A 17-year-old trumpet player from Toronto has achieved many things in his short life, but now money is the only thing keeping him from attending his dream school, Juilliard. 

To attend the prestigious music school, William Leathers' family has to come up with a hefty $364,000 to pay for the four-year program.

"I just want to be the best musician I can be," Leathers told CBC Toronto. "I want to do well in every genre."

As an international student, he isn't qualified for financial aid programs American citizens could get. So his family has to pay nearly $91,000 CAD, about $71,000 USD, a year for his education and room and board. 

Family friend and Twitter user @Andraydomise told followers that the family has saved $25,000 CAD, but that it is all they can muster.  

William began playing music at 4 years old, starting with the piano before moving on the trumpet because he wanted to be like his father, Howard Leathers, whom he heard practicing every day growing up.

"I wanted to play … I begged my mom for six months, it wasn't her forcing me," Leathers told CBC Toronto.

His father's talent rubbed off on him. William told CBC that he wanted to recreate the sounds his father made. 

"Hearing the sound all the time, I wanted to be able to make that sound myself," Leathers said.

By age 12, William was making a name for himself as a musician. He became the youngest trumpeter accepted to the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Halton Mississauga Youth Orchestra. He even met famous trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. William also graduated high school two years early with A-plus marks.  

Seeing no other option, Domise has created a YouCaring fundraising campaign to offset the expenses for the first year and help make this talented young man's dreams a reality. The campaign launched Saturday, April 28, and has raised over $20,000 of its $65,500 goal. 

"I find it incredible," Leathers said. "People that don't even know me, all these people in Canada are trying to help me out."

Toronto trumpeterWilliam Leathers