From the point when I started to write my Fulbright application to the point when I arrived in Krakow, Poland, I have been asked, "What is the Fulbright?" "Why Poland?" and "So, what will you be doing, exactly?" These questions and more will answered below for inquiring minds who want to know! Tune in to a later post that will address, "How the heck did you end up in Poland?"...its a longer story.
"What's a Fulbright?"
No, it's not called the "Allbright" and yes, the correct spelling only has one "L". Here's an official summary: The Fulbright Program is a program of highly competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the Fulbright Program, competitively selected US citizens may become eligible for scholarships to study, conduct research, or exercise their talents abroad and citizens of other countries may qualify to do the same in the United States. The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious awards programs worldwide, operating in over 155 countries. In Poland it was initiated in 1959 and as of today it is one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe as well as the most prestigious and continuous academic exchange program between Poland and the United States. With contributions from both governments the Fulbright Program in Poland is administered by the Polish-US Fulbright Commission. Through its various exchange programs the commission supports studies, research, instruction, and other educational activities of American and Polish educators, scholars, and institutions; it also administers visits and exchanges between the United States and Poland for students, trainees, scholars, teachers, instructors, and professors. | Want more information? Interested in applying? Please see: http://us.fulbrightonline.org If you would like to read my entire proposal:
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"Will you be taking classes? Teaching?"
Yes, I will be taking courses at the University of Warsaw, including a course on Modern and Contemporary Polish Literature as well as, "Towards a World of Cultural Abundance: Revitalizing Endangered Languages". I am taking Polish language courses at the Varia Center for Polish Language and Hebrew and Yiddish courses at the JCC, both in Krakow. I will not be teaching courses, but I will be presenting various workshops at the University of Warsaw and am working on performance/vocal technique with the JCC Choir. Additionally, I am taking Israeli Dance courses.
"So, what will you be doing for your project, exactly?"
I will be conducting independent research in Krakow, Poland, looking at how Jewish music has helped keep the community together and culture alive since WWII.
While conducting my research, I am working with these people and organizations:
While conducting my research, I am working with these people and organizations:
- The Jewish Community Center (JCC) - Krakow
Before WWII, the Jewish population in Krakow was over 600,000; now it is estimated to be less than 1,000. The JCC- Krakow was formed in 2008 and is a vibrant and growing center that hosts many activities and events - among them a community choir and Israeli dance classes. I am interested in how music has helped the Jewish community in Krakow stay alive. - The Jewish Culture Festival - Krakow
For the last 24 years, the Jewish Culture Festival has been bringing thousands of people from all over the world to attend lectures, concerts, debates, theatrical performances and see art of the Jewish Culture. One of the main components of this festival is music (think Orthodox Jewish Rock concerts, world-renowned traditional Cantor concerts, Klezmer music classes, Jewish Dance classes, and Yiddish Singing classes). I am curious how music has helped this temporary community develop, and what this festival and its music has done to revitalize Jewish culture both in Krakow and around the world. - Dr. Katarzyna Naliwajek-Mazurek - University of Warsaw Professor of Musicology
Not only is Dr. Naliwajek-Mazurek a professor of musicology (the study of music as an academic topic as opposed to performance or composition), but she has done extensive research on the music of Nazi-occupied Poland. She will serve as my adviser and will help guide me through the research process (collecting data, conducting interviews, analyzing data, compiling reports, etc.).
"Then What?"
As I have just begun my research, its a bit difficult to see exactly where this project will lead, but I have a few ideas:
- International Virtual Concert
As you may know from my previous posts/presentations, I firmly believe in the transcendence of music. Music can cross borders of age, race, religion, geographic location, etc. I intent to use music's ability to transcend to bring together choirs from all over the world to learn the same music (one piece from the culture/tradition of each choir) and get to know each other through social media, email, and videos. This "virtual concert" will be available on this website and will hopefully be live-streamed from each choir's respective location. This concert has the potential to connect people through music and provide a chance for choir members to put faces to locations, ethnicities, and cultures from around the world. - Krakow International Choral Exchange Program
Partnering with the JCC Choir and the 2015 Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow, I will bring students from the United States, Poland, Rwanda, and Israel together for eight days in Krakow to engage in multicultural and international dialogue and exchange. Participants will learn about Jewish life, music, and culture beyond the Holocaust, will attend hands-on Yiddish/Hasidic singing and Jewish dance and will teach each other about their various cultures through presentations on their respective cultures. They explore the transcendence of music through discussions and workshops and will have the opportunity to perform as a combined choir with the JCC at the Jewish Culture Festival. - Community Education - Lecture Series
One of my passions (and part of my Fulbright proposal) is to educate my home community and other communities about my research. When I return to the United States in July 2015, I will have created a lecture series to present at schools, universities, churches, meetings, etc. If you or your organization are interested in booking me to speak after July 2015, please send me a note on my "Contact" page. - This Blog!
I will continue to update this blog as I conduct my research. You're welcome to explore my photography, poems, travel tips, etc., all of which will be updated as I continue my stay in Poland.