SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 5, 2019) – Make-A-Wish® Central & South Texas is partnering with the San Antonio Symphony and Buffet Crampon to grant 15-year old Michael’s wish to have a professional B-flat clarinet, on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m. Michael will be surprised in front of the entire audience during intermission of the evening’s scheduled performance with his new clarinet.
Michael has elevated Hyper IgE Sydrome (HIES), which is a rare primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by skin, lung, and blood abnormalities. From a very young age, Michael has always enjoyed music and playing his favorite instrument, the clarinet. He first began learning how to play in his middle school band and has continued this passion into high school with hopes of pursing music as his future career. When asked about what he wanted to do for his wish, he knew exactly what to wish for – a professional clarinet.
Make-A-Wish reached out to San Antonio Symphony Assistant Principal/E-flat Clarinetist Stephanie Key to help make this wish come true. “To share my love and passion for music with a young, aspiring musician means the world to me. I could not pass up such an incredible opportunity to make a wish like this come true. Having this amazing instrument will enable Michael to continue his musical studies at a very high level, and help him find his own, unique voice.”
Buffet Crampon, a French manufacturer of woodwind musical instruments, is best known for their clarinets, which Stephanie has been playing her entire career. Coincidentally, she plays the same model that is Michael’s dream instrument: a professional R-13, silver-keyed B-flat clarinet.
Recently appointed a Buffet Crampon Artist, Key expressed her excitement for being a part of this legendary company its illustrious history. In the professional world of music, being on a company’s Artist Roster is a prestigious honor as she will represent the company in her chamber and symphonic engagements.
Buffet Crampon has generously donated the clarinet that Jordan Olinsky, Buffet Crampon’s Division Manager, and Stephanie will present to Michael on Friday evening.
“We are so grateful to the San Antonio Symphony and to Buffet Crampon for their generosity and support. While we know a wish experience has the power to transform the life of a child and his or her family, it also has the power to transform the entire community…forever,” said Kathrin Brewer, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas.
About Make-A-Wish®
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child’s wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in every community in the United States and in 50 countries worldwide. Together, generous donors, supporters, staff and 33,000 volunteers across the U.S., grant a wish every 34 minutes, on average, somewhere in the country. Since 1984, Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas has granted more than 4,900 wishes to local children. For more information about Make-A-Wish CSTX, visit www.cstx.wish.org.
ABOUT THE SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONY
The San Antonio Symphony, established in 1939, is a nonprofit performing arts organization with the mission to delight, engage, and enrich the entire community through excellent performance, education, and outreach. Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Sebastian Lang-Lessing and Assistant Conductor Noam Aviel, the San Antonio Symphony gives more than 100 performances annually, including classics, pops, educational programs, movie concerts, and performances with our fellow resident opera and ballet companies. With more than 70 professional musicians, the Symphony serves over 130,000 people per year including over 50,000 students. For more information about the San Antonio Symphony, please visit SASymphony.org.
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