A Newly Minted
United States Citizen
Baltimore, Md. – Who says that nothing exciting ever happens during the languid and sultry dog-days of August? Well Dariusz Skoraczewski seriously challenged that old weather cliché on a very exciting and memorable August 18, 2017 when he was proudly sworn in as a new American citizen.
In photo: A U.S. Flag for Cellist Dariusz Skoraczewski. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Principal Cellist Dariusz Skoraczewski took the oath of United States of America citizenship recently in Baltimore, Maryland. He is depicted in photo, at right, receiving a special commemorative American Flag from his friend Richard Poremski that was previously flow over the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Dariusz was born in Warsaw, Poland. He began his musical education at the age of six and spent his school years in Warsaw. He completed his higher education as a scholarship recipient here at the elite Peabody Conservatory of Music (now The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University), arriving in 1990, and perfected his art there under the supervision of world-renown cellist Stephen Kates.
“Skorek” – as he is nicknamed in Polish – has delighted audiences at many concert halls in America and Europe with his great artistic and technical skills of the cello. As a soloist, he has performed with numerous orchestras here in the U.S. – including the National Philharmonic and his own Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) –as well as internationally in Europe, Asia and South America.
In 2013, he was awarded the juried and unrestricted $25,000 Baker Award that fosters local artistic talent in Baltimore’s creative arts community at-large. And the heaven-sent windfall? Darius used the award to help finance his new, custom-designed Christopher Dungey cello and to record Bach’s Suites for Unaccompanied Cello to add to his published and growing CD portfolio. For more information about Darek and his amazing music, please visit his web site at www.dskora.com.
Dariusz presently resides in the community of Elkridge, in Howard County outside of Baltimore, with his delightful wife Pei Lu – a recognized performing cellist in her own right, and an established cello music teacher – along with their talented teen daughter Anna.
So welcome Dariusz to your new country and its vibrant Polonia which honors both countries with its patriotic reiteration of “America First – Poland Always.”
Text and Photo:
Richard P. Poremski
Polish American Journal
Washington, DC Bureau
September 30, 2017