Update 6/20/11 (New Goal $10,000)

Incredible! In just 10 days this campaign has raised past the initial project goal of $7,500. My new goal is now $10,000 by July 7. The more money we raise, the more we can do with design, production, and most importantly exposure – getting this incredible music and story out to people. I am also excited to announce that I am adding and modifying two incentives: now all those that have pledged or pledge at least $100 before July 7th will receive an invitation to a private release party in either NYC or Boston. And also, those that have pledged or pledge at least $250 will be listed in the album liner notes. THANK YOU!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for checking out my personal Kickstarter project page and video.  I am thrilled to be able to share with each of you what promises to be an exciting adventure.

Beyond being my debut album, this project is of particular importance to me and my personal story.  Each of the featured composers from Shostakovich and Schnittke to Achron and Part were all in some very profound way, affected by the religious, cultural and political pressures of the former Soviet Union.  My own family was forced to abandon Belarus to escape the religious pressures faced by Jews in the former USSR.

Recording this album has been a desire of mine for quite some time. It has become my own narrative - my exploration of family, roots, exodus and an examination of the human condition. Perhaps even in a small way, this has become my own tribute to the desire for equality and freedom we all share.

Making this album come to life will be a huge undertaking and will require a sizeable amount of time and money. Many do not realize all that goes into a successful CD - from the several days of recording in a professional studio with an engineer and producer; editing and mastering the CD; obtaining compulsory-mechanical recording rights for the music still under copyright; obtaining a sound copyright; to creating conceptual photos for the album; designing the album cover, CD, and packaging; manufacturing the physical product; releasing the album and spending several months with a publicist promoting and raising awareness of the album – it is a never-ending process filled with sweat, tears (a few laughs) and a large financial commitment.

Making this important project come together will take at least $7,500. This is why I turn to you – my many fans, supporters, friends and family.

Please help make this project a reality. It will not be possible without your generous support. Please consider contributing and sharing this page with your friends, colleagues and fellow music-lovers. By building a community of dedicated contributors, we will – together – accomplish this goal.

Kickstarter will assure that your contribution goes towards the successful completion of this project. If the project does not raise at least $7,500 by 7:20 AM on July 9, nobody will get charged and the project will not go forward. We need everyone to work together to make this possible.

Listed are a series of incentives that I hope will allow everyone to feel directly involved in the creation of this album. I look forward to speaking with many of you over the course of this exciting process.

Thank you and thank you – I am indebted to each and every one of you for your support and generosity. Thank you for making this project possible.

With Gratitude,

Yevgeny

www.yevgenykutik.com