“When I got on the plane to come to the US, I was remembering all the anxiety I had gone through during this past year,” says Darabi. For him, coming to the US wasn’t so much the goal, but rather, attending one of the world’s most prestigious music schools. “Getting the visa felt like an accomplishment to me,” says Darabi. Still, he knew his destiny somewhat hinged on the visa decision.ĭarabi’s visa was eventually approved - it was a huge relief. However, an outpouring of support from the people at Berklee College of Music made the young artist feel more optimistic about his situation. The 35-day wait was nerve-wracking for Darabi and his family. So, from afar, Darabi kept abreast of every news development regarding the travel ban. After the interview, he was told he would have to go home and wait for the final decision. A lot of people had been denied visas, which worried Darabi. Just days before his visa interview at the US Consulate in Yerevan, Armenia, the Trump administration revealed plans for a revised travel ban that was to be implemented on Ma- a day after Darabi’s interview appointment. “When I saw the scholarship letter, I was in shock,” says Darabi. “I never thought I’d receive a scholarship from Berklee, especially a full tuition waiver scholarship.”ĭarabi’s joy didn’t last long, though. The audition went well and, a week later while on the phone with a friend, he noticed a new email from Berklee College of Music about his admission and scholarship status. He was traveling on his own and felt nervous prior to the audition, but the anticipation was exciting, too. He says he wanted to come to the United States mainly because he craved competition, feeling Iran was no longer a big enough stage for him.įor his audition, Darabi had to go to Chengdu, China, where people barely spoke any English. At age 18, and on his friend’s advice, Darabi decided to apply to Berklee College of Music. He trained his ear as best as he could and then took classes with Hamzeh Yeganeh, an acclaimed jazz musician in Iran. When he tried out jazz for the first time, he was hooked right away. Darabi familiarized himself with other music genres, as well, by providing the piano accompaniment in countless live gigs. Darabi then became a protégé of the Armenian Gagik Babayan, who instructed him in classical music for a decade. His mother, a piano teacher herself, taught him for several years. He didn’t then know how difficult it would be to get to Boston, to fulfill his dreams.ĭarabi started playing the piano at the age of 3 - he still has a foggy memory of pressing the black-and-white keys for the very first time. He had already established himself as a piano prodigy in his home country, released a full-length debut album and performed in numerous prominent venues, including Tehran’s Roudaki Hall. When the Iranian pianist and composer, Amir Darabi, was accepted to Berklee College of Music this past summer, everything seemed to be going his way.
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