Journey to South America, Part I

Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina! All is going well here - plenty of adventures while traveling but that's what it's all about, right? Amazing what a sense of humor, communicating through gestures (and Google Translate), embracing flexibility, smiling with your eyes and soul, and learning to be vulnerable (even when it's scary and you're a compulsive over-thinker/planner) can do! 

It has been a while since I've had a less regimented trip/tour like this, and I'm reminded that it's very humbling to be in the situation of not knowing a language and culture, or having the independence to figure things out with ease (no private car, and no internet access on my phone except when I have wifi access). It's not always easy (spent 2 hours trying to get a public transit card today!) but once you embrace the process of learning, your brain starts to awaken to what it means to learn new skills... and maybe a few new words. 

As always, I enjoy learning about the people, history, culture, and food, and there is much to absorb here. A highlight? Argentina is now in the finals of the FIFA World Cup. On my flight from JFK to Buenos Aires the entire aircraft (including a pilot) was watching the game at the gate. I swear they delayed our flight specifically so that they could continue to watch it. When the first goal was scored for Argentina, the cheers had so much resonance, I could feel the vibrations. When we were on the plane, waiting (and watching) another goal was scored, and the entire plane broke out into... song. What an interesting thing - to have sports AND music unite strangers together. Mid-flight, the pilot announced Argentina's victory, and again, after a round of applause, strangers singing together.

My mother and I have had one performance and a masterclass so far (more to come this weekend), and we are delighted to have this opportunity. It is also very special for me to spend time with my parents for this journey.

One quick story: yesterday, we were walking on a street and saw a music store. My Dad insisted that we go in. Those of you who have met him know that he has a strong personality, so it would be futile to disagree (not worth the effort!) and I figured that it's always interesting to see instruments. I spotted a row of electric pianos by Yamaha, Kawai, Korg, and Roland, and proceeded to try them (a chromatic scale on each to try their weight and tone). A sales associate came over to help and I explained that I was just curious to try them - he pointed me in the direction of the one that he considered the best, and so I walked over to give it a try. I tried a couple pieces and then thought I'd enjoy sharing a holiday favorite: George Winston's version of Carol of the Bells (which a few of my high school and adult students have played - Norwood and Manon are playing it this year!). As I played, a woman came closer and stood by me. When I finished, I looked up and she had tears streaming down her face. She didn't speak English at all and my Spanish (despite trying to cram in the few days here, lol) is pretty much nonexistent, so we used Google Translate. She shared with me that this musical performance was magical and meant so much to her. I thought of one more quick piece I could play, and selected "Adventure of the Planets" (a few of you have played this one as well!). I shared with her only the title and told her that it is my gift to her. I didn't dare look up until the end. At this point, she was sobbing. She asked for my phone. A moment later and it was returned to me with the text: "Hoy el universo me regalo parte de tu arte y estoy tan agradecida." ("Today the universe gave me part of your art and I am so grateful"). 

We are so lucky to pursue, share, explore, and live something so special. I am grateful to be part of each of your musical journeys, and I am grateful for your support as I continue to pursue mine!

With best wishes, greetings, and much love,

Elizabeth

Lithuania 2022

​PRESS RELEASE - August 30, 2022

Members of the acclaimed ensemble, The American Virtuosi, were invited as featured guests of the Alytus (2022 Cultural Capital of Lithuania) summer festivities. From August 23-28, 2022, they served as musical ambassadors through concerts as well as their work with young Lithuanian musicians in masterclasses, workshops, rehearsals, and collaborative performances.

Lauded as “American Virtuosi” by international media during their tours spanning over 35 countries, this family ensemble consisting of siblings Emmanuel Borowsky (violin), Frances Borowsky (cello), and Elizabeth Borowsky (piano) has been praised for taking their top-notch classical performances not only to renowned venues but also to audiences far off the beaten path. Their passionate musical performances have been celebrated as transformative experiences that reach the emotional core of listeners.

“At the final concert of the 2022 Veliuona Summer Music Festival, youth of two countries and two continents performed music together, sending a message of peace to the world. The concert was titled, “Music: the Best Bridge For All People,” and presented by the American Virtuosi/Borowsky from the USA together with the Alytus Svajone Orchestra. Not a single person in the audience was left unmoved.”

— -Veliuonos Kulturos Centras

“I was fascinated and moved to tears. This was truly an amazing concert. Thank you.
Virginija Valatkienė, audience”

— Virginija Valatkienė, audience

“
This was a performance of the highest level, with great technique, and on top of it all: a humanitarian perspective. So much emotion! They even performed Lithuanian music! Maybe they have Lithuanian blood in their genes?!”

— Danutė Budrytė Samienė, audience

In addition to the musical performances, Dr. Charles Borowsky, father to the three musicians and a successful sociologist who has used music as a tool in international relations, offered lectures on “Music in the Age of Globalization” and “Music: The Best Bridge for All People.” 
​
Highlights included:

• Diplomatic meetings with government officials including the Deputy Mayor of Alytus (Ms. Jurgita Šukevičienė)

• Meetings with representatives of Lithuanian educational and social programs, including Ms. Gabriele Dambauskaite, Director of the Alytus School of Music

• Interview with Liudas Ramanauskas on Radio Stotis, FM99 in Alytus

• Masterclasses for students from the Alytus School of Music, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre

• Rehearsals and performances with Orchestra Svajone, directed by Ms. Daiva Martikonyte and conducted by Maestro Vytautas Kiminius

• Performances at the Alytus Cultural Center, Alytus Synagogue, and Veliuona Summer Music Festival

The American Virtuosi performed works by known classical composers but also incorporated works by Lithuanian composers Balys Dvarionas and Giedrius Kuprevičius.

They also performed several of their original programmatic compositions: Martin’s Journey, HARDY, and In Memoriam. 

​In Memoriam was composed by Elizabeth, Emmanuel, and Frances Borowsky and first premiered in Kaunas, Lithuania on June 14, 2013 - a national holiday called, "The Day of Mourning and Hope" - at the foremost Lithuanian music festival, under the patronage of the President of Lithuania. It was  then performed throughout Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. This composition, which includes arrangements of symbolic songs associated with the history of Lithuania in the 20th century, was acknowledged as an expressive and powerful work.

Perhaps due to Lithuania's relatively recent independence (March 11, 1990),  the currently fragile relationships with neighbors nations (Belarus and Russia), and current events in Ukraine, the American Virtuosi's performances clearly struck a chord, as audiences spontaneously stood up, holding hands and singing along to the melody “Wake Up Baltics” that was incorporated into the third movement of In Memoriam, symbolizing a cry for freedom, peace, and unity.

At the conclusion the final performance in the Alutus Cultural Center, The American Virtuosi joined Orchestra Svajone in a side-by-side performance of the Allegretto from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, as well as “Wild Dances” by Ukrainian singer, Eurovision and World Music Award winning artist, Ruslana (see video excerpt HERE). This cooperation was the capstone on a week of intense musical and personal collaborations. 

“The entire symphony is very happy to have met you and experienced the best week in their life!!!
When we played together, we felt powerful and in fact, invincible!”
Gabija Gudeliauskaite, violinist in Alytus Svajone Orchestra

“I definitely hope that we’ll get to play with you all again, because it was an amazing experience and definitely one of the best weeks of my life!
Aušra Kazakevičiūtė, violinist in Alytus Svajone Orchestra

“We will hold impressions of these powerful concerts and brilliant performers for a long time. We don’t want to go back to normal life.”
Daiva Martikonytė, Director of Alytus Svajone Orchestra

Videos:
Frances Borowsky performs Max Bruch's Kol Nidrei at the Vasaros Music Festival

Frances Borowsky performs Max Bruch's Kol Nidrei at the Alytus Cultural Center

Elizabeth Borowsky performs Frederic Chopin's Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22 at the Vasaros Music Festival

​Elizabeth Borowsky performs Frederic Chopin's Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22 at Alytus Cultural Center

The Nature of Life: Sheet Music

Available for instant download HERE!

This new song cycle has been inspired by the beauty of the New England landscapes: the mountains, the valleys, the lakes, the night skies, and the countless trails to travel between them. Although modern life is undeniably hectic (and no one can truly and permanently escape the questions and challenges life brings), there is a certain reassurance in the serenity and peace that nature provides. We are reminded that the human experience is largely unchanged, even by technology, and that some of the same thoughts, feelings, doubts, hopes, and dreams have been woven into the lives of people regardless of when or where they lived. We experience strength and perspective from the tops of mountains, a sense of community in the valleys, endless possibilities as we peer into the night skies, and a renewed sense of self as we navigate paths and trails, learning to follow the signs but also trust our instincts. New Hampshire has been my home since 2015, and this cycle is proudly written for the New Hampshire Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association. For these songs, I selected texts by New England poets historic and contemporary, and specifically poems that reflect the relationship between nature and life.

World Premiere of “The Nature of Life”

I was thrilled to partner with my friend, the amazing singer Jessica Deskin, to premiere my song cycle “The Nature of Life.” This work was a joint commission by the Music Teachers National Association and the New Hampshire Music Teachers Association

This work reflects so much of my own personal journey over the past couple of years: pondering existential questions, emjoying the inspiration provided by exploring my natural surroundings, and perusing musical genres outside of the classical sphere.

For this work, I was especially excited to work with Jessica as she has explored a multitude of styles (from classical and jazz, to country and pop). As I had hoped, she brought so many beautiful colors and nuances to her interpretation (listen below!).

The world premiere performance took place at the Music Teachers National Association "Quad State Conference" in Saco, Maine on October 2 (video below). That evening, we performed a recital in Lebanon, NH under the auspices of Classicopia.

Life: An Impromptu (part 2)

A few weeks ago Mr. Smith contacted me to let me know he is losing his battle with lymphoma. He expressed his last wish for the composition: could I arrange for it to be published? I put this project on the top of my to-do list and contacted my friends at Mercersburg Printing.

On March 20, I brought the first copy to him at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. When I entered his room I stopped in my tracks -- he lay there motionless with his mouth agape and eyes half-open. My heart dropped and for a moment I truly thought I was too late. A nurse in the room noticed my reaction and said, "Don't worry - he's just sleeping." She called out to him to wake him and announce that he had a visitor. He opened his eyes and I placed the music in his hands. He immediately perked up. He thumbed through the score, giving his approval. He asked that I make one correction: change his name from Robert to Dick, as this is how his friends know him. While we talked about life and music, and he told me jokes (“Name three cars that start with P”). He introduced me to a few nurses and doctors, and I was astounded that each one already knew who I am.

Over the next couple weeks I visited and spoke with him on the phone a few more times. I invited him to attend a couple performances so that he could hear the final edits that I had made to the music. However, he was released from the hospital the day before the performances and went to his daughter’s home in Southern Maryland.

On Monday, April 1, I got a call from Mr. Smith's son-in-law, Jack, informing me that he had been admitted to the ICU at Civista Hospital in LaPlata. They found blood clots in his legs, his heart was filling with fluid, and he was at risk for renal failure. Jack told me that if it's at all possible for me to visit, it would be much appreciated. 

In the morning I packed the revised music with me (I had picked it up from Mercersburg on Good Friday), as well as my electric piano, hoping to play for him one more time. I also really wanted to obtain his official approval on my edits (I had added a section to the middle of the piece, and opted for a more optimistic ending). En route, I got a call from Jack. He asked me if I had received his voicemail that he left earlier that morning (I had not). My heart dropped as I waited for him to continue. He said, “It’s very nice of you to think of bringing the piano but the ICU is a very carefully controlled area of the hospital and they will likely not allow it.” I was very disappointed to hear this but told him that if nothing else, I would come just as a visitor.

I took the elevator to the third floor and found my way to see Mr. Smith. He lay quietly in his bed, his now-fragile 6-foot frame seeming very diminutive on the hospital bed. He had once been the weightlifting champion of Maryland! I reached for his hand and he spoke softly, in short segments. He told me that he appreciated my coming by to see him, but, "It's so hard. I don't want to go on like this." I told him that I brought a piano with me and asked if he wanted me to play for him. The bed was in the middle of the room and there was enough space by the windows to set up the keyboard in a way that there would still be access to him and the various instruments attached to him, if needed. He perked up and I told him that I would ask. I gingerly approached the ICU desk, and, without much introduction, inquired if I might be able to bring an electric piano up to play for Mr. Smith. Not only was I given the go-ahead (and one nurse promptly re-positioned his bed so that he could have a better perspective), but the staff actually requested that we keep the door to his room open so that other patients could hear the music! On the way to retrieve the piano from my car I met his daughters and their husbands and I shared the good news with them.

As I played Life: An Impromptu, Mr. Smith moved his fingers to the music. When I finished, he smiled and said "it's beautiful." For the next couple hours I played his favorite classical and jazz pieces: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Habanera from Carmen, Bach's Prelude in C, Fur Elise, Pachelbel's Canon... In a Sentimental Mood, Cheek to Cheek, Body and Soul, and April in Paris. A lot of tears were shed as I played through these familiar tunes. After I played Meditation from Thais he asked me if I would play it at his memorial service.

During the visit, I experienced satisfaction in having been able to fulfill his lifelong dream and being able to provide comfort (or at least, a distraction from his pain) through music. But it was hard to leave knowing that I will likely not see him alive again. How does one say "goodbye" in full acknowledgment that it is a final salutation, and yet convey positiveness and hope? I shared with him how much I've learned from him - his love of music, his persistence and his perseverance in working towards his dream, and his faith.

I parted by promising him that I would share his music and story with as many people as I could, and that his music would be enjoyed by generations to come.

UPDATE (April 6, 2013): RIP, Dick Smith.