Syrian violinist lends talent to a good cause
Proceeds go to groups assisting asylum seekers
What: Heartstrings — a fundraising concert Where: St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 3939 St. Peter’s Rd. When: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $25 at Fig Deli, Long & McQuade and the door. For info: 250-661-4524
In years past, Syrian refugee Sari Alesh played with famed British pop act Gorillaz and the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra.
On Sunday the Victoria-based musician will once more pick up his violin — this time to help fellow refugees with a church fundraising concert.
Proceeds from the event, Heartstrings, go toward two organizations assisting those seeking asylum in this city. They are 2 Saints and Friends (representing two Anglican parishes) and the Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees.
For the concert at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Alesh will play Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor accompanied by a pianist. He’ll also perform Arabic and Turkish music.
Alesh, 32, fled war-torn Syria at the end of 2014. After living in Turkey for 15 months, he arrived in Victoria in 2016 as a refugee.
“I had to leave. It’s dangerous for all the people,” said Alesh, who prefers not to speak in detail about this chapter in his life.
He will never forget the date he first arrived in this city: Feb. 9, 2016. As well as marking the beginning of his new life in this country, it happened to be his birthday.
“It was a big gift,” Alesh said with a smile.
The son of a artist, he started playing the violin at the age of nine. Following French literature studies at the University of Damascus, Alesh took a Bachelor of Music degree at the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus.
Before the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, which led to millions fleeing the country, Alesh was a professional violinist with the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra for five years.
He was also a violin teacher. As well, Alesh moonlighted as a a session musician for pop music stars. Among them were Lebanese singer Fairuz and the English hip-hop act Gorillaz.
Gorillaz member Damon Albarn, who’d developed a passion for Arabic orchestral music, visited Alesh’s home city of Damascus in 2009 to record. As well as participating in this project, Alesh subsequently played shows with Gorillaz, one of the biggest Western acts to play Syria.
“They were very nice. I played two concerts with them, maybe a year [after they first came]. We mixed Eastern music with their music,” the violinist said.
Alesh was forced to put his music career on hiatus during his time as a refugee. In Victoria, he’s been able to brush up his technique with Michael van der Sloot, the head of the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s string department.
His goal is to further his studies so he can teach music in the public school system. For the past year Alesh has studied English at University of Victoria to bring his skills to college level.
“I’m almost done. English is a difficult language. So it takes a long time,” said the musician, who also speaks Arabic, French, Turkish and Russian.
Alesh’s mother, sister and brother still live in Syria. He hasn’t seen them since 2014, but keeps in touch via Skype.
He hopes his family will be able to join him in Canada one day. However, as Syrian refugees now require visas to enter Turkey, Alesh believes their prospects are not good at the moment.
“Now it’s very hard. They cannot go anywhere. I’m trying to help them. I don’t know how, but I will try,” Alesh said.
He came to Canada via a private sponsorship arranged through the InterCultural Association of Greater Victoria. Alesh has had three sponsor families here. They help fill loss of contact with his mother and siblings.
“It is hard. But the good thing, my sponsors, they are my second family here. I love them so much and they really help me a lot. I don’t feel very homesick,” he said.