Syrian child refugee gets Oxford collection violin

A 14-year-old Syrian boy who fled his home in Aleppo and is seeking refuge in Lebanon is the proud owner of an Oxford University collection violin. The instrument was lent to him after it was restored, a first in the history of the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments.

Aboud Kaplo was discovered by Susie Attwood, a film-maker, violinist and alumna of Oxford‘s Music Faculty who met the 14-year-old and his parents while filming a documentary at a Syriac Orthodox monastery in Lebanon, where they are now living. The film-maker was struck by the boy’s dedication to music, though he had no access to music education, as he watched YouTube videos and practiced on a “cheap and rattly” child-sized violin.

Susie Attwood contacted Andy Lamb, curator of the Bate Collection, who was keen to help the young boy.

“The moment I read about this lad’s situation, I realised that the Bate Collection and Faculty of Music could make some kind of positive contribution towards his quality of life. I immediately had an instrument in mind. It belonged to a former curator, Dr Helene Larue, a very generous person, and I knew that if she had been confronted with this situation, she would have donated an instrument instantly. The violin is not rare or ancient enough to be regarded as a precious resource, but it’s significantly better than a cheap modern factory instrument, and it’s entirely the kind of instrument we would lend to a student here at Oxford. We’d certainly like to maintain some kind of link with Aboud and we want to assure him that there are music colleges that want him to have the best opportunities he can. We are always trying to help the public access our collections, but the idea that we could take this to the next level by sending this violin to a young musician in need is very exciting indeed. This is a new way – a ground-breaking way – for us to broaden access to the Bate Collection,” Andy Lamb said.

“I cannot express by words how I feel – I’m so happy, so excited, I just want to thank Oxford University and the Music Department for making this happen. Playing the violin helps me express my feelings. I want to go on to study music and play on a big stage and travel the world,” Aboud said.

The 14-year-old’s parents, Emmanuel and Hanane also said the gesture has “brought happiness, hope and encouragement to Aboud.”

The Bate Collection holds more than 2,000 instruments which date from medieval times to the modern day. This is the first time an instrument has been sent out in this way: the collection has strict rules about how its instruments can be used, but allows for loans to other museums and to students. The violin they sent to Aboud is a 19th century instrument made in Germany by the well-respected manufacturers Wolff Brothers.