Aleksandra
Januszajtis was born on the 7th of December 1967 in Gdańsk to
a musical and intellectual family. Already as a child she showed
great talents in music, art and science. She started to learn
the violin at the age of 5 with Jerzy Hazuka, MA. In 1986 she
graduated with honours from the State Secondary Music School
in Gdańsk and started her studies at the Poznań Music School
with Prof. Jadwiga Kaliszewska and Prof. Marcin Baranowski.
She graduated with honours a year earlier than regular students
(after four years of studies). Receiving an American scholarship
during summer courses in Blue Hill made it possible for her
to continue violin studies at the Boston University with Prof.
Roman Totenberg. Aleksanda spent a very hard-working year in
Boston. She had university classes and lessons with her professor.
Moreover, she was member of three orchestras: the University
Orchestra, the New England Philharmonic and the Boston Chamber
Orchestra. She did not have free time at all, but work gave
her satisfaction. She was either concertmaster, first violin
player or a soloist. Aleksandra had over a hundred violin works
in her repertoire, including 12 concertos. Moreover, she attended
sport classes and wrote dozens of detailed letters home. She
worked intensively with a great teacher and participated actively
in musical life on the highest level and, as a result, her interpretations
became more profound and personal. She was a cheerful person,
who had many friends, and a hard-working talent, who was respected
and admired.
She won 1st Prize at the violin auditions in Malbork and Special
Prize at the International Competition for Young Violinists
in Lublin in 1979, which opens a long list of her attainments.
The following year, she won 2 nd Prize in Malbork and 4th Prize
in Lublin. Her first international success was 1st Prize at
the Interlochen International Arts Camp Concerto Competition
(USA) in 1983. Participation in T. Varga's Competition in Sion
(Switzerland) in 1987 brought her a valuable Prize for Paganini's
Caprices. In 1989, there followed 2 nd Prize at the Chamber
Music Competition in Łódź for F. Schubert's Death and the Maiden
Quartet and a very important 2nd Prize at the Z. Jahnke Competition
in Poznań. In 1990, Aleksandra won Special Prize for Interpretation
of Bach at the T. Wroński Competition in Warsaw. She won the
Concerto Competition in Boston in April 1991, where her interpretation
of Sibelius's Concerto was received with enthusiasm.
In the end of May 1991, Aleksandra came back to Gdańsk for "holidays",
during which she gave numerous concerts with the Lithuanian
Chamber Orchestra (Kaunas – 31.05, Gdynia – 06.06 and 09.06,
Sopot – 07.06, Gdańsk – 08.06, Toruń – 10.06, and Warsaw – 11.06).
She performed Vivaldi's Four Seasons, a work she adored and
had written her MA thesis on. After the concert in Warsaw, which
took place in the Royal Castle, Jan Popis, the director of the
Polish Radio, offered her a studio session and an exquisite
recording was made. The last recording in her life.
On the 1st July 1991 she was killed in an accident in the Tatra
Mountains. A promising career abruptly ended.
"Polish art of violin suffered a huge loss. A 21-year old
girl passed away, who had a great potential!" (Wanda Obniska)
"Aleksandra, or Ola, as everybody called her, inspired
her colleagues and teachers alike. Our lessons went so swiftly
that I had the impression that they ended the very moment they
started: this is because we discussed so many artistic possibilities.
Being a real artist, Ola experienced deep emotions during each
performance, put all her soul into the interpretation. At the
same time, she wanted to perfect every detail, which earned
her respect of the musicians" (Roman Totenberg)
"In her music, she showed all her passion, tenderness,
sensitivity and modesty, and an incredible talent that will
live forever in our hearts and minds" (David Hoose – conductor
of the Boston University Orchestra)
"We can still see in front of us this petite figure, with
a shock of beautiful red hair, playing music polished to a highest
shine" (Krystyna Domarkiene from the Lithuanian Chamber
Orchestra)
"She played so beautifully! She was as bright as a sun
ray and so full of life! Her presence made everybody joyful"
(Nancy Hawkins from the New England Philharmonic Orchestra)
"When I played Sibelius's Concerto, I realised for the
first time in my life that I like performing, being the soloist.
I forgot about the stress and let myself be carried away by
music. I love playing with an orchestra!" (Aleksandra Januszajtis).