Akim Camara

Within two weeks, in July 2004, Akim was performing with Rieu in concert at Kerkrade's Parkstad Limburg Stadion filled to near max capacity with an audience of 18,000 people on a toddler-size violin and wearing a tiny custom-made concert tuxedo and dress shoes. After amusing the crowd with a "water trick" toddler Akim then performed Ferdinand Kuchler's violin concertino in G, opus 11 followed by a brief encore performance. Akim exited stage right after two massive standing ovations and roaring cheers.

Camara was born in Berlin to a Nigerian father and a German mother. In May 2003, at two and a half years of age, Akim was given violin lessons by instructor Birgit Thiele at the Marzahn-Hellersdorf School of Music. Akim was at this point still in diapers and could not yet speak correctly, like any toddler, but he could remember parts of music heard and the names of all orchestral instruments. Moved by his memory and natural "ear for music", Akim's teacher began instructing the toddler twice a week in 45 minute sessions. Akim participated enthusiastically and, due in part to his memory, the toddler was learning fast. After six months of this fairly light training regimen, Akim had his debut performance in December 2003 at the age of three in a Christmas concert "Schneeflöckchen, Weissröckchen" put on by the Marzahn-Hellersdorf School of Music.

Akim Camara (born 26 September 2000 in Berlin) is a German violinist child prodigy who began playing at the age of two.