How a QF member helped shape a student’s career path

When Julia Salvaggio’s parents were invited to an afternoon tea at a high-end hotel in Doha, they noticed a four-year old Julia sitting on a small carpet near the musicians playing in the hotel lobby, listening to them intently and silently. This was the day that Julia’s parents decided to enroll her into music classes. Quickly, Julia discovered her passion for the violin. And since, she and her violin have been inseparable – it goes with her wherever she goes.

A few years later – in 2011 – Julia Salvaggio joined Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Music Academy (QMA) where she learned to hone her musical skills. She remembers her first days at QMA as a “very exciting time for me, as I started at a young age to take lessons in music theory. And it was the first time that I was playing music with a band,” she says.

At QMA, Julia recognized how the music academy nurtured children to learn music from a very young age. This cultivation of skills most definitely helps the students at QMA shine, where they are equipped and well-prepared to join top music universities in the world.

Julia never planned to become a music professional; more so, because her favorite subject in school was science. She says: “I have always loved the violin, but it seemed to me like only a hobby. Until very recently my main goal was to pursue my higher studies in computer science.

“Over time, I realized that computer science was not for me, and decided to continue my studies in the world of music. I began to see some of my friends enrolled in famous music universities and conservatories around the world. And that’s when I told myself – if they can do it, I can do it too.”

Julia explained that the years of study at Qatar Music Academy played an important role in changing her mind about her career path, as the academy provided her with the opportunity to participate in many high-level workshops and classes, and allowed her to work with professional musicians, which enabled her to gain a new insights about music.

“The Academy's violin teachers played a major role in preparing me for entrance exams at universities and conservatories, and I am very grateful for their support and the experiences they gave me that helped me identify my passion and determine my future path,” Julia says.

She also pointed out that she received offers from different universities around the world – she was accepted into several, but decided to take the offer from the University of Music of Switzerland, not only because of its reputation, but also because she was lucky to be accepted to the class of the renowned violinist Professor Prof. Klaidi Sahatci. “That made me feel as if I had been accepted to the class of Michelangelo or Leonardo da Vinci to study painting,” Julia says.

After her bachelor's degree, Julia will look to pursue her master's degree. “If all goes well, it will take at least six years to complete my studies in music. My plans for the future may still be incomplete, but at this point, there is one thing I am absolutely sure of – I love composing and playing music with others. I would also like to delve into music science as there is still a lot to explore.”