• Credit listing as ‘ArtistShare Gold Participant’ in the Sky Blue CD booklet
• Dinner for you and guest in New York with Maria and ArtistShare CEO, Brian Camelio
• Original sketch page from one of the new compositions, signed by Maria
• Personal explanation to you describing specific details of your one-of-a-kind sketch will be sent via DVD
• Total of twelve VIP tickets to MSO performances (with green room access)
• Six signed bottles of the Maria Schneider Riesling
• Inscribed copy of Limited Edition Sky Blue CD (#2-3/10,000) mail delivery date 7/24/07)
• Personalized DVD welcome message from Maria
• Maria’s audio commentary accompanying five of her favorite CDs (delivery date 7/24/07)
• Monthly Sky Blue project updates via streamed video
• Access to all of the content included in ArtistShare Bronze Participant offer

The ArtistShare Gold Participant contribution to this recording is major. In gratitude, you will be prominently credited on the Sky Blue CD that you will have so generously assisted in creating. I will personalize a DVD message of welcome and thanks to you. I’ll also prepare an audio CD just for you, describing what I love about five of my favorite CDs, all of which will be sent along to you (making sure that my choices don’t duplicate your own collection). When you login to your account, each month via streamed video, I’ll report to you on the progress of our project.

I’ve never parted with a sketch before, but it will be pleasure to give one to you from my bird-inspired piece, and to explain in detail to you how it contributed to the development of the work. It will be wonderful to get to know you over a lovely dinner in New York, and additionally at concerts you choose to attend. As with the other offers, you will be immersed in the process of making this recording, giving you a feel for the intense planning and all of the activity that takes place in the studio.

The project will culminate in a recording inscribed with thanks to you, mailed July 24th, 2007. Starting now and leading up to that date, I'll share the creative process of composing my final work (inspired by birds and migration), take you inside rehearsals, give you early glimpses of the music, sharing all that we experience. It all arrives via written journals, streamed audio and video, and photo galleries. I want to wrap you in the excitement, intensity, and even fear and frustration that also enter into the process.

I'm looking forward to the birth of this new music that will ultimately be the collaboration of all the remarkable people I'll be surrounded by. As an ArtistShare Gold Participant, you are also making this all possible. Knowing that you're following along and contributing in such a significant way will make me reach as far as I can to share something wonderful with you. I hope you'll take this journey with us by participating at this or one of the other available levels.

This offer is dedicated to my favorite warbler, the blackburnian, chosen appropriately here for the ArtistShare Gold Participant offer because when it lifts its head, its throat is on fire with orange brilliance. Nature painted it to perfection. Its song is a high-pitched waver that only an accordion might try to mimic. When I see a blackburnian, I can barely breathe I’m so filled with joy.

Warbler photo courtesy of Cal Vornberger from his website, www.calvorn.com