Ukrainian instructor, Russian student come together for love of music in Bonita Springs

Reporter: Lauren Leslie Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:
Nika is from Russia and Guelord Nzenge is from Ukraine. The two came together over the love of music in Bonita Springs. Nzenge is a drum instructor and Nika is his student. (CREDIT: WINK News)

Guelord Nzenge is a drum instructor.

He is from Ukraine.

Nika is his student. She is from Russia.

The desire to play the drums is what brought them together.

“What are the odds,” Nzenge said.

Jim Bauchat, of the Florida Institute of Music, answered that.

“A drum teacher from Ukraine teaching a Russian student in an American studio and that’s it music knows no borders,” Bauchat said.

Their countries may be at war but Nzenge said the people are not.

“It’s like a huge brotherhood,” Nzenge said. “A lot of Russians have relatives in Ukraine and Ukrainians have relatives in Russia.”

The two connected on social media. Music was their common ground.

“Music has no boundaries; it’s like universal language for everyone,” Nzenge said. “When you go to the like, great live show there are a lot of people from different countries listening to the same music. They all love it; there is no conflicts … This is what music is for.”

The two practice at the Florida Institute of Music in Bonita Springs.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.