Hellgurd from Iraq

“I spent most of my childhood and youth in war.” Hellgurd grew up in Kurdistan, which is why, he says, his hobbies became victims of war. He loves to play and listen to music. And his parents shared that love, introducing him to Kurdish music. When he decided to apply for a music academy, he received his first classical musical instrument. He chose the violin, feeling that it was a good match for his personality.

In his hometown, Hellgurd attended the Ranya Fine Arts Institute and studied music. He went on to become a teacher at the same institute and also teaches at a daycare. He is first violinist in the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq (NYOI) whose members are Kurds and Arabs from a variety of religious backgrounds. Together with the NYOI, Hellgurd came to Germany last year for the orchestra’s first concert abroad, performing at the International Beethovenfest in Bonn.