Continue Playing:
New Matches
In every instrument—and certainly in an older one—the instrument’s own history and that of its players play a role. Instruments that have been passed down from one generation to the next carry with them the emotions and stories of previous players. As a result, some musicians even feel a strong sense of responsibility toward their predecessors. The refugees who, thanks to our “Keep Playing” initiative, are once again able to play a good instrument are often deeply aware of this.
Jessica (42) is from Mauritius and was forced to flee under traumatic circumstances. She already played the violin in Mauritius, and she is determined to take up her hobby again with this beautiful violin made by a Dutch luthier, to make music with others, and in doing so, to find some peace of mind once more.
Sisters Maria (24) and Khrystyna (18) are from Odessa and fled Ukraine with their mother at the start of the war, traveling through Romania to the Netherlands. Thanks to our campaign, they now have excellent instruments at their disposal. That same week, Khrystyna went on tour with the Netherlands Youth Orchestra, and Maria (a third-year student at the Utrecht Conservatory) was preparing for a master class in Italy.
The circumstances for these sisters are certainly not ideal: their father was killed in the war, and their living conditions are poor and noisy, so they can study only very limitedly at home. That is why the energy and determination with which they tackle these challenges are all the more impressive.
Rana (13) is from Kyrgyzstan and has been playing the piano since she was six. She lived with her parents and younger sister in an asylum seekers’ center for four years, where she also took piano lessons. Now that the family has a home of their own, she can resume her studies with her own piano. Beethoven is her idol, and someday she “just” wants to become a pianist. If she succeeds, she’ll undoubtedly be happy to pose for a full photo shoot. For good reasons, we’re limiting ourselves to a rear view for now.
More information
Among the refugees coming to the Netherlands are professional musicians and music students. They often had to leave their instruments behind. By providing them with an instrument, the Musical Instrument Fund aims to give them an incredibly important source of support. Would you like to donate an instrument or make an (additional) contribution? You can do so by clicking the button below. Thank you very much!
The emergency relief effort is supported by Het Cultuurfonds.
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