Nairobi Music Project
AN EMERGING INITIATIVE
Funding music education for children in under-resourced communities in Nairobi — one lesson at a time.
HOW THIS BEGAN
Ruth's time in Kenya included performing with the Nairobi Orchestra and building connections across the country's musical community.
She also supported charities and developed her own music project around ending FGM. Through that experience, she encountered many children in need of support and decided to sponsor one young girl who had resisted FGM and desperately needed help to stay in school. This year was the last year of sponsoring her - she is now looking forward to attending university and studying to be a doctor.
When additional funding became available, Ruth and David Ralak decided to channel those resources into this music initiative instead. The first ten lessons are now funded.
As the project develops, Ruth and David are committed to building a model that creates meaningful, long-term opportunities for young musicians in Nairobi.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
This project is in its earliest stages. Through a generous response from supporters, we have already funded the first ten lessons — enabling David to continue teaching without interruption. This is just the beginning.
David has a long-term vision for what this work can become — creating lasting musical opportunities for young people in Nairobi. We are building this together, and we hope you will be part of it.
ABOUT DAVID RALAK
David Ralak
Violinist, educator, community musician
Nairobi Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, Zuri String Quartet, Ghetto Classics, Safaricom Youth Orchestra
David Ralak, 33, is a distinguished self-taught violinist who began his musical journey at the age of 16. Through years of dedication, he has developed into a highly accomplished orchestral musician, performing with ensembles locally and internationally — including at the Royal Festival Hall in London with the Chineke! Orchestra.
He has served in leadership roles within the Nairobi Orchestra, the Kenya Conservatoire Orchestra, and the Kenya National Youth Orchestra, and performed at the Commonwealth Games and in cities including Dar es Salaam, Helsinki, and Kigali. A formative chapter in his development was studying under world-class violinist Alexandra Soumm, President of El Sistema France.
David is a founding member of the Zuri String Quartet, and a pioneer member of the Kenya National Youth Orchestra from its founding in 2010, which he led for three years before moving into a mentorship role. His passion for education continues through his work with The Art of Music Foundation, where he teaches violin across programmes including Ghetto Classics and the Safaricom Youth Orchestra.
Through his teaching and outreach, David remains dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians and creating meaningful opportunities for young people through music.