Tributes
Guest Artists, Paderewski Festival, Paso Robles
* denotes Gala Concert performers
+ denotes Cultural Exchange Program performers
Note: Gala Concerts began with the expanded Festival schedule in 2008
2006:
Jonathan Plowright, piano
2007:
Joel Pargman, violin; Lars Hoefs, cello; Marek Zebrowski, piano
I feel privileged to have had several opportunities to share my music with the Festival's appreciative audiences. Add to that the serene beauty and warm hospitality of Paso Robles... it's a magical experience all around!
– Joel Pargman (2007 & 2009)
I had the unique privilege of performing at the 2007 Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles with Marek Zebrowski. Our performance of Stojowski's Concertstueck was my first step down a path of discovery, a journey that revealed to me the rich culture, language, and music of Poland. With Mr. Zebrowski I performed music of Stojowski, Paderewski, and Chopin in New York, London, France, Italy, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, at various points across the Ukraine, and most meaningfully, at Paderewski's manor home in Kalsna Dolna, Poland. I am currently professor of music at Sao Paulo State University in Campinas, Brazil, but my interest and enthusiasm for Polish culture continues to glimmer, a spark first lit among the oaks and fueled by the wines of Paso Robles.
Lars Hoefs
2008:
Rudolf Budginas, piano
Midnight Winds Ensemble
Nikita Mndoyants, piano*
Paso Robles is the only place with a community whose ears are as sophisticated as their palates. Midnight Winds performed at the Paso Robles Festival during their 2008 and 2010 seasons, appearing at North County Christian Church, Mission San Miguel, and Pearl Valley Winery & Vineyard. After our rehearsals, our wonderful hosts showed us the city and wineries, including Cass and Pear Valley. We were awed by the simple beauty of Paso Robles and the care the winemakers give to their vines and tanks, a dedication very similar to a musician's devotion to music. We tasted the wines, and they absolutely sing. As part of our visit, we were fortunate to work with the music students of Paso Robles High School. Our teaching and playing was strong because we felt so welcome, and the experience was a delight because everything was expertly arranged by the festival, led by Artistic Director Marek Zebrowski.
– Midnight Winds (2008 and 2010)
It was a great honor for me to be the Gala Artist in Paso Robles in 2008. Paderewski for me is an example of person who was not focused on performing or composing only. He had great will and opportunity to change musical environment and world history. It was great to be in Paso Robles and play for an amazing audience. I was truly impressed! With warmest regards and best wishes for the future of the Festival!
– Nikita Mndoyants (2008)
2009:
Denali String Quartet
William Koseluk, piano
Hubert Rutkowski, piano*
I was very pleased to perform the lesser-known works by Julian Fontana and Ignacy Jan Paderewski in Paso Robles. The audience was really terrific!
– Hubert Rutkowski (2009)
2010:
Marian Michalski, piano+
Barbara Doroszuk, piano+
Paso Robles High School Band with Maestro Santino Galvan
Paso Robles High School Choir with Maestra Mary Schmutz
Krzesimir Dębski, violin/piano
Anna Jurksztowicz, vocals
Jonathan Plowright, piano*
My voyage to California was the farthest I travelled. During the flight I couldn’t wait to see my friends whom I met during the piano master classes in Poland. I was welcomed in Paso with lots of heartfelt hospitality and good will, especially by the McClish and Hamon families. Each day I was enchanted by the beauty of local sights and the discoveries of flora and fauna I haven’t seen before. I was able to personally confirm that California is just as beautiful as the songs and stories about it. My visit was also very emotional because of my participation in the Paderewski Festival. I was honored to perform music by Polish composers for the American public. To get me better prepared for concerts, I had a chance to improve my skills during master classes with Jonathan Plowright and Marek Zebrowski. By participating in the Festival, I also learned much about Paderewski’s life and achievements, and about the fact that he made his homeland famous in Paso Robles. I’m very proud to have been able to see a place that was close to his heart and where Polish music continues to be heard. Being with my American friends was great fun—I saw the Hearst Castle with them, went on a horse ride on a large ranch, and ran on the beach. I experienced many exceptional and entertaining moments that I always recall with pleasure.
– Marian Michalski (2010)
Who would have thought when I dropped in to see Marek Zebrowski at the PMC back in 2004 about the possibility of promoting a concert of Paderewski's music (which I just recorded) that it would lead to the successful revival of this wonderful Festival in 2006. I am so pleased that it has since gone from strength to strength, all thanks to the amazing dedication and hard work of the organisers and their team of willing volunteers. I was honoured to be invited back to give the gala concert during the 150th Anniversary celebrations, this time bringing my wife with me, and we were both treated to some amazing hospitality, including a fantastic vineyard tour in the infamous Cass Cab!! It was a pleasure to perform once again at both the Cass Winery Barrel Room and the fabulous Paso Robles Inn where the Paso audiences were so warm and appreciative.
– Jonathan Plowright (2006 and 2010)
2011:
Cuesta College North Country Chorus with Maestra Cassandra Tarantino
Leszek Możdżer, piano
Eduard Kunz, piano*
The North County Chorus is honored to be re-invited to the 2014 Paderewski Festival to sing on Paderewski’s birthday! Performing for the Paderewski Festival is a part of the goals the chorus has established to share the joy of music with as many people as possible.
– Cassandra Tarantino (2011 and 2014)
2012:
Urszula Barnaś, piano+
Marcin Krysa, piano+
Robert Maciejowski, piano+
Café Musique Ensemble with Brynn Albanese
Igor Lipiński, piano
Kinga Augustyn, violin* and Efi Hackmey, piano*
My impressions of the Festival are very positive, mainly due to great warmth and hospitality our exchange group had experienced. Travel was certainly one of most memorable aspects of our visit—we had the opportunity not only to perform in concerts at the Festival, celebrate Poland’s Independence Day in such an incredible company, but also visit a part of California, which is so different from the Province of Tarnów. I fondly remember the Cass Winery concert, where our welcome was so exceptionally warm. And I still remember all those pictures we took with our American friends, Evan Lin and Madeline Anderson we first met at Paderewski’s manor house in Kąśna Dolna.
– Ula Barnaś (2012)
Travelling to the United States certainly fulfilled one of my dreams. I always wanted to visit the country which has an infectious optimism, a belief in one’s own potential, and gives such chances to young and talented individuals. Were it not for Ignacy Jan Paderewski, this journey would have been among my unrealized dreams. Thanks to the cooperation between Paso Robles and Kąśna Dolna, together with Ula and Robert I had a chance to visit California, see its beautiful nature and experience American hospitality. For me the most important part of my visit was the ability to share the beauty of music with the dynamic California audiences. I had a chance to present works by two great Polish composers, Chopin and Paderewski. It gave me a great satisfaction to feel that our concerts were so warmly received. I hope that this journey was but a beginning of my artistic adventures in the United States and that I can someday return to Paso Robles.
– Marcin Krysa (2012)
I loved performing at the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles! Everything was beautifully organized, the audience curious and appreciative. I met many nice people, too, which overall made it a great experience and a real treat to have been a part of this fine Festival. I can't wait to be back!
– Kinga Augustyn (2012)
2013:
Panic Duo—Pasha Tseitlin, violin and Nic Gerpe, piano
Krzesimir Dębski, violin/piano, Anna Jurksztowicz, vocals, Larry Koonse, guitar, and Darek Oleszkiewicz, bass
Karol Radziwonowicz, piano*
The Paderewski Festival was a one-of-a-kind experience, and I greatly enjoyed my time there. It was an absolute pleasure to perform for such a warm, enthusiastic and welcoming audience in such an incredibly gorgeous setting! Steve and Alice were wonderful and generous hosts and I thank them for opening their home to us. I look forward to my next trip there!
– Nic Gerpe (2013)
I remember the nice scenic drive up Hwy 101 to what seemed like the center of a nice, small, quaint town, called Paso Robles. I don't know if it was really a big city, it just seemed that that part of town was really nice! But it was really nice that we played music that people listened to! I love playing music for people who have Big Ears. Let's do it again!
– Munyungo Jackson (2013)
It's hard to imagine a better marriage of wine, scenery, and creative music than what is offered at the Paderewski Festival. To feel the warm embrace and intention of an audience that really understands the transformative nature of music is a rare thing indeed.
– Larry Koonse (2013)
We think of the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles with great pride. Although we performed there only twice—in 2010 and 2013—we often reminisce about this place and tell our musician friends and music lovers about the idea for the Festival, about the charm of this small town and its surroundings, about the magnificent hospitality, wine cultivation and about the spirit of our distinguished compatriot who spent so much of his time there. We now truly are self-appointed ambassadors for Paso Robles and for the Paderewski Festival.
– Anna Jurksztowicz & Krzesimir Dębski (2010 and 2013)
The time spent in Paso Robles left an unforgettable impression. The Cass family, the Festival and the kids—I’ve learned a lot from everybody. What is even more important in our lives as musicians is to “help others” which was foremost in my mind as I was in Paso and as I talked to everyone there. I’m so happy that I met you in my life. Thanks to everyone!
- Zheeyoung Moon, Gala Artist (2014)
