Feras Sarmini is a foreigner whom “Bucharest chose” and adopted. The city received him without reservation and offered him the opportunity to develop professionally. Feras is a violinist and scholarship beneficiary of the Romanian state, being a PhD student at the Bucharest National University of Music. It was art that facilitated his journey to Romania. The time we spent in our country made him fall in love with these places.
Among concerts, events, courses, Feras made time to share his story. It is the story of a man from a conflict-stricken country, Syria. It’s the story of an artist who arrived in a city that allows him to live his life through what he likes: music.
„My name is Feras and I’m a violinist. I have been passionate about music since childhood and I chose it as a way of life. It was music that led me to Bucharest, and what I am experiencing now is a stage I consider a milestone in my musical journey. I was born and lived in Syria, where I finished high school and got my bachelor’s degree, and after a while I was one of the lucky ones to get a scholarship in another corner of this world, in Bucharest”, the musician told us.
He came to Bucharest to study within a master’s program, and after successfully completing this stage, it seemed only natural to him to continue his academic training. The exceptional results obtained as a master’s degree student and Romanian state scholarship grantee allowed him to enroll in the doctoral program within the Bucharest National University of Music . Feras tells us that he was blessed to have received a scholarship from the Romanian state to attend his PhD.
He is studying the music of Dimitrie Cantemir
In Romania, he has not limited himself only to studying. Feras got perfectly integrated into our cultural landscape and made sustained efforts to have a say on the Romanian music stage. He is currently performing on the stage of the State Jewish Theatre , but at the same time he is giving many concerts, both in Bucharest and in the country.
And it all started from a happy meeting he had in the Old Central District (Centrul Vechi). „In the first days after my arrival in this country, when I was still learning Romanian, while I was at a café in the Old Central District, I met a group of young people. They were playing the guitar and they were at the beginning of their activity. They would periodically perform in that cafe. I had an interesting conversation with them and eventually they invited me to play at their next concert. That’s how it all started”, remembers Feras.
Things kept evolving as the young man got integrated into the university milieu. During the master’s program, one of his professors proposed him as study topic Dimitrie Cantemir’s music and the mutual influences between Ottoman classical music and Balkan music and their common motifs. „The topic was interesting so I decided to apply for admission at the PhD studies with a thesis on classical instrumental music of the Ottoman Empire, bearing in mind that the Ottoman Empire predominated in the Middle East. I also collaborated with that professor in many concerts of baroque music with oriental influence”, point out the young artist.
And as music is his way of life, Bucharest has allowed him to have many extraordinary experiences in this field. „ Another interesting experience of mine was the moment I joined a Romanian rock band (out note: Trees Orchestra) and we managed to release an album called “Aman”. I inserted oriental elements into rock music, giving birth to a new style. Furthermore, I have collaborated on many projects related to oriental music, one of which being “Khan de Arta”. I am also working on my new project “Battements de l’Orient”, a project based on the scientific research I carry out for the elaboration of my PhD thesis. The purpose of the project is to include musicians from different nationalities and ethnicities to create a rich new musical dialogue. Our first concert was in October 2019, at the Military Circle. ” Battements de l’Orient ” is like a newborn who needs emotional care and funding from potential benefactors who can offer us support”, mentions the musician.
He was amazed by the powerful voice of nature he discovered in Bucharest
I asked him why he had chosen precisely Bucharest to fulfill his dreams related to music, and the answer given is clear proof that he has a deep gratitude for the city that allowed him to develop from all points of view.
„It was not me who chose Bucharest, I could say that it was Bucharest that chose me. I was in Syria, which had been at war for a long time, and I had no idea about the end of this situation. In addition, my desire to pursue a master’s degree in music was my constant preoccupation. I didn’t have the opportunity to attend them in my native country, so I started applying for scholarships worldwide. And I was admitted at Bucharest”, points out Feras.
When he arrived in the city that adopted him, the musician was amazed „ at the greenery and the multitude of colors of the flowers, of the strong voice of nature, although Bucharest is a city and not a rural area”. Everything was impressive for someone who was just coming from the Middle East. He was also amazed by the architectural mix he claims to be specific to Bucharest. The combination between the historical buildings and the way the city seems to be adjacent to the communist style architecture confers Bucharest its unique note.
And because he is passionate about the color of Bucharest, he spends his spare time in the middle of nature, in one of the parks in the city.
„I like to spend my leisure time in the beautiful parks of Bucharest, especially in Cișmigiu. In this park I can spend a whole day, under a tree, reading, eating and enjoying relaxing moments. In winter, I prefer warmer places where I go with my friends, namely to the cafés where cultural activities take place. So, I combine the useful with the pleasant: I enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, but I also watch a play or a musical event. I go to parks in the summer and to cultural cafes all year long, but most of all, I like to stay at home, in the living room where the library surrounds me and where I can play music and sing, read, drink tea and relax”, said Feras.
Bucharest is a lively city all year long
Feras Sarmini is grateful to Bucharest for all the opportunities it offers, but especially because it opened its doors for him and allowed him to study and work. „I have made many discoveries in a city that welcomes young projects and living spirits. I also like that it’s a city that is alive all year. Unlike other European capitals, Bucharest is awake until late at night, and the city center is open and full of people. In fact, Bucharest is a city with a wide range of cultural events, people are open to all kinds of cultural demonstrations. I like here less the fact that public transport does not have a predictable rhythm, even when it is not crowded. This situation makes me waste time every day”, says the young Syrian.
When he goes about the city, he is delighted that people are friendly and open. „ The kindness of people here makes it difficult to differentiate and you can hardly tell if it is a small, provincial, or a capital city”, points out the musician, referring to the fact that in other big cities of the world people almost run away from each other, being extremely reticent towards strangers. „Bucharest is a friendly city with everyone. So far, I have not had any moment when I felt a foreigner, in the negative sense of the word. I mean, all the time people have been open and friendly, especially when they find out I’m a foreigner. Bucharest has many concert halls, many projects that can be accessed and many musicians with whom you can collaborate and create new projects. In addition, the public in Bucharest is varied, educated and open to all kinds of music and appreciates art. So yes, an artist can develop professionally here”, says Feras Sarmini.
The young musician is living life day after day and has not yet made plans about what he will do after he is awarded his PhD title. However, he admits that the beauty of the city in which he is living now drives him to settle permanently in Bucharest.
