Meet Lenora Galeziowski

Jillian Turner

Galeziowski shares her journey of playing the clarinet.

Growing up with parents encouraging their child to become the musical prodigy of the family is not the case for most students, but being put in piano lessons at five years old was just a small step to Lenora Galeziowski’s huge passion for clarinet that would begin just a few years afterward. Though she dabbles in tennis and is a dedicated student, her clarinet devotion comes from the heart.

“Clarinet is definitely my biggest passion right now because I love doing it,” Galeziowski said. “It’s something that I am intrinsically motivated to do. I want to do it because I want to do it; it’s for competitions, too, so there are some rewards, but with school I’m only motivated to get a grade, and in tennis I do it primarily for fun. But with clarinet, I do it because it feeds my soul in an unimaginable way. Clarinet has been a rough road, but I would not trade it for the world because it’s been an incredible journey. It’s been a lot of good auditions, which have made me really happy, and a lot of failed auditions and a lot of stressing and crying - but every single experience and opportunity has transformed my life for the better.”

Clarinet serves as an arena for Galeziowski to compete and showcase her talent. Starting the instrument at the ripe age of 11, she developed skilled techniques with help from the band elective class and private lessons with her clarinet instructor Laura Stephenson Petty. Though Galeziowski has a passionate calling for clarinet, she is not as involved in the River’s band class as she is with outside competitions, though occasionally the two collide.

“[The band directors] like me because they know I care a lot, so I think that definitely helps my case. Even if I don’t think they’re my biggest fans, I'll still ask them to listen to me and give me advice in order to prepare for auditions or competitions. They’ll do nice things for me like that, but they also know that if it comes down to band or another musical obligation, I will pick whichever is best for my growth as a musician as I have done in the past. They know where my priorities are.”

Galeziowski, though not involved in the marching band at the River, competed during her freshman year at Lakewood Ranch High School where it was required if one was in band class. After the year of marching, she decided to transfer to the River because marching band was not a source of enjoyment for her freshman year. She believed her musical career would prosper more outside of a high school classroom.

“I didn’t enjoy doing the actual thing; I just enjoyed the people I was with and the experience,” Galeziowski said. “It was a big time commitment and my parents and I agreed that it was too big of a strain on my life. I wanted to take clarinet more seriously, too, and marching band was making it so I didn't have time to practice or do what I do now. In marching band, it's not the type of music that I enjoy playing. It doesn’t have the same expression. Although it requires relentless practice, it's all about being loud, and I would like to have more character and refinement in my playing than marching band does.”

When she took a step back from marching band, her musical career was able to thrive as she took part in numerous competitions and concerts. This includes the Edward and Ida Wilkof Young Artist Concerto Competition, one she considers her most prized accomplishment, where she was able to perform with a professional orchestra in front of a large audience. In addition, she competed and won the Anna Maria Island Concerto Competition in January and will perform alongside their orchestra next year. She attended Florida State University’s Tristate Festival in December, where she placed fifth out of over sixty clarinetists across Florida, Georgia and Alabama in addition to attending their summer music camps for the past two years, the last of which she was principal clarinetist of their top ensemble. She has participated in the Sarasota Youth Orchestra program for the past five years and has been the principal clarinetist of the Youth Philharmonic, the highest group, for the past two. This school year at the River, she also holds the title of principal clarinetist in band.

Throughout this journey, Galeziowski is supported by her clarinet teacher, Stephonson Petty, along with her family members to pursue her talent.

“I don’t know who my biggest supporter is; it depends on how you define the word,” Galeziowski said. “My clarinet teacher, obviously, is a big one for me because I’ve been taking lessons from her since I was 12. She’s the person who pushes me to be better and gives me opportunities. I wouldn’t be half as good without Laura.”

Galeziowski stands by the idea that in order to achieve greater things, one must seek help outside of the River’s walls.

“I would definitely say if you want to get better and you’re really passionate about music, take lessons,” Galeziowski said. “I would say do as many auditions and as many programs as you can and just get yourself involved. Don’t restrict yourself to the world of band at school because there is just so much more music to be made and just committing to the band at school is not going to get you as far as you could be going. So, take it upon yourself to research new opportunities for yourself rather than depend on your band director to hand them to you on a silver platter.”