Help Afghan Trumpeter Go to College
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Ahmad “Baset ”Azizi grew up in Afghanistan, with a loving, open-minded family, where many parents stop their children from going to school because they fear for their safety. The Taliban wished to stop education, and still do. Under the Taliban rule, music was banned.
His primary school was in front of the Afghanistan Ministry of Internal Affairs, a favorite target of the Taliban. He sometimes saw blood and body parts in the streets and inside the school, a sight that is hard for a child to comprehend. Fearing for his safety, his parents asked if he wanted to attend music school. Baset started studying at Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul. At the time, Baset had never seen a trumpet. Yet, by 2013, he was the principal trumpet in the National Orchestra.
Because the Taliban dislikes music, practicing at home, even carrying an instrument case on the street is still very dangerous for musicians. Music, in general, is forbidden by the Taliban in Afghanistan, and some hard-liners think anyone playing an instrument, especially a Western one, should be punished.
Some people he knew advised him to stop playing. However, the school no longer had a trumpet teacher, and with no musical guidance, that is when he found David Bilger, principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Bilger began tutoring him through Skype. Fundraisers and a GoFundMe campaign were established, and with the support of many generous people and Baset's hard work, he was able to attend Interlochen Arts Academy. Baset graduated with honors on May 27, 2017.
Baset has been accepted by the University of Kansas School of Music. However, before he is able to attend the university, he has to prove to the United States government that he has complete funding in place in order to get his F1 visa. If he can’t show every dollar needed is in place, he will not be issued the visa. And without a visa, he’ll have to return to Afghanistan. And this is why he has turned to this campaign to make his four years at KU possible. He needs to pay for school – about $15,000 for room and board, books, and other living expenses each year.
“I want to become the best trumpet player I can and a good person,” says Baset. “My goal is to learn so that I can serve where I can.” Winston Churchill said, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’ Great sacrifices have been made by many for me to follow my dream. Now I will begin to give back.”
His primary school was in front of the Afghanistan Ministry of Internal Affairs, a favorite target of the Taliban. He sometimes saw blood and body parts in the streets and inside the school, a sight that is hard for a child to comprehend. Fearing for his safety, his parents asked if he wanted to attend music school. Baset started studying at Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul. At the time, Baset had never seen a trumpet. Yet, by 2013, he was the principal trumpet in the National Orchestra.
Because the Taliban dislikes music, practicing at home, even carrying an instrument case on the street is still very dangerous for musicians. Music, in general, is forbidden by the Taliban in Afghanistan, and some hard-liners think anyone playing an instrument, especially a Western one, should be punished.
Some people he knew advised him to stop playing. However, the school no longer had a trumpet teacher, and with no musical guidance, that is when he found David Bilger, principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Bilger began tutoring him through Skype. Fundraisers and a GoFundMe campaign were established, and with the support of many generous people and Baset's hard work, he was able to attend Interlochen Arts Academy. Baset graduated with honors on May 27, 2017.
Baset has been accepted by the University of Kansas School of Music. However, before he is able to attend the university, he has to prove to the United States government that he has complete funding in place in order to get his F1 visa. If he can’t show every dollar needed is in place, he will not be issued the visa. And without a visa, he’ll have to return to Afghanistan. And this is why he has turned to this campaign to make his four years at KU possible. He needs to pay for school – about $15,000 for room and board, books, and other living expenses each year.
“I want to become the best trumpet player I can and a good person,” says Baset. “My goal is to learn so that I can serve where I can.” Winston Churchill said, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’ Great sacrifices have been made by many for me to follow my dream. Now I will begin to give back.”
Organizer
Leann Burger
Organizer
Onekama, MI