The powerful story behind the viral photograph of a 12-year-old Brazilian violinist

The powerful story behind the viral photograph of a 12-year-old Brazilian violinist

The powerful story behind the viral photograph of a 12-year-old Brazilian violinist

CHILD PLAYING THE VIOLIN AT HIS TEACHER’S FUNERAL
Child Playing the Violin at his Teacher's Funeral who helped him escape poverty and violence through music.
The child pictured, Diego is crying at the funeral of his mentor and teacher, Evandro João da Silva, who was killed in an assault in October of 2009 in Rio De Janerio. Diego’s teacher had helped him escape poverty and violence through his kindness and their shared love of music.
Diego was Brazilian, and a member of the group Afro Reggae. Diego’s teacher taught him and several other kids how to play musical instruments, and they would all play to raise donations for sick children.
Unfortunately, Diego died in March of 2010 from complications of leukemia.
The powerful story behind the viral photograph of a 12-year-old Brazilian violinist
The moment of high emotion, grief, and music, and the story behind it.
Evandro João da Silva was a coordinator and highly regarded leader of the Afro Reggae Cultural Group that took music, art and culture to the deprived favelas of Rio De Janeiro.
The goal of Afro Reggae was to address social inequalities found in the Brazilian metropolis, and combat prejudices using, music, art and culture.
On the morning of Sunday 18 October 2009, da Silva was out in Rio De Janeiro with friends, when he was mugged and fatally shot. Local media reported that the muggers took his phones, shoes and wallet before shooting Evandro and fleeing the scene.
His murder shocked the Afro Reggae community and sent outrage and grief into the city’s artistic community. It was also widely reported as a tragic symptom of Rio De Janeiro’s Street violence.
The grief and loss was felt deeply by all the young people da Silva helped lift out of poverty and deprivation. And there is one photo that poignantly captures the emotion of that moment.
A 12-year-old violinist, who learned music in the Vigário Geral neighborhood as part of the Afro Reggae programmed, performed as part of an ensemble at the funeral.
The emotion of the moment is clear to see. The photo, captured by photographer Marcos Tristao, later went viral online.
It’s a powerful reminder of the tragedy of violence, the power of music, and deep impact inspirational figures like da Silva have on the communities they work in.

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