Alois Otieno had never heard of classical music until his first-born son, Lameck, started playing the violin.
That was 2014 and Lameck had developed an interest in the instrument when he saw a woman playing it at an event by Ghetto Classics at St John’s Korogocho.
Lameck joined Ghetto Classics and got more time to learn about the instruments used in classical music and to train with experts.
After eight months on the violin, he felt he was ready to audition to join the Safaricom Youth Orchestra, which had been launched in April 2014.
His father realized the young man was serious about music when Lameck made an unusual request.
“(He) told us that he wanted us to pray for him because he had an audition the next day. Together with his mum, we didn’t quite understand what it was all about, but we prayed for him, wished him well and asked his sister to accompany him,” Alois remembers.
Unfortunately, and despite his family’s support, Lameck had not had enough experience with the violin and he was asked to try again after a few months.
He went back to Ghetto Classics, worked hard, and was successful the next time he tried.
Lameck’s recruitment to the Safaricom Youth Orchestra, which they refer to as SYO, started a chain reaction in the family as his two brothers joined, and now, their home rings with the strains of the violin and the mellow sounds of the piano.
Lameck would influence his twin Teddy to join Ghetto Classics and later SYO. Teddy started on the tuba and then found his niche in the piano. Their youngest sibling, Dylan, would join them two years later, taking up the violin.
Their talents have bloomed in the slum. Days after he sat his last Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination paper, Dylan graduated from SYO.
Their mother, Mrs Otieno, says that music comes naturally to her sons and they have embraced their talents well.
“They play very naturally. It’s like an inborn talent and I love that they truly enjoy music, especially when you see them play. I would like them to continue playing and practicing and growing their talents,” she says.
The boys’ pursuit of music has demanded a great amount of support from their parents, and they have not been disappointed.
“Sometimes we are called when we are needed, and you drop everything you’re doing to go and support your children. They started playing when they were very young so we have been supporting them with the things they need while encouraging them,” says their mother.
The proudest moments for the Otienos are seeing their children play and most importantly seeing people enjoy their music. The parents vividly recall seeing their children on stage perform on different occasions at Safaricom, M-PESA Foundation Academy among others, and couldn’t hide their joy.
“I couldn’t believe that they were playing in front of so many people and I was happy that people were enjoying their music,” says their mother.
See more about the classical music family below.
