Can We Please Stop Pretending that Music Is Going to Lift Us Above Anything, Let Alone the Current Global Political Landscape?

Or, why the hell is Lawrence Brownlee singing in Moscow?

First things first: In the real world, where music is not free from politics, John Shin — violinist and former concertmaster of the Utah Philharmonia — has been detained by ICE. John has spent most of his life in the United States, is married to a US citizen, and has two children.

His wife is organizing a GoFundMe for the legal fees to help his case. If you know John personally or have worked with him, you can also write a letter on his behalf. (Details for how to write those letters and where to send them can be found here.)