Sponsoring a female pianist from Afghanistan

I have had the privilege of working with a 17 year old, female pianist from Afghanistan this past year; we meet regularly over skype for lessons.  Her name is Maram and she studies at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, also known as ANIM. She is very talented and passionate and dreams of becoming a professional pianist. She is extremely hard-working and practices 4 hours daily by arriving to school early and leaving at closing.

Her school ANIM is exceptional. Not only does ANIM train aspiring and qualified musicians, they also take impoverished children off the streets and educate them. And while Maram is luckier than many of her peers, the school’s very mission statement describes a commitment to supporting “the most disadvantaged children - orphans, street vendors and girls.”  Committed to equality, half of ANIM’s spaces are reserved for female students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, which is both bold and astonishing in a country where under Taliban rule, music is forbidden and girls are permitted to attend school for only a few years, many marrying by high school. Maram is courageous in pursuing her musical education and  ANIM, a co-educational environment, is quite literally changing their world, child by child, girl by girl.

Last week, we received wonderful news that Maram was accepted to the High School Summer Piano Program at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan! It is a glorious place with beautiful, natural surroundings, wonderful music making all over campus, an international student body, and excellent teachers, all within a camp-like environment. I have very fond and informative memories of my own attendance there as a kid. Maram is lucky to receive generous financial aid and a merit scholarship to attend this summer of 2020, but sadly this program is still beyond her reach. 

I am certain an Interlochen experience would be life-changing for her and that she will savor every moment and work very hard.  Maram’s current teacher at ANIM is a visiting artist from Australia and I believe the piano teachers have always been invited from elsewhere. I hope - and dream - that with opportunities to further her education and pursue her goals, Maram could one day serve as a teacher, herself, at ANIM and as an inspirational role model for the next generation of Afghan women!

I am currently trying to raise $3000 to assist with Maram’s tuition and expenses for Interlochen. Though I am determined to find some way to get her there, if she does not ultimately attend the program, all donations will be entirely refunded. Your support at any level is most greatly appreciated and we thank you so much.