Skowronski Still A Class Act
Kenosha native hearing raves for his classical music CDs
Skowronski Still A Class Act
Kenosha native hearing raves for his classical music CDs
Kenosha native Vincent P. Skowronski knows how to stretch out a career in classical music. It doesn't hurt him that he is an extraordinarily talented violinist, that he's become an expert in self-promotion and that he manages to get glowing reviews with virtually every new recording.
Recently the Daily Herald (Chicago) wrote about his newest CD, Avec et Sans: "Skowronski once again provides evidence with his new CD that a violin in the hands of a master musician can provide an aura of magical music. So it is no surprise that Skowronski's technical mastery of the instrument along with his often mystical ability to communicate gleam forth from these performances...." And that's just a Chicago newspaper review.
In AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE, one of the few American magazines publishing reviews of classical music, Skowronski's new release was highly praised: "Skowronski has a firmer grasp of Eugene Ysaye's elusive idiom than most of the violinists that I (ARG reviewer) have heard perform this work" (Sonata No.1 for Solo Violin in G Minor) ......(Same reviewer) "And Skowronski's performance of Sergei Prokofieff's Sonata in D Major for Solo Violin is revelatory."
Skowronski began performing on the violin as a child, representing the United States at the IV International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1970, and has had a long, distinguished career as a concert violinist and teacher. Other honors include his biography being listed in such prestigious directories as "Who's Who in the World," "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in Entertainment," and "International Man of the Year."
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 Vincent P. Skowronski
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In a recent telephone interview from his home in Evanston, IL, Skowronski said that any publicity these days -- particularly good reviews -- is a treasure for a classical recording artist.
"All the major periodicals in the '60s, '70s and '80s are gone," he noted. "The entire focus of classical music has shifted in the past 20 or so years from American artists to European artists." Skowronski, who was born in Kenosha and spent his summers here growing up, said he saw the writing on the wall a long time ago. "I began putting my performances 'in-the-can' years ago and holding them for release until I retired. I still work as a producer and teacher, but I have retired from performing." Because of his careful planning, he said, he can release CDs for the next several years, thus extending his career. He produces CDs in Evanston and sells them almost solely on the Internet. "That is where I am moving these days," he said. "Just like the magazines, the classical record stores are gone as well." But over the Internet he can sell his CDs globally. "I get orders from the most bizarre places, like an obscure town in Wyoming. Or Provo, Utah. Who in Provo wants to listen to Skowronski play?" Not that he minds. "It's nice to know they want to hear my work. I get a lot of requests from Japan, Korea and Russia. There is still a classical music culture there." Most of his sales, of course, are from the U.S. |
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Currently, Skowronski is planning on enlarging his private teaching studio. "I deliberately stayed out of institutional teaching in order to maintain my independence," he said. "In private teaching you have complete control over whom you choose to teach."
He tells his students that while a life creating classical music can be fulfilling, today they need to think about other sources of income besides music.
"There are just not the openings, the positions available today," he said.
"Even the symphonies are not doing well. We have a lot of people with the credentials, but we don't have enough room in the orchestras."
Luckily, he said, he made it under the wire.
"Years ago I was the only kid with a violin case," he said about his early years. "Fortunately, I had talent. To me, it wasn't a matter of making money, it was a matter of making music."
He feels lucky he has a treasure trove of his music made during the time he was at his peak.
"I don't perform anymore because there are physical things that are not what they used to be," he explained.
"I don't want to wind up like Muhammad Ali having to fight when I was way past my prime."
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