Gifted Syrian refugee Aboud Kablo is a little maestro with the violin
When you see Aboud Kablo caressing his historic violin and creating beautiful music, you know he is a rare talent.
The Express
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WHEN you see Aboud Kablo caressing his precious historic violin — dating back to the 19th century — and creating beautiful music, you know you are in the presence of a rare talent.
The 15-year-old Christian lad spent four years in Lebanon after fleeing from Aleppo in Syria during the height of the brutal war before arriving in Sydney last year.
Unlike many others, Aboud has hit the ground running — first mastering English at the intensive language program at Holy Spirit Catholic College, Lakemba, before joining LaSalle Catholic College, Bankstown, this year. In addition to English he is fluent in Arabic and Aramaic, sayinge he next wants to learn Italian,
His remarkable story includes top Australian violinist Leigh Middenway, a teacher at Sydney Youth Orchestra, who knocked on the door of the family flat to introduce herself and give him his first professional lesson in Sydney a month after they arrived in May 2018.
Aboud has incredible musical talent, learning to play the violin via YouTube lessons.
The little maestro now uses music to enhance his life and those around him.
“I learnt to play the trumpet when I was at the Syriac Orthodox Monastery in Lebanon, but I loved the violin more,” Aboud said.
“I practice at least two hours a day and I lose myself in the music.
“The violin is an extension of my body and the more I play, it becomes more a part of me.
“I cannot do without it as the violin is my life.”
Despite concern from his parents that music is not a steady career, Aboud wants to pursue his dream of becoming an elite musician, with a year’s scholarship at Sydney Youth Orchestra the perfect pathway.
He also attends the Western Sydney Youth Orchestra, playing up to five hours each Saturday at his rehearsals.
The violin Aboud uses is also special: It was gifted to him from a collection of historic 19th century instruments at Oxford University in Britain after BBC journalist Susie Atwood, who herself played the violin, interviewed his family for her 2017 documentary The Wait — a film about Syrian Christian refugees waiting for humanitarian visas for western nations.
“This violin much better than the one I had,” Aboud said.
“But I want to earn some money and buy my own violin, and give this one back to Oxford University so they can give it to another person.”
Ms Middenway said Aboud has a natural talent for music, in particular the violin, and said his story was known in the classical music community in Sydney thanks to the BBC documentary.
“When I heard about him and watched a video of him playing, I decided to offer my services as his teacher,” Ms Middenway told the Express.
“I obtained his parent’s contact details via the English film maker and then went over to the Kablo’s apartment to introduce myself.
“They are a lovely family, very warm and friendly.
“I gave Aboud his first lesson right then. This was at the beginning of June last year.
“At that stage, although he had great natural ability, he played only by ear, having learned most of his pieces by listening to and watching famous violinists on YouTube.
“This in itself is a very unusual thing to be able to do, but in order for him to play music with other people, he needed to learn how to read music.”
Aboud’s favourite piece of music to listen to is Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E.
“I like the sound of it (the violin), the expression,” said Aboud, who loves LaSalle College and its community.
“I can express all my feeling on the violin.”
Aboud’s younger brother George is also attending LaSalle Catholic College, which has around 30 students with refugee background. Another brother, Ram, attends St Jerome’s Catholic Primary, Punchbowl.
Ms Middenway said Aboud auditioned for the orchestra last November and was accepted into three groups, with a scholarship proving the icing on the cake.
“I am very happy to say that, not only is he now making friends in his world of music, but he is improving fast with this immersion in rehearsals, tutorials, theory classes and concerts,” the highly-regarded Ms Middenway said.
“He continues his private lessons with me of course and I can see his confidence growing as his reading improves as well as everything else.
“This year is looking very good for Aboud and I wish him all the best.”