Aleksandra Mikulska - I Believe, That God Has a Great Idea for Every One of Us and Gives Us Life to Make Something Precious Out of It (Pianist from Poland)

I was often criticized for the way I played Chopin. The trips to Germany were like a gateway into the better world, where I could finally play for the public and the public even loved my Chopin interpretations! This gave me strength. The second complicated situation developed during my high school days. My piano teacher was in Germany, but as a student of a highly gifted class at the Polish music school, I had to take my exams playing for the polish commission.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

When I was 4, I followed already the broadcasts of the Warsaw Chopin Competition on Polish television. I was so fascinated and touched by the music that I had tears in my eyes. I admired and loved the sound of the piano, so I really wanted to learn this instrument.

However, my parents initially disagreed with this idea, because we lived in Warsaw on the 10th floor of a big block of flats in a very small apartment. My mom wanted to convince me to learn the violin. There was a big competition to get a free place in a music school in Warsaw at that time. I passed successfully the difficult entrance exam for the keyboard department and from then on learned to play the piano.

2. What inspired you to become a pianist?

Piano-playing was my dream from the beginning of my life. At the age of 8, I went together with my piano teacher to a concert by Garrick Ohlsson in the Warsaw Theater. He played Chopin. I was touched and deeply fascinated. At that moment I made my decision. It felt very natural to me just to become a concert pianist. There was no other way.

3. What challenges did you face in the initial days of your career and how did you overcome them?

In 1996 I met my future piano professor Peter Eicher during his master class in Warsaw. The lessons with him were so fascinating, that I decided to continue taking lessons with him at the Mannheim Music School in Germany. This represented a great financial challenge for my family. The frequent trips to Mannheim could only be financially managed by bus.

At first, my mother accompanied me. She always had a very big, open heart for music. Communism in Poland collapsed in 1989, but the mentality of the people who shaped the young people, such as parents, teachers, professors, was still very much influenced by this system. In Germany, the exchange between international artists has always been possible, which unfortunately was not the case in Poland.

4. What was the turning point of your career?

At the age of 18, I went to the university in Germany by myself. It was a very hard step for me because I was deeply connected to my parents. I realized the importance of my decision after six months. Although I was happy to play and enjoy freedom, I missed my family more and more. Finally, my love for music was stronger than the pain - it was just my life.

So I finished my studies successfully and continued the education in Imola and Hannover. The start of the concert career was the next very hard step in my life. It is very difficult to realize, that one has to be his own manager, seller, social media designer, mentor, teacher, and to work in all these positions at the same time.

Finally, after several years, I was invited to join the Chopin Society in Germany, later on, I became a board member and in the end the president. In 2012 I met my future husband, who became my manager. The concert career could finally develop and grow fast, because of his great support.

5. How do you keep yourself inspired and motivated?

I think, that it is very important to work hard and to take regular breaks. It is impossible to be creative all the time. I love nature and I trust God, I think, that animals, plants, flowers, and people with open hearts, can be the greatest inspiration!

I believe, that God has a great idea for every one of us and gives us life to make something precious out of it. As a musician, I can make people happy, help them and give them hope, power, and love. This is the meaning of our mission on this earth. These thoughts give me always an inspiration.

6. Who is your favorite pianist and why?

My favorite pianists are definitely Krystian Zimerman and Vladimir Horowitz. Zimerman is a great example of an ideal pianistic harmony between virtuosity, perfection, and sound ideas.

Horowitz is a phenomenon himself. His playing is always very personal, full of fantasy and his own musical expressions, he produces absolutely extraordinary colors on the piano and is a big poet of this instrument.