Ethiopia: High Hopes for Ethiopia's Rising Classical Music Stars

Addis Ababa — One evening last month, the sounds of classical Spain could be heard in an unlikely place: the Ethiopian National Theatre in Addis Ababa.

Onstage were the talented students of the Yared School, Ethiopia's only institute of higher learning for music; directing them was Silvia Sanz Torre, conductor of the Metropolitan Orchestra of Madrid. And in more ways than one, the performance ended on a high note.

"This concert has encouraged the students to continue studying and working a lot," says Yared School director Tadele Tilahun. "In Ethiopia, there has not been an orchestra concert in the last 30 to 40 years purely formed by students or teachers of Ethiopia."

Around for over four decades, Yared, which is part of Addis Ababa University, has become a special spot for budding musicians, often fresh out of secondary school. To enrol, candidates must all demonstrate musical talent. But aside from that, each student's story is unique.

Inspiration from horticulture and Yanni

Take, Eyuel Mengistu. He plays double bass, though this wasn't the 24 year old's first instrument of choice. "I used to play the krar, a traditional instrument," he says about his primary school days. In fact, Mengistu hadn't even realized he wanted to pursue music until he had already begun a three-year study in horticulture - that's when he started on the keyboard and that's what led him to Yared.

"When I got accepted, I wanted to study piano, but there were too many students with the same preference," he recalls. "Then I chose trumpet. But after six months, I decided to play double bass."

After five years, Yared students are expected to have completed their studies, earning Bachelor of Art degrees. Most students are reported to find jobs as classical musicians.

Selamawit Aragaw is a case in point. "I have been an assistant at the Yared School and ... will start being a lecturer," she says. "But apart from that, I give a lot of violin private lessons and I have a quartet with which I play in different hotels."