Concert in Brochow - the church where Chopin was baptized.

Yesterday, Sunday, July 31st,  I had the honor of playing on a recital series that has been hosted by the Chopin Society of Warsaw for the last nine years.  Every Sunday at 1:15 during the months of July and August, there is a recital held just after the church service.  Yesterday was warm and beautiful as we headed west out of Warsaw for a beautiful one-hour drive into the country.  On the way, you drive right through the small town of Zelazowa Wola, which is where Chopin spent the early months of his life before the family moved to Warsaw.  It always surprises me how much of a connection I feel when I visit places where Chopin lived here in Poland, and I know that many people feel this way.  But, I couldn't help but wonder what my Grandfather (who was born fairly close by in the town of Zyrardow) would have thought of me being here and playing this concert!  

It was a pleasure for me to play for all ages in the beautiful Basilica of St. John.  Of course I played Chopin, but I also played Gershwin (which seemed to be particularly well-recieved), as well as my arrangement of "Amazing Grace," set as a medley of Celtic tunes, dedicated to my Dad, who loved everything Scots.  I thank Jerzy Ossowski and The Chopin Society for this opportunity to play in such a beautiful setting! Click on the picture to see more photos...

AMERICAN CORNER RADOM

One of my favorite types of performances is a presentation that can reach a multi-generational audience.  Last Thursday, July 28, at the American Corner in Radom, I was pleased to present such an event.  It was called Heart and Soul:  Chopin Meets the Beatles - and was about how Chopin's music influenced The Beatles and how The Beatles so greatly influenced American music and culture.  Thanks to the wonderful coordinator of the American Corner, Karolina Adamczyk, a friendly and relaxed atmosphere was created for everyone there --- town's people, small children, and guests from the American Embassy in Warsaw.  The efforts by the Embassy and U.S. Department of State in Poland to bring American and Polish people together, especially through culture, are wonderful and I am so happy to be a part of that.  

REFLECTIONS ON A BEAUTIFUL CONCERT EXPERIENCE IN POZNAN at UAM!

Thanks to the generosity and creativity of Katarzyna Dziubalska-Kolaczyk, Dean of the Faculty of English Studies, Stan Breckenridge and I were able to present A Musical Journey Of America for a highly enthusiastic audience on June 27 at the Opera House in Poznan.  Poznan is a great city with many universities, but Adam Miczkiewicz University has the distinction of being the most prestigious, with the School of English being the largest center of English studies in Poland and all Europe.  I would like to thank Dean Dziubalska-Kolaczyk and her staff for their wonderful hospitality and for creating such a magical evening.  Here is an excerpt of the review of the concert (translated ) from an UAM publication, plus photos.

MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH AMERICA - CONCERT FOR WORKERS, STUDENTS FRIENDS and FACULTY, 06/27/2016

On June 27 an extraordinary Concert was held at the Grand Theatre in Poznan.  It’s moving inspiration was Dr. Katarzyna Dziubalska-Kolaczyk, Dean of the Faculty of English Studies.  The momentous event was organized in order to be able to bring the University Community together to celebrate the end of the first term of office of the Faculty and at the same time start a new period of work for the good of the university.  The premise of the organizers was to combine Faculty, staff, and students from all over the University for “A Musical Journey of America”… The concert was an extremely relevant and happy crowning of the achievements of the past academic year at UAM….many..regretted only that the concert ended after two hours.  The artist [Howland] with great virtuosity conducted listeners for more than two centuries of American music, from religious folk song "Amazing Grace," and with the songs of George Gershwin, a descendant of Russian Jews - such as "Summertime" from the opera "Porgy and Bess…Stan Breckenridge, in turn, focused in the performance of their works on the African roots of music USA.with his characteristic eloquence… Concluding this performance, the musicians once again sat in front of a piano keyboard, performing a series of light music. After the concert Stan Breckenridge and Pamela Howland spent a long time signing CDs in the foyer of the Grand Theatre, taking a deserved congratulations for creating beautiful framing the end of the academic year UAM. Through their art they managed to fill the entire ground floor of the evening Opera House…

JULY 4TH CELEBRATIONS for U.S. DEPT. OF STATE POLAND!

I recently performed three great 4th of July Concert Celebrations in Poland.  What an honor to help the United States celebrate Fourth of July in Poland by performing "A Musical Journey of America" with Stan Breckenridge.  We have had the pleasure so far of performing about 200 years worth of diverse American music (from folksongs and spirituals, to ragtime, blues, swing, jazz, cool and pop) for 3 Independence Day concerts, featuring SOLO PIANO, DUO PIANO, and VOCAL MUSIC.  The first was in Krakow for the Consulate General's celebration (complete with Blackhawk helicopter) with about 800 guests.  Then, we played on July 4th at the beautiful Pulaski Museum in Warka, and at the Lasnia Center in Radom, for happy and enthusiastic audiences.  Please enjoy this gallery of photos.