Many Bulgarian musicians left their mark on the world culture. Among them are not only the world-famous opera singers, but also a series of conductors, soloists and concertmasters who are part of the world’s most renowned orchestras. The people who made successful careers abroad left their motherland for various reasons. Undoubtedly, they gained priceless experience abroad.

Seventeen years ago Bulgarian violinist Darin Varbanov decided to broaden his horizon in remote Singapore. He likes his job, although it is very intensive, because he entirely devoted himself to working with students of all ages at his own Musical Art Studio, where piano, violin, viola, violoncello, flute and theory of music lessons are given.  Hundreds of children studied at his music school, which has been functioning for 10 years already. The Musical Art School functions even in Darin’s absence who lived and worked in the USA for nearly 3 years after he won a Green Card. In 2016, he returned to Singapore and continued teaching violin. Although he built numerous unforgettable memories in the Land of Unlimited Possibilities, he chose to return to Singapore, because:

I realized that what I had already achieved there was much more than what I could earn if I stayed in the USA. Secondly, this country had problems such as the one related to the legal possession of weapons, which makes the situation in that country extremely tense and uncertain. Besides, it is almost impossible to use their health system, which is extremely expensive, although it is at a very high technological level. The racial issue is also a reason for concern. I witnessed completely pointless disputes caused solely because of the color of the skin.

Life in Asia in different and far more predictable, which makes you feel better and calmer, Darin Varbanov went on to say and added:

We teach and create professional musicians at our Musical Art Studio, but this is not the only purpose of the music school. The point of having such a school is to allow all people who want to deal with music to do so. These people have different professions, but they like playing on a certain music instrument for pleasure, or because they feel more complete that way. Some of our former students became doctors, lawyers and even IT experts later.

Most schools in Singapore have symphonic orchestras. However, Darin’s music school is different, because the lecturers at the Musical Art School are Bulgarian nationals who gained their experience in Bulgaria and later developed their potential in the USA, Cairo and Singapore. The Musical Art School also has a string ensemble. It enables the students to improve. At the concerts, the members of the ensemble also have the opportunity to meet former students who later devoted themselves to completely different professions, but continue to play on music instruments for pleasure.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov