Back to the roots | Damian Draghici | TEDxBacau

Damian has not forgotten his roots, his main aim being to promote the social inclusion of Roma throughout Europe. Over the years, Draghici has led numerous non-governmental projects to promote Roma inclusion and fight against discrimination. The story of Damian Drăghici begins in Bucharest, where Damian grows into a very poor, but musical family of Roma. He began to learn how to play the pan-flute at the age of 10, after playing already at various instruments since the age of three. At the age of 15 he sings and records with the Popular Music Orchestra of Bucharest.
At age 18, he escapes the constraints of the communist regime by walking alone several hundred miles to freedom. He succeeds in reaching Athens where he sang for a while on the streets and in some clubs. In 1996, however, he was accepted for a full scholarship at the Berkeley College of Music in Boston, United States. He managed to earn a four-year diploma in just two years, graduating from Magna Cum Laude in 1998. He became the first college student to obtain a bachelor's degree in the pan-flute.
Throughout his career, he has played with famous musicians such as Paul Winter, Gary Thomas, Eugene Friesen and orchestras around the world, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York City Orchestra. In partnership with Hans Zimmer he composed the soundtrack of the famous trilogy "Pirates of the Caribbean". In 2006 he was invited as guest on the album "Silver Solstice" by Paul Winter Consort, a Grammy-winning album. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx