The participants of our projects are always ready to fight for their dreams and take on challenges. Matvii, a graduate of the School of Success 2019, is a great example of this. The musicians of the Sympho KIDS symphony orchestra, of which Matvii is a member, made a video with a cover version of a Beatles song, which became a hit in a few days. Right now, the orchestra has no time to take a break from the interview, but Matvii still answered our questions about performing at a distance, distance learning, and plans for the future. Watch the orchestra's performance here.

Where did this idea come from?

- Not only rehearsals but also performances were canceled due to the quarantine. We missed the music, so my mom suggested that we practice at home and create a video of our joint performance. Both my parents and the orchestra members supported the idea. We chose the composition ourselves, and our teachers helped us with the parts. The experience is interesting, but we miss the emotions we get during a live concert.

Are you planning more performances in this format?

- Definitely yes. Although the quarantine does not allow us to rehearse together as an orchestra live, it does not mean that we have to forget our parts and sit at home doing nothing. We are not yet performing live concerts, but we are holding virtual ones, and we are currently working on new works, wonderful world hits.

What challenges did you face while preparing for the performance?

- At first, when I first heard about this idea from my mother, I was skeptical, because I didn't understand how an entire symphony orchestra could hold a concert remotely. Our orchestra consists of 50 musicians, and I thought it would be quite difficult to hold a concert with so many participants. I was even late with the deadline for submitting the parts because I refused to take the idea seriously, but in the end I completed the task.

- Out of 50 people, only half of the orchestra responded, and the other half were unable to record their parts for one reason or another. Everyone recorded their playing on their phones, and we played to a metronome that sounded in the headphones so as not to lose the tempo and rhythm. We didn't even count the pauses. I think it was much harder for Kateryna, our manager, because she was the one who was putting everything together, and it was a hard routine job. But it was much harder for us mentally, because a remote concert is not live communication, it's not the same emotions we experience when we play together. It's something else, but even in this way we can create great music.

What do you think of distance learning?

- It's not the first time I've studied remotely. Even before my participation in the School of Success project, I had already studied at the Dzherelo distance school in Kyiv, so the quarantine did not affect my studies. I have never regretted switching to distance learning, because I consider this form of education to be the best. At my school, I develop such skills as self-discipline, time management, and I work in a networking network. I can choose which subjects I want to study in depth for my future career. I have a lot of free time that I can devote to my favorite activities. That's why I just love my school.

- And with distance education at a music school, everything is not so great. I believe that you should learn music only live, next to a teacher. Now, of course, I have video lessons from the music school, but it's not the same. I am looking forward to the end of the quarantine with all my heart to return to my daily frantic rhythm of life, because I love it. I love events and adventures, I can't live when nothing happens. So even in quarantine, I do my best not to get bored.

The selection of semi-finalists for the School of Success has recently ended. Did the participants from your local project make it through?

- Yes, some graduates of my local School of Success made it to the semifinals, and we are all waiting for the results of the video interviews. By the way, I once received a text from a guy I didn't know who hadn't attended my local School of Success. He had questions about filling out a questionnaire for participation in the School of Success 2020, I helped him, and after that we started communicating. Now we have become like brothers, he is a very valuable person to me, as I am to him. He made it to the semifinals and even had a video interview, so we are waiting for the final results. My fingers are crossed for him, as well as for all the other semifinalists. It's a great feeling when those for whom you have become a mentor pass. School of Management students can confirm this, because these are truly wonderful moments of pride and happiness.

What advice can you give to this year's SHU students?

- We can have many images, and sometimes we all wear different masks, but at the School of Success, you don't need to. Be yourself, be sincere with others. The most important thing is to believe in yourself, fight difficulties together with your friends, and never give up. Do not lose your optimism, always notice the beauty around you and just live happily. We create ourselves, and it's up to us to make our lives what they are.

What are your plans for the future?

- Now I am only in the 9th grade and have not yet chosen a profession. However, I know the direction in which I want to develop - I dream of performing on world stages and becoming a public figure. Now my favorite activity is singing. This is my passion, I can't live without singing. I am sure that I will be able to make my dream come true!