NEWSLETTER March 2005 www.chopinatlanta.org Vol. I, No. 1 in June. He or she will also compete Letter from the for the First Prize in Warsaw. Happy Birthday! This year, for the second President Frederick Chopin was born in time, we are hosting the Chopin’s Welcome to the first issue of Life & Work Annual Competition for 1810 in Żelazowa Wola. the Chopin Society of Atlanta Atlanta Youth. Last year more than The exact date of his birth is not Newsletter. 60 students participated. Please look known. According to the register of the March is the month when we for more information on page 2. baptism found in the St. Roch parish celebrate Chopin’s birthday, so it is a Working with the younger house in Brochów, Chopin was born on perfect time to start publishing our generation is especially important for February 22, which was confirmed by his newsletter, which I hope will be a the Chopin Society of Atlanta. We father’s signature. The birth certificate great way to communicate, to inform strongly believe that financial also bears the signatures of his you about our events, and to bring considerations should not be an godparents. Many Chopin’s biographers you interesting facts about Chopin’s obstacle for music students to attend have disputed this date arguing that his music, life and times. a classical music concert. That is family celebrated his birthday on March This year is very special for one of the reasons why we decided 1. Chopin himself gave March 1, 1810, all Chopinophiles - it is the year of to invite all students from North as the date of his birth in his letter to the the Fifteenth Chopin International Fulton County who are interested in Polish Literary Society in Paris of 1833. Piano Competition, which has been music to attend our concerts free of The confirmation of this date can also be held in Warsaw, Poland, every five charge. Our initiative proved to be a found in Justyna Chopin’s letter to her years since 1927. One look at the list great success last year. More than son, dated 1833, and in a letter of of past winners shows that success 100 students used this opportunity to Frederick’s pupil, Jane Sterling. at the Chopin Competition leads to a attend the latest concert. In However, no firm evidence has so far great career on the concert stage: exchange they were asked to write a been able to prove either date. Bela Davidovich and Halina Czerny- report about Chopin’s life. Please The landscape around Żelazowa Stefańska (1949), Adam Harasiewicz read the related article on page 2. It Wola, a little Mazovian village on the (1955), Maurizio Pollini (1960), was all possible thanks to our Utrata River, some 35 miles west of Martha Argerich (1965), Garrick sponsors, whose generosity is Warsaw, is not Ohlsson (1970), Krystian Zimerman greatly appreciated. Thank you very much different (1975), and Yundi Li (2000). Some of much! from what it the participants have even found If you believe it is important looked like in acclaim because, contrary to the that great music should be a part of Chopin’s day. expectations, they lost, such as Ivo every child’s life, without financial It is a flat Pogorelich. We are all eager to learn barriers, your donation will be most country with who the next winner will be! There is welcome. m e a d o w s , a short history of the Chopin I hope that all of you will find aged willows, International Piano Competition on great pleasure in attending our silver birch page 3. concerts and events, and the Board groves and fields, whose coloring is In anticipation of the Fall of Directors and I look forward to especially beautiful in spring and Competition in Warsaw we will seeing you there. summer. The sad weeping willows have present the winner of the National Dorota Lato become a symbol of Chopin’s incurable Chopin Piano Competition in Miami President and Founder nostalgia for his native land which permeates many of his works. Wacław Szymanowski, a Polish sculptor who The Chopin Society of Atlanta was established in December of designed the Chopin monument in 2000. It is a not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting music, culture, and the Łazienki Park in Warsaw, placed the arts in the metropolitan Atlanta, GA, area. Its goal is to generate understanding and figure of the composer under a Mazovian appreciation of Frederick Chopin’s music and its influence on the art of piano perform- willow to symbolize Chopin’s ance, and piano compositions. Additionally, the Chopin Society of Atlanta is dedicated to advancing and promoting young talent in performing Chopin’s music. homesickness. Society members enjoy many exclusive benefits including special evenings Excerpt from Antoni Grudziński’s “Chopin Cult in with the performing artist, first access to event tickets, and discounted tickets. Join Poland.” today online at www.chopinatlanta.org or call 770.663.0620. - 1 - Upcoming Events: Congratulations to the Essay Contest Winners Chopin’s Life & Work April 23, 2005 Second Annual Competition for Atlanta Youth In keeping with our mission statement of promoting music, culture, and Chopin Society of Atlanta, in cooperation with the Polish Saturday School, is the arts in the metropolitan Atlanta, organizing the Second Annual Competition for Atlanta Youth, dedicated to Chopin’s life especially among the young people, an and work. The competition will take place on April 23, 2005, at 10:00 am, at essay contest was held for all students of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Roswell (2400 Old Alabama Road). the North Fulton Music Teachers We invite all children between the ages of 7 and 14 to participate. The Association. Each student was required to competition will be held in English in two age groups, 7-10 and 11-14, and in Polish (one group). For more information, please contact the Chopin Society of Atlanta at write a minimum one-page essay on 770.663.0620 or [email protected]. Chopin’s life. For their efforts, each student The competition will consist of three parts: a written test on Chopin’s life and received a free ticket to the Ilya Itin concert music, a short essay and audio questions concerning Chopin’s work. Awards will be on November 6, 2004, at the Roswell given as follows: First Prize $150 (all groups), Second Prize $50 (all groups). The Cultural Arts Center and the opportunity to deadline for submitting an entry to Chopin Society is April 1, 2005. The winners will be win a gift certificate to Barnes&Noble. Each announced at the Chopin Society’s concert on May 14, 2005. essay was judged by an independent panel, according to age appropriate “Reflections on Chopin” May 14, 2005 7:30 pm criteria, originality, and demonstrated effort in researching deeply into Chopin’s life. Adam Makowicz and Piotr Folkert, piano; John Lemley—host More than 100 of students World-famous Polish pianist, Adam Makowicz, will be performing his jazz participated. This year’s winners are: interpretations of Chopin’s music. Piotr Folkert will perform Chopin pieces in original form. First Place Michael Egan Jim Fuselli of the Wall Street Journal wrote: “Adam Makowicz has been praised Katherine Chew by Benny Goodman, compared with Art Tatum, Erroll Garner and Teddy Wilson, honored Second Place Elizabeth Moore by jazz publications and toasted all over Europe as a genius. Mr. Makowicz’s fiery style, Melissa Creviston firm chording, and rapid, Tatumesque right hand phrasing make him more than Honorary Mention Hannah Gillchrist deserving of the accolades he has received.” Anjana Kallarackal Ann Ker of the State Journal, Springfield, Illinois, wrote: “Piotr Folkert is a stunning virtuoso with a stellar technique. Full of tenderness, passion, joy, sorrow, and Natalie Bohdan singing style that made the music comes to life: Folkert showed the stuff the world-class Anna Moore are made of.” Mathew Egan The concert will be hosted by John Lemley, radio presenter from public radio Students presented details from station WABE, 90.1 FM. Chopin’s life in Poland and France; they Details: St. James United Methodist Church, 4400 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, noted his stormy personal relationships GA 30342. and struggle to make a living : “During day Tickets: $25 Adults, $15 CSA Members (with paid dues for 2005), $15 Seniors/ he taught piano lessons and at night he Students, FREE Students of teachers that belong to North Fulton Music Teachers played concerts” (Melissa Creviston, age Association (excluding adult students) Call 770.663.0620. 7). But most of all, students wrote about Chopin’s music, trying to analyze it and Annual Fundraising Event May 15, 2005 5:00 pm showing great appreciation for his genius: Chopin Society Member Exclusive “When there was war he put his sadness in his music” (Michael Egan, age 7); his Come enjoy a special evening with world-famous Polish pianist, Adam music “shows the spirit and loyalty he felt Makowicz. A great opportunity to make a personal connection with this outstanding artist for his home country” (Katherine Chew, and for the Chopin Society members to get together again. If you would like to contribute age 14); “He may have lived hundreds of an appetizer or dessert, it would be greatly appreciated. Location: 540 Morton Mill Court, years ago, but his music lives Alpharetta, GA. RSVP by May 5 at 770.663.0620. on” (Elizabeth Moore, age 10). All-Chopin Recital June 5, 2005 4:00 pm Thank you to all the music teachers and students for your involvement Winner of the National Chopin Piano Competition in Miami and participation.