Elizabeth Borowsky

Elizabeth Bernadette Borowsky (born August 31, 1983, Baltimore, Maryland USA) is an American pianist. Since her successful debut at the age of seven, she performed concerts and recitals in major concert halls in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and recorded several CDs of solo and chamber music.

Musical Family

Elizabeth hails from a very musical family. Her mother (Cecylia Barczyk) is a cellist and professor and her father (Charles K. H. Borowsky, Ph. D) has used music as a tool in pursuing international relations. She frequently performs together with her brother (violinist Emmanuel Borowsky) and sister (cellist Frances Borowsky). Together, they are called the Young American Virtuosi. In 2004, they were awarded the Erick Friedman Prize for Outstanding Young Musicians and performed a New York debut recital at Carnegie Hall. The entire family performs together as The American Virtuosi.

Education

Elizabeth has been mentored by renowned pianists and teachers including Andrzej Jasinski, Ann Schein, Ward Davenny, Krystian Zimerman, Leon Fleisher, Yonty Solomon, and Arnaldo Cohen. She received her bachelor's degree "summa cum laude" in 2005 from Towson University, having studied under the guidance of Reynaldo Reyes. In 2007, she received her Master's Degree from Indiana University Bloomington.

Awards and Prizes

Elizabeth has received awards and honors including:
*Kosciuszko Foundation Graduate Scholarship
*International Young Artists Award
*International Music Talent Award
*Heidelberg Grand Prix
*Best '99 CD Prize (for “Pearls of Music”)
*Pro Sinfonika Award for Promoting Classical Music Among Youth (Poland)
*Chopin Foundation of the United States Scholarship for Young Pianists (four times; 2000-2003)
*Merit Award from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (2001)
*Cultural Achievement Award from the Middle East Consortium of the International Friends of Music
*Maryland International Education Association William Donald Schaefer Scholar
*Heidelberg Kulturstiftung Artist-In-Residence Grant
She has been a laureate and finalist of music competitions in the USA and abroad. In 2006, she was among the competitors accepted to the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw.

Performances of Note

Elizabeth has performed as a soloist in such distinguished venues as:
*Carnegie Hall (New York)
*Boesendorfer Hall (Vienna)
*the Beethoven House (Bonn)
*Strathmore Hall (Bethesda, MD)
*Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.)
She has performed in international music festivals including:
*International Festival of Music and Architecture in Torun (2004)
*Klavierwoche International (2004)
*Heidelberg Klavierwoche (1998 and 2006)
*Music at the Paderewski Manor (2001)
*the Maryland Arts Festival (2001)
*International Music Institute and Festival USA (annually since 2003)
*UNESCO International Conference on Local Music Heritage in the Age of Globalization (Amman, Jordan)
*UNESCO World Child Prodigies Concert
She has performed as a soloist with orchestras in the USA, Poland, and China, including the Lublin Philarmonic Orchestra, Polish Camerata, Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, and Tianjin Symphony Orchestra. Her live performance of the Haydn D-Major Concerto with the Polish Camerata was broadcast by Pol-Sat TV. Elizabeth and her family performed Pre-Olympic concerts in China in April 2008, under the theme "Great Harmony: One World-One Dream-One Family".

Teaching

Elizabeth is an enthusiastic teacher and gifted mentor. She has given presentations on music at schools and community centers in the US and abroad. During her 2005 tour of Asia (Korea, Japan, Vietnam), she was asked to give masterclasses for young pianists, including at the Ho Chi Minh Conservatory of Music. She has been on the faculty of the International Music Institute and Festival USA [http://www.intermusearts.org/imif] since 2003. She taught at Indiana University for two years (January 2006-December 2007) as an Assistant Instructor.

Composing

Elizabeth has improvised and composed music since early childhood. Compositions include:
*Variations on Amazing Grace (for piano; for violin and piano)
*Tribute to Paderewski (violin and piano)
*Let Us Go to Jerusalem, the City of Peace (for violin and piano; for piano trio; for cello ensemble; for string orchestra). "This work is dedicated to the youth of the Middle East and was premiered by the King David String Ensemble of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra at the Embassy of Israel in Washington D.C. on February 6, 2003. She was honored with the Jerusalem Medal."
*Northern Lights (piano solo; piano trio)
*Music from Around the World (piano, 2 celli, violin, voice/tambourin)
*Great Harmony: One World, One Dream, One Family (piano, 2 celli, violin, voice, string orchestra, and percussion)
*14 Pieces for Young Wind and Brass Musicians (in collaboration with Dr. David Marchand)
A skilled improviser, Elizabeth sometimes concludes concerts with an improvisation.

Recordings

*Pearls of Music (1999)
*Music for Peace (2004)
*Musical Favorites of All Times (2004)
*Chopin Recital (2005)

External links

* [http://www.intermusearts.org/ Official Management Site]
* [http://www.intermusearts.org/imif/ International Music Institute and Festival USA]
* [http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=11646/ Carnegie Hall Debut]