Gems:
refugees
matched again
with instruments
Just like last year, finding instrument matches for refugee musicians is a bit more challenging around the summer break. Some travel back to their home country or to a safe, neutral location for a few weeks to visit family. Changes in residence and school sometimes play a role as well. Still, we have a few wonderful matches to report once again—little gems in a gray world.
Breaking the Silence
Svjatoslav asked for an electronic drum set, and sure enough, one was offered to him almost immediately. It’s not a very common instrument, but it’s ideal when you want to really let loose without disturbing your neighbors or roommates, since it’s virtually silent to bystanders.
Khalil (46) is an ENT specialist and lives on a houseboat in Meppel. He had been playing the violin for many years in his home country of Syria, performing both classical and Arabic music. He was forced to put it on hold for a while, but as soon as he received the violin, his first lesson was already scheduled. And he is absolutely thrilled with the violin: “I am over the moon!”
Nikolay (77) lives in Rotterdam, uses a wheelchair, and is therefore limited in his mobility. We had previously found an accordion for him, but it turned out to be too worn out to repair. Although the wait afterward must have been painful for him, he never complained, and fortunately, he was able to get a good accordion this summer after all. He played it with remarkable ease and immediately became the center of a polyphonic sing-along. Ukrainian folk songs echoed through the hallways.
Two brothers, Emir (20) and Deniz (16)—not their real names—from Turkey live in Amsterdam and, thanks to our “Keep Playing” campaign, are able to resume their violin studies. The violins came from the same generous donor, so it only makes sense that they should now stay together.
The violin that Esat now plays was brought back from Indonesia after World War II and has a unique design. Violin maker Maki Ishizuka restored both violins somewhat, but had never seen a model like this before. He immediately dubbed it the “UFO violin.” It doesn’t fly, but for an unidentified object, it sounds great.
One remarkable story involves the Eriband, an existing band of young people from Eritrea, under the guidance of the Mano Foundation in Rotterdam. The donor of two guitars and an alto saxophone is himself a member of the Hook’s Big Band from Klaaswaal. She has personally provided some saxophone lessons to members of the Eriband, and a joint activity involving both bands—in whatever form—is being seriously planned.
More about the refugee campaign