The anticipation was high as the popular Australian musical comedy duo TwoSet Violin geared up for their much-anticipated world tour. Brett Yang and Eddy Chen, the creative minds behind TwoSet Violin, had everything meticulously planned for their series of performances across the United States. However, fate had a different plan when Yang’s US visa application hit a roadblock, throwing a curveball at their tour schedule.
The duo had lined up an exciting lineup of shows in cities like Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles to kick off their tour in July. Both artists applied for an O-1B visa, reserved for individuals with exceptional talent in the arts. While Chen’s application sailed through smoothly, Yang faced a disheartening denial on May 15th, just two months before they were set to take the stage.
In a surprising turn of events, despite submitting what he believed was identical evidence to Chen’s successful application, Yang’s visa request was rejected by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The baffling part? Yang had previously secured US visas for TwoSet Violin’s past world tours without any issues. Their growing prominence prompted them to seek expertise from an agency this time around, leading them to apply under the O-1B category.
“It’s pretty stressful because there are multiple parties involved,”
Yang expressed his frustration.
“It hurts fans quite a lot – people buy tickets, fly to different cities… But we also had orchestras involved and our agency.”
The setback not only caused disappointment among their loyal fanbase but also posed logistical challenges for the orchestras supporting them during the initial leg of their tour.
TwoSet Violin’s journey began back in 2014 when both musicians decided to fuse classical music with humor through YouTube videos. With quirky performances that included hula-hooping while playing violin or donning wigs to mimic legendary musicians – their content resonated with audiences worldwide. Today, boasting millions of subscribers on YouTube and TikTok alike, they have carved out a unique space in the digital realm.
Despite investing substantial funds into legal advice and visa applications exceeding $20,000 for this tour alone – financial losses due to show postponements have taken a toll on TwoSet Violin. The emotional impact transcends monetary concerns as Chen emphasized:
“We’re most sad that we can’t meet our fans… The magic is being able to meet the people who have supported us through our whole journey face-to-face.”
As they navigate uncertainties surrounding Yang’s reapplication process and future tour prospects hanging in limbo – hope remains alive within the duo.
“But we’re quite hopeful… If it doesn’t happen… we could let the fans know,”
shared Yang optimistically about potential outcomes. Amidst setbacks and challenges beyond their control, TwoSet Violin exemplifies resilience as they strive to bring joy through music despite facing unexpected hurdles along the way.
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