In 2015, 21-year-old Rami Basisah was an ordinary boy attending music school in Homs, Syria. As the conflict in his country heightened, he was forced to flee. Managing to keep his violin safely clung to his back for the majority of the trip, he is a seamless model of determination and how the power of music can be an outlet for justice and freedom.

Basisah traveled both by foot and water through ten countries, including Lebanon, Greece, Macedonia, and Hungary, where he often swam for his life. The majority of the trip, however, was spent on foot. Ultimately, the violin was kept on his back until he was thrown off a train in Hungary, where it was confiscated and probably destroyed by local officials. Finally, Basisah made it to Sashbachwalden, Germany, where he took refuge.

After hearing of Rami Basisah’s story, a local German couple reached out and offered shelter in their home, and a safe place for Basisah to practice. Today, Basisah has recorded an album, “My Journey,” to help raise awareness for those with similar stories as Basisah, as well as to promote worldwide solidarity.

The album contains 12 songs as follows:

1. Beethoven: Ode To Joy

2. Dvorak: New World Symphony – Largo

3. One Republic: Counting Stars

4. Elgar: Enigma Variations – Nimrod

5. Danny Boy

6. Panis Angelicus

7. Cavalleria Rusticana – Intermezzo

8. Je Nai Nan

9. Ashokan Farewell

10. Elegy For A Lost Nation

11. Time To Say Goodbye

12. Silent Night

Part of the money earned from the album will go to the Red Cross, to support refugees in the United Kingdom.