Acknowledgements
I would like to mention a few people who have helped me along my path, to whom I am indebted, and without whom Free Gig Music would have never been possible.
First of all, I would like to acknowledge all of my teachers, both in violin and composition, for everything they taught me about music, as well as their endless patience and committment: my mother, Dorota Sobieska, who was my first teacher; Professor Janina Jarzebska at the Grazyna Bacewicz School of Music; Miss Helen Richards and Dr. Richard Franks at the Cleveland Music School Settlement; Stephen Majeske; Michal Sobieski; Piotr Milewski, Darrell Handel, and Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; and my current teacher, violinist Hristo Popov.
In addition, I would like to extend my gratitude to several conductors with whom I had the good fortune to cross paths: Christopher Zimmerman; Ken Woods; and Dr. Frank Wiley at Kent State University. Their thoughtfulness and artistry is to me a continual source of inspiration, and it was in their orchestras that I first learned to listen for instruments other than the violins!
On a special note, I would like to thank my middle school string orchestra teacher, Mary Kay Pieski, for her hard work, incredible dedication, and ability to understand and employ music as a means to make the world a better place, as well as cellist Lindsay Taylor Brown, my die-hard gig companion, with whom I cut my teeth on the gig music scene here in northeastern Ohio.
I would be remiss not to aknowlege my web host, DreamHost. These guys are the best of the best! If you are looking for hosting, they are the way to go, hands down.
Furthermore, this site would never have been possible were it not for all the experience I gain as a musician and as a human being when granted the opportunity to work with my family's opera company.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my family—my parents, my brother and sister, my aunts, uncles, and my grandparents—for all their love, wisdom, and support: musical and otherwise! And to send a shout-out to my great-great-grandfather who worked as an organist during the 19th century in Fordon, Poland, and started it all.
My deepest gratitude to all of you,
Wanda