For as long as he can remember, high school senior David Korzyrkov has dreamed of using music to make the world a better place.
But two years ago, the sounds of war changed his life forever.
“In 4 in the morning when we start to hear bombs,” Kozyrkov said. “Hear Russian flys and my father go to my room and says war started we just need to take a bag. My father says I need to choose. I need to take my bag, or I need to take my keyboard.”
With just his keyboard and the clothes on his back, Korzyrkov traveled all the way to Philadelphia with his mom and sister.
He wanted to further his education at String Theory Schools in Center City, but he longed for what he left behind.
“When I start to think about my friends who died in Ukraine, and I watch all those friends who are right here with me, I think that God gave me something,” Korzyrkov said.
While he’s made new friends, his best friend still fights in the war.
“My father in Ukraine, he’s a military Chaplin,” Kozyrkov said. “He’s my best friend. He’s my number one. I speak with him every day.”
His number one now has a reason to celebrate with his son because Korzyrkov just got into the school of his dreams.
“I looked on the Internet and just watched the school and wow I know the school and I tried to apply and I get in,” Korzyrkov said.
This fall, he will be attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
“That means a lot,” Korzyrkov said. “That’s a lot of hard work what I do. My family my parents be proud of me.”
His dream is now a reality and a chance to use his music to make the world a better place.