Since I was a small girl, I have been drawn to art and music. I used to draw in the boring maths, physics, and chemistry classes. I was drawing at home and at the afternoon art school. I loved singing, and I longed to play piano. My father was the master of the orchestra of the Slovak National Theatre. No doubt it was very demanding but very uplifting, I would guess. Or maybe the routine and stress were too much for him, I don’t know. He concluded that being a musician is a very tough career, and he did not allow me to attend piano classes. No arguments that I don’t want to be a professional musician helped. My father highly valued education, so I had to put all my effort and time into my studies. Still, I grew longing to make music. As an adult, I expressed my emotions by “composing” songs — writing lyrics and recording the melody. As I could not even read music, less compose harmonies, the songs remained only silly recordings.
One evening, after a Mass for students where I was a part of the Praise and Worship team, I noticed one of the musicians, Bobeš. We had been friends for some years, but that evening, we stayed at church, he playing guitar and me singing. We improvised, and it was awesome! I felt so excited! My thirst for music was quenched with a sip of fresh creation. Bobeš and I started to meet and compose music together.
We put together a music band. My best friend Adela, my husband, two of our friends, Matúš and Marek and I. We named it Man Y. Isn’t it a great title? Pointing at the many profound questions people ask about the meaning of life? Kidding. We couldn’t find any name for the band, so I said, I don’t care, let it be any XY band… then I stopped and said, let’s name it Man Y for a start. We can change it later. It stuck for the two or three years of the band’s existence. Meanwhile, Bobeš and I got married. We played a couple of concerts in pubs and cultural centers, recorded a couple of songs, and created a video clip of one of them! It is a great song by Adela Hroncová — Listy (Letters) https://youtu.be/av60pVGGpmE
But soon, the great time of the band was over. Matúš and Marek, the musicians, moved back to their hometowns after they had finished their university studies in Bratislava. Then a tragedy struck. My husband and I lost our first baby the very first day after he was born. I did not feel like singing anymore. I did not feel like doing anything, actually. I went through my personal hell on Earth. That was the end of our band and my dream to make music. Or wasn’t it? God was merciful.
Two years later, we had a baby girl. Then another one. And another one. And yet, another one. I was so happy. And so busy. Have I mentioned I was happy? Very happy! I was even able to talk about the devastating loss of our son. I rarely speak of it as I feel words cannot express such a horrid heartache and would belittle it. But maybe I should. So many women had to or have to face a similar trauma. So let me offer you that story here. https://www.mojpribeh.sk/uvod/i11/?lang=en I hope it will be an encouragement for someone you know.
I devoted all my time to my girls. Bringing them up and educating them in the process. I did homeschooling for 10 years. No time for music or art. Given all my time and endeavor to pioneer homeschooling in Slovakia, the demands of everyday life, and having to overcome many obstacles, I burned out. The old longing to create art and make music came back with a new imperativeness.
I was ‘saved’ by a friend of mine, Mária Volárová, who offered me to join the choir she conducted. I was thrilled. We sang awesome Jewish music, there were lovely people in the choir, and Mária was an excellent conductor. I wanted to take some classes of singing. Mária encouraged me to address the famous jazz singer Lucia Lužinská https://www.facebook.com/lucia.luzinska.35 . Just for the fun that we have almost identical names! It was a very blessed suggestion.
Lucka Lužinská and I became friends. She explained to me the difference between what it means to sing and what to bleat :))). Later I became the leading vocals of Mária Volárová’s music band. I am grateful for this experience in many ways.
After I decided to leave the band, I redirected my attention to my songs. And again, this problem! I cannot play any musical instrument. This time my husband was (and is) busy sustaining and supporting our family of six. I was determined not to give up and pray and search. I was helped by my friend Mirunko Peniak and my ‘Graces’, Mária Podhradská https://mariapodhradska.sk/, https://spievankovo.sk/ and again, Adela Hroncová, all three of them exceptional musicians. The song Autumn Leaves came to life! I wrote about this great experience in one of my previous posts https://www.alterdiem.com/pribeh-o-priatelstve-a-velkodusnosti/ You can find the video clip with a lovely autumn atmosphere here: https://youtu.be/TRoTxyaYViI
Still, I do not give up 🙂 We are currently working on my new song, Sen o plameni (Dreaming about a Flame).
Conclusion: even if you do not have all the skills to fulfill your dream, there are always amazing people around you who will help you. Please, go for it! Do not give up! So many wonderful things have not been created just because we were afraid! Enough of it!
The excitement of teamwork and the gratefulness you will feel in your heart are priceless! I am 100% sure your creation will be a great blessing and encouragement for both others and you.
A small note: Today I want to thank my lifelong friend, illustrator, singer, composer, and pianist Adela Hroncová for all her love, inspiration and support throughout the years. Happy Name-day, dear Gracia!