Home / War and Conflict / Musician plays last notes in destroyed school
Musician plays last notes in destroyed school
20 Apr
Summary
- Musician played kamancheh in his destroyed music school.
- The academy was severely damaged by an airstrike on March 23, 2026.
- His viral video captured grief and became a plea against war.
Musician Hamidreza Afarideh recorded a poignant farewell to his 15-year-old Honiak Music Academy on April 7, 2026, after it was severely damaged by an airstrike on March 23, 2026. He played his kamancheh amidst the ruins, describing it as 'the last sound' of a destroyed life's work. This act was captured in a video that rapidly gained millions of views worldwide, becoming a powerful symbol of the human cost of conflict.
Afarideh and his wife built the academy over 15 years with limited resources and immense dedication. The destruction of their "shared life project" has deeply affected him, his 250 students, and 22 teachers, scattering them and leaving them to process the trauma. Despite the risks, Afarideh felt compelled to capture this final sound and image from their creative space.
His viral moment has amplified a message about war's destruction beyond infrastructure, highlighting the erasure of art, memory, and creativity. Afarideh asserts that music remains a symbol of freedom and a source of healing, even amidst devastation, offering solace to those who have lost everything.
