A Dream Fulfilled

Print

A poor but talented Indonesian E-flat tuba player who wants to study music in Singapore's prestigious Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), is very close to realising his dream.

A poor but talented Indonesian E-flat tuba player who wants to study music in Singapore's prestigious Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), is very close to realising his dream.

After reading a report about Lasnointer Marbun (Noin) in Singapore's Straits Times newspaper on Dec. 25, 2010, a local businessman has offered to pay the hefty tuition fees. The sponsor has also agreed to coverĀ  various government fees and most of Noin's living expenses while he completes the three-year course. All that is left now is for Noin to pass an audition with NAFA and the compulsory English proficiency examination later this year.

Noin, 22, is a former member of the Salvation Army's William Booth Boys Home in Medan. Placed in the home when he was very young because his poverty stricken parents could not afford to raise him, Noin began playing the tuba after joining BBJ, the brass band featured elsewhere on this website, when he was 10 years old.

The businessman, who wants to be known only as Mr Ong, said in his email to the Straits Times that he was personally inspired by Noin's determination. "I look around to see how to support courageous people like Noin who cherish the power of their personal conviction to make a difference in life. As such, I am willing to fully sponsor his desired NAFA course ... I hope this little assistance of mine could further drive him to pursue his dream and excel in life, and more importantly in doing so, inspire others likewise to think big."

The total value of the sponsorship is estimated to amount to S$86,000 (US$67,000) over three years.

You can read the newspaper report that that promises to change Noin's life by visiting the Medan Band section of this website. Click here.

(After this article was written Noin passed the audition with NAFA. But he was later rejected as a student because of his poor English. He is currently studying music at the Indonesian Institute of Fine Arts in Yogyakarta.)

GO TOP