Dejan Daskalov '10 is enjoying success as an on-call keyboardist for O, the aquatic theater show by Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas. Achieving this kind of rare success was an epic adventure filled with adversity and the ability to persevere as an artist and an immigrant.
The biggest challenge
Some of Daskalov's earliest musical memories are of his father playing the rich, organ-like sounds of the accordion around their home in Macedonia, where music plays a vital role in the country's culture. His parents encouraged his passion for music when he was young and Daskalov was determined to make his dream of playing professionally a reality.
A friend from Macedonia attended Lynn University and encouraged him to audition for the highly competitive Lynn University Conservatory of Music. Established over 25 years ago, the conservatory admits a select group of gifted musicians worldwide to pursue a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music or Professional Performance Certificate. After recording a DVD of himself playing compositions from German composers Johan Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven, he was accepted into Lynn's conservatory with a full-tuition scholarship that changed the trajectory of his life as a musician.
"Leaving my home country was the biggest challenge I have ever faced. I had visited many countries, but I had never been to America," said Daskalov. "Having to face the language barrier, having more responsibilities, and accepting that America was completely different than I thought it was on TV was extremely tough."
As time passed, Daskalov adjusted to life in America and made lifelong friends with whom he converses daily. After earning his Bachelor of Music from Lynn in 2010, Daskalov took a leap with a significant gamble …
Viva Las Vegas
He packed his bags and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.
The gamble became an unspoken motivational strategy—a reminder that failure was not an option. Daskalov had no choice but to succeed as a musician.
Daskalov admits he faced hard times that drove him to consider leaving music in the past to pursue a career as a financial analyst. Instead, Daskalov doubled his efforts and leveraged the hard lessons and tools he developed at Lynn to continue honing his craft as a musician.
As a Lynn student, Daskalov took a music entrepreneurship class which helped him persevere and overcome the process of facing rejection. "Lynn gave me the skills to be prepared for life after graduation, including personal skills and skills outside of just playing music. The university taught me how to navigate the industry," said Daskalov.
One day, the stars aligned. A friend that studied with Daskalov when he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), reached out to him with an opportunity to audition for a long-term position as a keyboardist for O by Cirque du Soleil—the dazzling aquatic and acrobatic show has been running since 1998 and plays to multitudes of fans multiple times a night. The show also exhibits a complex musical score that Daskalov describes as "an extreme exercise in multitasking."
Daskalov had to audition against 60 musicians and faced rejection when he was not selected as the show's first choice.
"It's hard to deal with rejection, but it's a part of life," said Daskalov. "Things fall into place. You have to give it time. Be persistent and be open-minded."
Eventually, his fate changed with a single phone call. The production team for O called Daskalov and offered the coveted role.
Even though the training process was intense, Daskalov leaned on his countless hours of practice at Lynn to learn and memorize music efficiently.
Daskalov only had three weeks to prepare before his first performance. Playing multiple keyboards per night for several hours required discipline and mental strength. He was required to simultaneously play two keyboards hooked up to computers and multiple pedals, which all work together to make the audience hear strings and flute, among other sound effects.
Daskalov recalls his first show at the Bellagio Hotel, "I was so intimidated that I did not look at the audience once," said Daskalov. "One part of the show that never fails to give me goosebumps is seeing a performer fly so far over this certain part in the music—it takes my breath away."
Even as Daskalov continues to perform the show, he still gets excited to be part of the magic of O and give audiences an experience they will never forget.
Paying it forward
Daskalov followed in the footsteps of his mentor at Lynn, piano professor Roberta Rust, to inspire the next generation and share his musical knowledge. He started a private piano studio, Vegas Valley Music, and loves seeing his students' skills grow over time. He also teaches students at UNLV.
Daskalov's advice to music students at Lynn: "The worst mistake that you can make as a musician is to pigeonhole yourself into just knowing or playing one type of music. Opening your mind to different styles and avenues of music will make you so much more marketable."
The talented Daskalov has composed classical music for piano and lends his singing voice to his very own pop music, which he hopes to release soon. In the meantime, Daskalov continues to navigate the peaks and valleys of his thrilling career.
"Our career is a journey, and it will shape you in different ways. Even though it's a crazy industry, I wouldn't change a thing."
