Since I was a small child, I knew that music was my escape from the world.

I was born in France and lived there until I was six years old, with French as my mother tongue. After moving to Damascus, I grew up learning Arabic. The only relics of my French childhood were the music records my mother had brought from France. I would listen to them repeatedly to maintain my connection to the country. This passion for music eventually led me to discover the piano.

My love for the instrument drove me to learn it on my own. One day, my mother accompanied me to apply to the music conservatory, but the director rejected me because I was twelve years old. I refused to give up or accept his opinion, so I decided to continue learning without a teacher. It was a difficult journey, relying solely on my musical ear and those old records. After five years of dedication, I could play pieces by great composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky. I returned to the director to showcase my progress, but he remained unconvinced of my talent. He suggested that I learn a wind instrument instead of the piano. I declined, holding fast to my choice, and his response delivered the harshest blow of my life:

He said, “Then, practice despair.”

Those words felt like a crushing blow, shattering my dreams and leading me to believe I had indeed missed my chance. I closed the piano for good.

Four years later, my voice matured, and I decided to pursue a new path in music: singing. After learning the basics, I applied for the opera admission exam at the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus and passed.

Proud of my achievement, I wanted to tell the director, “I’ve come back to you today as a singer, not a pianist.” But I was shocked to learn that he had passed away. It dawned on me then that this maestro had, in a way, fueled my determination and persistence, driving me toward the success I achieved.

From that day on, my journey in the world of vocal performance began. I understood that the path would be filled with obstacles and challenges, especially since I was learning Western opera in a distinctly Eastern culture, with no operatic traditions or resources available in Damascus.

Despite the struggles in my artistic life, I made it. The secret behind my success was, above all, my passion and determination, accompanied by relentless hard work.