Adrian Anantawan was one of seven, of the 80 violinists applicants worldwide, accepted into the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He explained, “It’s important to me that people think of me as a wonderful musician and not a wonderful musician for not having a right hand. I want people to judge me by what they hear, not what they see.”

Born without a right hand, Adrian was growing up socially withdrawn and didn’t speak until he was 3 years old. When he was 7, his mother, Marie, enrolled him in violin lessons, hoping it would help him overcome his shyness. Within 6 months, Adrian was performing in a youth orchestra. His self-assurance grew. He became more social and his school grades soared. Music provided him with a means of self-expression and helped him “learn how to learn.”

While playing the violin, Adrian wears an adaptive device that fits onto the end of his forearm. This enables him to hold his bow and feel the vibrations of notes as they travel through the device and up his arm. He plays with a silicon tube attached to his forearm and held in place by straps. A spatula piece sits on the end to which his bow is attached. Adrian practiced between 6 to 10 hours a day and mastered violin techniques such as playing pizzicato and staccato. He uses other prosthetic devices for his athletic activities such as swimming and weightlifting.