Four Stories
by
Refugees
Four matches, four nationalities, and four stories of flight that reveal a world of suffering and hardship. But they are also stories of resilience and a strong will to overcome adversity. And in each of these four cases, music doesn’t solve the world’s problems, but it does offer comfort, structure, and even joy in very different circumstances.
A big leap
Yasan is 29, comes from Syria, and is working hard to prepare for his entrance exam at the conservatory. He also coordinates a weekly jam session at a refugee shelter featuring classical, jazz, and world music—and of course, he plays along himself. The violin he owned wasn’t of sufficient quality for serious study. Thanks to the loan of a truly beautiful violin (for enthusiasts: Matthias Neuner, Mittenwald, 1815), he can now take a big leap forward. When he played the first notes of Max Bruch’s concerto, he was utterly amazed by the rich sound of this instrument. The violin has been idle for decades, so it can only get better from here!
Music as a Compass
Halim (58) is from Sudan and, together with his brother Tarik, was a member of “Noori and his Dorpa Band.” In 2022, they performed at the “Le Guess Who” festival in TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht. During this festival, the political situation in Sudan changed drastically, and they were unable to return to their home country. They now live in a shelter in Balk. A music room has been set up there where residents can play music in a relaxed atmosphere, but Halim missed his saxophone terribly. Thanks to a donation of an excellent alto saxophone, he can now play to his heart’s content again. Convinced of the importance of music in giving direction to one’s life, the brothers have resolved to teach everyone at the shelter.
Enjoy making music
Anita is 17, comes from Iran, and fled her country with her mother because of the dire situation for women and girls there. They now live in Utrecht. Anita already speaks Dutch well and even won first prize at the Physics Olympiad—topping her school! She will likely demonstrate the same resilience and determination in the field of music as well. Unfortunately, their living situation isn’t suitable for a “real” piano, but with this digital instrument, she can enjoy making music again for now. She took piano lessons for six years in Iran but hadn’t played for two years. Nevertheless, the soundtrack to “Amélie” (a staple in the repertoire of piano students all over the world) came out flawlessly.
Continue playing peacefully
Vitaly’s story is a completely different one. He is 33 years old, lives in a shelter in Assen, and is from Avdiivka in the Donbas region of Ukraine. That is the city that has just been captured by the Russian army and where not a single building remains standing. Vitaly has been on the run since 2019 and is struggling with serious mental health issues. Thanks to good counseling and medication, he is slowly getting back on his feet. He used to play in a heavy metal band in Ukraine, but now he can no longer tolerate loud noises. He is very happy with this acoustic guitar, which helps him concentrate and block out the stimuli around him.
Want to know more?
The Musical Instrument Fund could really use your help in reaching refugees who are looking for an instrument. Read about how you can help us by donating instruments or making a monetary donation. Thank you very much!
The "Keep Playing: Instruments for Refugee Musicians" initiative is supported by Het Cultuurfonds.
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