Joanna Gajek (Wojtal)
Pianist, arts administrator
Born Jul. 27, 1935, Lublin, Poland; daughter Franciszek and Jadwiga (Pienkowska); married Jerzy Gajek.
Education: Master of Music (cum laude), F. Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw (Poland), 1959; Bachelor of Music, Academy of Music, Vienna (Austria), 1963; Artur Rubinstein Master Classes, Guido Agosti (Italy).
Career: executive director, Eastern Suffolk School of Music, Riverhead, Southampton (NY), 1986 -; prof. (piano), Conservatory of Music, Kansas City (MO), Drancy (Fr.).
Author: organizer, concerts and cultural events for the communities of Southampton and Riverhead.
Honors: grants, Chopin Institute, Warsaw, 1960, Paderewski Foundation; fellowships, French Government, 1961, Austrian Government, 1962; Gold Medal, Viotti International Piano Competition, Vercelli (Italy), 1962.
Languages: Polish, English, German, Russian.
Hobbies: chess, mushrooming, hunting.
Office: Eastern Suffolk School of Music, 141 E. Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996