Today we’d like to introduce you to Dariel Liakhovetski
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story begins growing up as the middle child in a sunny South Florida household. Most people know me for my cello playing, alongside my older brother, Emil; although now, more of my attention is on my passion for prosthodontic dentistry.
Coming from multiple generations of musicians on my mom’s side, and 3 generations of dentists on my dad’s side, I dug deep into my family legacy to guide my future. I began classical cello training under the guidance of my grandpa, Leonid Rubanchik, who spent his career as the principal cellist of renowned orchestras such as the Minsk Philharmonic and the Caracas Simfónica. The dedication to mastering the cello instilled in me by my grandpa through daily lessons led me to perform on NBC’s TV show, America’s Got Talent, where I, alongside my brother, Emil, finished as Finalists and had our performances viewed by millions of viewers weekly. Music has taken us far and wide, performing internationally, and more recently, being invited by the President of the American Dental Association to kick off the ADA Annual meeting and share our story.
Having the option to pursue a career in music, I found myself yearning for a deeper purpose beyond the spotlight; I found my true calling in Prosthodontics and will be pursuing graduate training following dental school. After graduating from the University of Florida where I studied Microbiology and Cell Science, I decided to pursue my dental studies at the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry. In an attempt to share my journey, I post my work on social media to show how fun and beautiful esthetic dentistry can be while continuing to perform with my cello. Although I am not pursuing music as a career, I couldn’t imagine living on earth without it; music has enriched my life in ways I simply cannot describe in words. Music is a close friend that has always been there for me, through good and bad, high and low, thick and thin. I intend to play the cello and share my love of music for as long as I live.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road or a straight line by any stretch of the imagination– but that has made the journey all the more meaningful and rewarding. I strongly believe I am among the luckiest people on earth and my life has been a series of blessings that led me to where I am today. The struggles and challenges I face daily are no different than those anyone would face pursuing a career in healthcare and trying to make a meaningful impact on our world. Trying to be everywhere at once, trying to do more, to do better, is a feeling many people can relate to; perhaps a personality flaw of the over-achiever types. I have found that a positive attitude and steadfast determination to overcome anything that comes my way is the key that led me to where I am today.
I prioritize spending my time focusing on what I am grateful for and what I want to achieve in the future all while being surrounded by people I love and care deeply about. I believe what we focus on grows, so I tend to move on from setbacks and hardships quickly enough to not slow me down towards my goals and ambitions to do good.
One such example is when my brother and I were invited back on America’s Got Talent as “All-Stars” after finishing Season 9 as Finalists. After delivering what my brother and I felt was a lively performance and receiving a standing ovation from the entire audience, Simon Cowell attempted to take personal jabs and mocked our decision to pursue a career in dentistry, something that has been a part of my family legacy for multiple generations. While it wasn’t the reaction I had hoped for or anticipated, it would be foolish to allow the opinion of a man who doesn’t understand my dream to affect me. Moving on from that one took a bit more time due to the public nature of it, but I certainly wasn’t going to allow it to affect my life trajectory.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a cellist and prosthodontist in training. I am most known for my music, but that is changing with how much time I have devoted to pursuing prosthodontics. I am most proud of one specific moment involving my grandpa that occurred when my brother and I auditioned in front of the judges on America’s Got Talent in 2014. Before that, we had played in front of small groups, libraries, and local events, but this was different. I will never forget that rush of playing in front of the packed hall with thousands of people cheering. As we hit the last chord, the judges stood to their feet as did every person in the hall. It would be an overwhelming feeling for anyone, let alone a 13-year-old boy who has never played in front of more than a few hundred people. But all of that paled in comparison to the feeling of joy I felt looking over at my grandpa, standing in the wings next to Nick Cannon, with tears of pride filling his eyes. That is a moment I will never forget.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
My hope is that hearing my story will inspire someone to pursue their dreams, without feeling the need to fit perfectly inside a box. I used to think some people are better at thinking outside the box until I discovered there never was a box.
I make myself available on social media and am constantly responding to messages students send me that are pursuing an “outside the box” path, which is one of the most heart-warming parts of my day. If anyone wants to find me on social media, my personal instagram is @darielcello.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emilanddariel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darielcello/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/theliakhovetskibros
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/emilanddariel/
