A tentative deal has been set with myself and Bridge Records to release a recording featuring the piano works of Frederic Rzewski. The recording will contain the works that I have been touring with this season: The Turtle and the Crane, Snippets, Mayn Yingele, and De Profundis. For more information about this recording, please click here (pdf).

"But why," you may be asking, "is the deal only tentative?"

Before this CD can grace the shelves of record stores and Amazon, Bridge and I must raise approx. $20,000 to produce this CD. While there are many grants available to us that we will certainly apply for, realistically we can not assume to acquire that amount in grants alone. As many of these organizations prefer to match funds instead of supply start-up money, Bridge and I are hoping to raise half the amount ($10,000) first, before we apply for the really big grants that would be likely to support us the rest of the way.

In the modern age of recording, many artists are also faculty at an academic institution of higher education. Consequently, the university or conservatory often supplies the artist with "career advancement" money, which in many cases is used to fund these recordings. As I am in no way associated with any such institution, I am left without those funds.

So how can you help?

I am 100% positive that this disc will happen. Bridge is very excited about it, and I have been wanting to do this project for close to eight years. The issue, therefore, is not if it will happen, but rather when it will happen. The sooner we can raise the funds, the sooner the disc can be produced.

If you are willing to help this project come to life, donations are most welcome. Donations of any size will be accepted; one doesn't have to donate a large sum of money. You are encouraged to just donate what you can--while you are welcome to donate those large sums, the smaller amounts are no less appreciated or necessary.

Where do I send my donation?

If you feel that you want to donate to this project, tax deductible contributions may be made to Bridge Records through its affiliation with the American Music Center. For tax deductible contributions to the full extent of the law, the check should made to: American Music Center. A brief note addressed to American Music Center should state that the enclosed check is for  "Bridge Records - Keith Kirchoff/Frederic Rzewski Project; Becky Starobin, Project Co-ordinator."

The check and letter should be mailed to the American Music Center:
Carlos Camposeco, Director of Operations
American Music Center
30 West 26th St., Suite 1001
New York, NY 10010-2011