Featured Performance
at the Polish American Arts Association / Polish Embassy Wigilia Dinner
December
14, 2002
Patricia Wnek – Star In The
Making
by Dr. Estelle von
Wachtel-Torres
PAAA Newsletter Nov-Dec 2002
If you haven’t had occasion to see and hear Patricia Wnek in concert, then we have a delightful surprise in store for you. The PAAA has invited the young artist for a solo appearance in a program selected for the Wigilia Celebration at the Polish Embassy in Washington. Dr. Wanda O’Brien will accompany her at the piano. The Polish American Arts Association of Washington DC is hosting its Third Annual Christmas Event at the Embassy on Saturday December 14th, 2002. The festivities will commence at 6pm. There will be the traditional sharing of the Blessed Oplatek, a sit down buffet dinner of Polish Christmas dishes prepared by Chef Zadrozny’s staff, Polish and English Christmas caroling, and the performance of our featured guest on her treasured, century old Grandjon violin. She will play Romance and Obertass-Mazurka by Wieniawski and Nocturne in C sharp minor by Chopin.
More about Patricia Wnek. She is a 10 year old violin student of Seljuk Kardan in the Preparatory Division of Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University. Her musical heritage stems from her mother, Agnieszka Wnek, a graduate herself of Peabody Conservatory with classical training in voice. When as a toddler Patricia attended her first violin recital, she became so enchanted with the instrument that there was no choice but to enroll the precious four year old at the Hosford School of Music in Gaithersburg, MD. At six years, she was transferred to the Peabody Prep for its certificate program which offered theoretical studies and required annual examinations.
While her private violin lessons continued, Patricia became involved with the Peabody Prep Chamber Music Program and was accepted into the Peabody Prep Violin Choir. The latter is a premier group which represents the Conservatory in outreach concerts and special events throughout the US. With this experience, Patricia has acquired an impressive classical repertoire and has performed as a soloist in over 50 recitals throughout the Washington-Baltimore-Philadelphia area. Her engagements for the 2003 season include a debut with the Trinity Chamber Orchestra of Washington at Historic Trinity Theater in Georgetown on March 23rd.
Woven into the fabric of her very full life, are ballet lessons, piano lessons and home schooling taught by both her Mom and Dad, Dr. Janusz Wnek, a computer scientist. Her two brothers, eight-year-old Paul and seven-year-old Matthew, as bright as their big sister are also benefiting from the attentive care their devoted parents bestow on them. They, too, are promising students of piano at Peabody Preparatory. The two storied Wnek home in Germantown with pianos and violins on all floors resonates with music! Yet this gifted family of esoteric tastes manages to tune into such frolicsome activities as biking, swimming, horseback riding or ice-skating.
Plan to hear the rapturous music of Patricia Wnek, meet her lovely family and enjoy Polish Traditions on Dec 14th at the PAAA Wigilia Celebration at the Embassy.
Comments following the performance (based on the Newsletter by PAAA of Washington, DC, Jan-Feb 2003)
“The highlights [of Polish Wigilia] included Patricia Wnek, a 10 year old violin student who gave a most enjoyable recital.” Henry S. Czauski, President PAAA
“Ten year old violinist, Patricia Wnek, won a standing ovation from our audience following her renditions of Chopin’s Nocturne in C# minor and Wieniawski’s Concerto and Mazurka. We hope to sponsor her in a concert in the near future.” Dr. Estelle von Wachtel-Torres, 1st Vice President PAAA
“Our ears could not believe what our eyes saw when 10-year-old Patrycja started playing the violin while Dr. Wanda O’Brien accompanied her on the piano. The violin in the hands of this 10-year-old virtuoso was remarkable, outstanding, unbelievable, and inspiring. Enough cannot be said about this wonderful Polish girl.” Sharon Moseley, Chair PAAA Wigilia