Chat Details

National Philharmonic's Piotr Gajewski 01-06-09

This chat will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.

Read the transcript of the live chat with Piotr Gajewski, music director and conductor of the National Philharmonic, who joined us on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

Transcript

1. • The Washington Times is pleased to welcome for a live chat Piotr Gajewski, music director and conductor of the National Philharmonic, for a live chat. Good morning, Mr. Gajewski. Thank you for being with us today. by Jilly Badanes
   • Answer: Good morning. Great to be here... by
2. • How did the Philharmonic become situated at Strathmore? by Bethesda, Md.
   • Answer: National Philharmonic was a resident group from the day Strathmore opened (indeed we even played some children's concerts before the official opening). by
3. • How did you come to be in this country from your native Poland? by Chevy Chase, Maryland
   • Answer: I came with my parents when I was 10 (first settled in the Boston area). by
4. • What is your favorite piece of music? by Washington, D.C.
   • Answer: It's whatever I am working on. This morning I am studying Strauss' Death and Transfiguration which I will conduct this Saturday and Sunday at Strathmore. by
5. • How did you decide to become a conductor? by District of Columbia
   • Answer: It was a long process. I thought about it when I was 15 or 16. I conducted several musicals in high school. Then I got more serious about it, but had concerns about making a living in music. And then, it worked out and I never looked back! by
6. • From where did you receive your training? by Washington, DC
   • Answer: Most of my musical training at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music and then at Tanglewood where I studied with Leonard Bernstein and other conductors. by
7. • What is a good starting point for classical music? by Washington, DC
   • Answer: Not sure what you mean... ...in terms of enjoying it? Come to one of my concerts this weekend at Strathmore, we are playing all very popular music (even if you don't know the titles, you will know the music)... But seriously: just start listening! by
8. • How many performances do you participate in each year and what is your travel schedule like? by Washington, DC
   • Answer: I conduct about thirty concerts per year. It seems more and more each year. In addition to National Philharmonic, I conduct a lot in Poland. But generally I don't like to travel too much (like being close to my kids). by
9. • When and how did you first discover your interest in (classical) music? by Rockville, MD
   • Answer: There was a piano in our house. My dad used to try to play a little. So I tried to play what he played. Then I also listened to records with him. And then at four, I started taking piano lessons. by
10. • What inspired you to become a conductor? by Rockville, MD
    • Answer: ...just listening to music, and wanting to know how it all fits together... by
11. • Growing up, was your family musical? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: Both my parents played a little piano (but not very well - sry dad). My grandfathers were both very fine pianists, I understand, but I never got yo hear either play. by
12. • Maestro Gajewsky, You have two degrees, one in music and the other in law. Do you consider yourself first and foremost a musician, or a politician? Do you want people to know you as a famous music director, or an (in)famous politician? And for you, which role is more exciting? And why? Do you love all aspects of music and politics, or there are some aspects you do not care about? Can you please elaborate? by Germantown, MD
    • Answer: This is a long one... I am definitely first a musician. I am a late bloomer as far as law school. (I am class of 1999.) It was really an intellectual pursuit for me. As far as politics: I was elected (almost exactly a year ago) as a Rockville City Councilmember. In Rockville this is a semi-volunteer position. I do not see my political "career" taking me anywhere beyond Rockville. I do enjoy both music and politics. They are very different, but both have to do with leading people (speaking of conducting), so in some ways they are the same. by
13. • I know that the National Philharmonic offers FREE tickets to all children under 17. I think it is a great policy. Can you talk a little bit about the program and where the idea came from? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: I think that the first person to suggest it was a National Philharmonic violist (and friend) Judy Silverman. The more I thought about it, the more I liked it. It is so hard for kids to hear live performances when even low priced tickets start at $29 (and most are closer to $60). by
14. • What do you consider to be the greatest performance since your time with the National Philharmonic? by Washington, D.C.
    • Answer: That's a tough one (and perhaps not for me to judge). I tend to always look forward, not back. This weekend I will be conducting some of my favorite (and in many ways most familiar) music. Maybe we can create some magic... by
15. • How would you advise parents of budding musicians? by Washington, D.C.
    • Answer: Find the very best teachers and fine instruments (so that there is always a possibility of hearing a fine sound). And try to figure out whether the music is just "for fun" or whether it is a possible profession. Pursuing music professionally requires a tremendous amount of dedication (and is expensive too!). Is that specific enough? by
16. • What makes the National Philharmonic Orchestra unique? by Washington, D.C.
    • Answer: So many different things on so many different levels… It is the only major local ensemble based at Strathmore, so that to some extent Strathmore defines the National Philharmonic and National Philharmonic defines Strathmore. The National Philharmonic is committed to serving the Washington community. The Philharmonic does a lot of outreach and plays for close to 25,000 young people each year. The Philharmonic is also very responsive to its audience. Here is a challenge – tell me what would you like to hear? I will try to program it (if feasible) within the next two years. THAT’s how responsive the National Philharmonic can be. by
17. • How do you balance your time between the orchestra, teaching, and the Rockville City Council? by Washington, D.C.
    • Answer: I actually don’t really teach anymore (occasionally a private conducting student). National Philharmonic and other music engagements are my work and my career. The City of Rockville position is a semi-volunteer position. In terms of the work for the City: sometimes the load is very heavy and sometimes not at all. We have a great professional staff that runs the City. Mayor and Council basically just set policy direction. by
18. • How did you decide to start the National Philharmonic? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: I was young and foolish! I was auditioning for various conducting positions but was quite impatient and wanted to do my own thing. What I started was the Montgomery Chamber Orchestra which then became the National Chamber Orchestra which then merged with the Masterworks Chorus and became the National Philharmonic when Strathmore opened. by
19. • Do you prefer teaching or conducting? Or do the two have similar qualities? by District of Columbia
    • Answer: I actually like teaching very much (but don’t really do it any more – see above). Nothing beats conducting, though. What I like the most is the luxury of being able to hear the great music exactly the way I want to hear it. I can't think of anything cooler than that. And, of course, I hope that how I want to hear the music is what will move those who are listening to the performance. by
20. • Did your parents always support your decision to go into the music profession? by Washington, D.C.
    • Answer: Well, they didn’t NOT support it. I think as responsible parents they wanted to make sure that I would find a way to make a living, and music really IS a long shot. So, they did encourage me to study other things (I also always had many other interests in addition to music). I started out as a math/physics double major. But after two years transferred to a conservatory and took on music (and conducting) full time. The nice thing about THAT choice was that I was at a very expensive private school for the first two years and after that (studying music) I was on full scholarships, so my parents didn’t fight the decision too much! by
21. • Why conducting? Was there something about conducting in particular that made you want to persue it verses studying to be an instrumentalist? by the district
    • Answer: Studying an instrument requires hours and hours wood-shedding in a practice room. It's not terribly stimulating. It just teaching the muscles to do the right thing. That didn't appeal to me so much. Conducting is pretty much all about studying the great music. by
22. • Are there any non-classical musicians you admire? Who is your favorite? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: I confess to not following the pop scene too closely (mostly not enough time), but there is lots of great music being performed/recorded. In general, I feel that the successful artists deserve to be successful… by
23. • Should parents push their children to practice, especially if they see talent? by Washington, D.C.
    • Answer: I am not sure that I would use the word "push." And also, what's the point? I think it's great for kids to develop discipline. And if they love music, parents should encourage them. by
24. • Who is your favorite soloist to perform with besides Brian Ganz? :-) by DC
    • Answer: Oh... so many choices. Cellist Carter Brey is great :-) by
26. • Who is your mentor or who do you look up to? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: I've had many great teachers. Leonard Bernstein, certainly. But also Seiji Ozawa and many others. by
27. • I've been to Strathmore many times, and clearly you've performed in other places. Where did the National Philharmonic perform before Strathmore? How does the Music Center compare to that venue and the others you've played in? by Olney, MD
    • Answer: I LOVE Strathmore as a concert venue. Prior to Strathmore, then National Chamber Orchestra played at the Fitzgerald Theatre in Rockville. by
28. • In addition All Kids Free and the concerts for all Montgomery County 2nd & 5th graders, how do you see the National Philharmonic trying to widen appreciation for concert music? by Bethesda, MD
    • Answer: Lecture demonstration type events are lots of fun for new audiences. I try to include some of this at many of National Philharmonic's regular concerts. by
29. • Mr. Gajewski, we are coming to the end of our chat. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our reader's questions. We hope you will come back sometime soon. Also, on behalf of the Washington Times, we wish you a very happy birthday this weekend! Any final thoughts? by Jilly Badanes
    • Answer: Thanks! This was great fun. I hope to see some of the chatters at one of the concerts this weekend! by