Lamar Elias
My experience
“The decision to become a professional musician with full-time studies and learn a new language was not at all easy, but I could always count on the support of the Dr. Gerda von Mach Foundation.”
My name is Lamar Elias. I am 21 years old, and I come from Bethlehem, Palestine. I have been studying music with a major in violin in Toulouse, France, since September 2017. After an entrance examination, I was also accepted as the youngest participant in the conducting class of the famous conductors Tugan Sokhiev and Sabrie Bekirova last September.
This would never have been possible without the Dr. Gerda von Mach Memorial Foundation.
The support the foundation gives students gives us the opportunity to invest our full energy into our dreams. Becoming a professional musician takes hours and hours of practice. It was only possible with the support of the foundation, accompanied by the feeling of being autonomous and responsible.
This foundation was the light of my dreams, and I am sure it was for many other students as well. I truly hope that one day I can make them proud and do the same for the next generation. Words cannot describe how grateful I am. All I can say is that every time I am on a concert stage today, I remember the support that I received. This leads me to always look for new challenges and to show what talents and successes Palestine could have.