Transcriber: Yulia Kallistratova Reviewer: Anton Zamaraev
As long as I can remember,
I have been energetic and full of plans and dreams.
And playing the violin was my biggest dream.
It started when I was three.
The story goes I heard a violin on the television,
and I was hooked immediately.
I begged my parents for three years until they finally gave in.
But in the meantime, my life changed dramatically.
I got Pfeiffer’s disease
and shortly thereafter was diagnosed with lupus.
This chronic autoimmune disease causes painful inflammations
in my joints, muscles, tendons, and skin.
No more playing outside, no more judo.
Suddenly, my legs would give out from under me,
and I could not stand because of the pain.
I felt that my body had abandoned me.
And then, I started playing the violin.
The first time I touched the string with my bow,
something incredible happened.
I could feel the vibrations of the instrument
throughout my entire body.
And the vibrations, they eased my pain.
The sound fueled my imagination and made me happy.
When the pain became too much,
when I was sad or angry seeing kids play outside while I lay in bed,
I would take the violin and play it out.
I would tell myself every day, "Don't give up!
Not with my violin nor with my illness."
I've learned to be creative,
go left or right when the straightforward path is not possible,
and take small steps to reach big dreams.
Another dream was to perform.
And many people thought my dream was a fantasy.
But when I was 12, I was accepted
into the Young Talent program of the Conservatory of Amsterdam.
I started doing competitions, even winning some of them,
performing more and more,
and was very happy to see two of my biggest dreams come true last year:
being a guest in one of our most popular live TV shows "De Wereld Draait Door"
(Laughter)
and performing in a stadium with Marco Borsato.
(Laughter)
It was awesome!
Pain is still very much a part of my life.
Every day the pain, but also every day my loyal friend the violin.
When I wake up in the morning and my every move hurts,
my first instinct is to pick up my violin
and play a melody I absolutely love.
And the playing, it awakens something in me and gives me strength.
And that's why music means so much to me.
It touches me.
And I feel that with classical music but also with the pop concerts I've done,
where I've seen how you can excite people in a whole different way.
And a lot of people would come to me and say, "I don't like the violin,
but I absolutely love what you did.
It gave me goosebumps."
And this confirms my feeling
that the violin is still an instrument that people like,
even if they think they don't.
It can touch you and communicate emotions.
And that's what it's all about, I think.
Showing this to lots of different people and exploring new sounds
is what inspires me.
And that's why it's my new dream
to use my violin to connect the classical world and the electronic one
and make a song with a DJ.
Duncan Stutterheim, I think we need a chat after this.
(Laughter)
Can I let you in on a secret?
There's a dream I've been having for years,
something I've always wanted to do.
But I've never actually done it on stage.
So I thought, let's take a risk today!
And I feel my heart's racing, and my palms are a little sweaty,
and I'm feeling a bit shaky.
Do you know this feeling?
Yeah? Hands up who knows this feeling!
(Laughter)
Great!
It feels kind of good, actually.
(Laughter)
So, I've always wanted to play the violin and sing at the same time
and perform my own music.
So that's what I'm going to do:
dare to live my dream.
And that's my wish for every one of you.
The first half is all mine, the second half a little bit of Telemann.
I hope you'll enjoy it.
(Violin music)
(Singing) Come, Inner Fire Awake
Cause I Need You Now
Yes, I Need You Now
Come, Inner Fire Awake
Cause I Need You Now
Yes, I Need You Now
Fly Through The Sky In My Dreams
Unbeatable Strength And Power
That's What I Want To Be
On Fire
Fly Through The Sky In My Dreams
Unbeatable Strength And Power
That's What I Want To Be
On Fire
That's What I Want To Be
On Fire
(Music ends)
(Applause) (Cheers)