peers
5) Master class opportunities, both solo and chamber
Any way you can help support me along this next step of my path, whether that’s a small donation, a big donation, or sharing this campaign on social media, will mean the world to me. Thank you so much for reading my story.
