Video: Starkville Musician Raises Money to Attend Prestigious Program

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Daniel Jones was only five-years-old when his interest was piqued of wanting to learn how to play the violin. Now, at 16, he has pursued his career in classical music, and is the only Mississippian accepted into a prestigious summer program.

“Daniel hears the violin playing and he came out running wanting to know what that noise was and I re-wound it and he listened to it, just fell in love with it,” said Rhonda Jones, Daniel’s mother.

It was the start of Daniel’s classical music future.

“I always tell people I wanted to be a VP, violin player,” said Daniel Jones.

Now, the teen continues sharpening his violin skills. He’s even impressing people more than twice his age. Daniel is a member of the Starkville-MSU Symphony Orchestra and the MSU Philharmonia, he also sits in on some conducting classes at MSU.

His passion for music as a career, led the Starkville musician to apply for the Curtis Institute of Music Summerfest. The three-week program is a chance for young musicians to network with professionals. Daniel made it through the competitive application process and is the only Mississippian to be selected.

“One of the main things that this helps with is determining university’s that I want to go to when I start going to colleges but also it’s a fun thing to be with other people who are my own age and enjoy and appreciate music, the same music I do,” added Jones.

In less than a month, Daniel has to raise $6,500 dollars to cover tuition and travel expenses. He has a Go Fund Me account, and a donation account through the Starkville Area Arts Council.

“He’s incredibly talented, he just projects that element to Starkville and the whole state, he makes us all look good,” said the Starkville Area Arts Council President, Laurie Burton.

If you would like to help Daniel out by giving him a donation, you can visit http://www.gofundme.com/n61x68 or mail a check to the Starkville Area Arts Council at:

101 S. Layfaette, Suite 18

Starkville, MS 39759