Darriya Azim is a 16 year old young musician who has been learning to play the piano since she was 6 years old. Despite being so young Darriya has acquired a number of trophies such as:
- Markham music Festival (Canada) in 2012 & 2013 (first and second prize)
- Abu Dhabi Chopin Competition in 2014 (3rd prize)
- International Competition of Prokofiev (Ekaterinburg, Russia) in 2015 (3rd prize)
- Fujairah piano Competition in 2019 (first prize)
We have had a great chance to interview Darriya and asked her several questions to find out some interesting facts about such a young and ambitious pianist.
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music?/ Who is your piano idol, living or dead?
My mum inspired me to start learning music and o er the years I’ve developed a growing passion for it and decided to move forward with it and persue it as my career. My piano idol is for sure Sergei Rachmaninoff which was a Russian composer full of emotions reflected in his amazing music.
Do you remember your first piano teacher?
Actually I’ve only ever had one piano teacher for all my 11 years of playing which is Svetlana Tarakanova.
Do you have your daily routine in practicing piano? How many hours a day do you practice? Do you take days off music?
I usually practice after school on weekdays for about an hour or 2 hours on weekends and yes I do take days off music about once a week.
Who is your favorite composer and what do you especially like about performing his/her music?
My favorite composer as I mentioned before is Rachmaninoff as his music really brings out a lot of emotion and I strive to present it and tell a story every time I play.
What has been the most difficult piece of music you’ve mastered so far?
So far I think my hardest piece I’ve mastered has to be Beethoven’s Sonata 17 (the tempest) as it has many hidden musical elements which make the composition so grand.
Which performances are you most proud of?
I am always proud of all my performances as I give it my all.
What is your most memorable concert experience?
Actually, it wasn’t a concert but a competition back in 2015 when I attended the international Competition of Prokofiev competiting with multiple Russian music conservatories and schools and managed to win 3rd prize. My teachers and I were shocked as they’re level is beyond belief and take music as a main subject and practice for more than 5 hours a day!
What music do you listen to when you’re at home?
Well if I’m not playing piano, my go to music is actually rock and deephouse. Not a typical pianist playlist.
If you could play any other instrument, which would you choose and why?
I would choose the cello, I don’t know what it is about it but I always get shivers from the sound.
Where would you like to be in 10 years’ time?
I would like to be a part of the ministry of culture here in Dubai/ Abu Dhabi and possibly open a music school for piano.
Thank you Darriya for the interview and may your sweet melodies mesmerize your audience and bring out the joy in them.
