Photo: Juan A. Espino
JAMES STRECKER: In what specific ways has COVID-19 changed your creative/artistic life in the arts?
KATARZYNA SADEJ: It’s been a very hard time for all artists and entrepreneurs. I think we are all struggling with a sense of mourning for the cancelled and postponed-until-further-notice projects. Right when this crisis got really bad, I had 2 especially busy months of very exciting performances, which were all canceled or postponed. When you prepare for something (and MEMORIZE) for so long, it’s devastating for something like this to happen. I know that so many people in the world are in the same boat, and we’re all in this together. Many of us are now doing frequent online performances and some of my friends have even started regular series, which is just lovely to tune into. Most of us are also doing this with no or very little compensation, so it’s truly an effort of love and devotion to our art forms.
JS: How creative are you feeling with COVID-19 on your mind?
KS: Honestly, I have felt a surge of creativity simply to keep myself active and inspired. There have been days where I’ve felt very deflated and depressed. But I have been learning new songs and trying to be as creative as possible, and it’s been a meditation and remedy for the situation for me. The alternative is sitting in a corner and crying about the sad state of the world and unfulfilled performances. This is a situation we cannot control right now, so falling into an immobile depression is simply not an option for me.
JS: In what specific ways has COVID-19 changed your personal life?
KS: Well a lot of interactions with friends and family are online, which is different for sure. I am grateful to have my family in Canada close by during this crisis, as I did choose to spend this isolation period in Canada.
JS: What are your primary worries, at this time, about the present situation in the arts because of COVID-19?
KS: It’s hard to tell the damage this crisis will have on arts’ organizations. I wonder how many can survive if this isolation goes on for a longer period of time. I am, however, confident in the arts surviving as a whole. If this situation creates an opening for innovation and new ideas, we can look forward to that when the crisis is over.
JS: What are you yourself doing to get through this time of crisis?
KS: I am creating as much as possible and posting many things on my social media threads. Again, I feel that arts can help spread positivity and inspiration, so I gladly post frequently for my followers and supporters.
JS: What are other creative/artistic people you know doing to get through this time of crisis?
KS: Again, I have a few friends who have started regular concert series online. One is concert pianist Daniel Vnukovski, whose series I highly recommend if you love extraordinary piano playing. Follow him on YouTube via his channel for more information: https://www.youtube.com/danperforms
JS: What are the saddest stories you’ve heard about creative/artistic people during this time of COVID-19?
KS: The saddest is the loss of performances that musicians have been preparing for months (sometimes years), and often memorizing these performances. The amount of work and soul that goes into a high-class performance is only something another musician truly understands. The cancellations are absolutely devastating. And if you’re not sure that the performance will ever happen, it’s like you’ve devoted so much time to something that just won’t be. I dare say that it’s the loss of the performance itself that hurts much more than the loss of the income from that performance.
JS: What are the most encouraging or inspiring stories you’ve heard about creative/artistic people during this time of COVID-19?
KS: I’ve been touched that many performers have donated so much time to provide entertainment and hope for the global population. It’s a simple thing we can do, if we have a voice or talent.
JS: How can we support people in the arts during this difficult time?
KS: Follow as many online series as you can, donate to them if you can, and as soon as the crisis and isolation are over, go to as many concerts and performances as you can.
JS: Finally, what specifically can we do to support your life and work in the arts?
KS: Honestly, I am happy if anyone tunes into my online posts – if they share them, if they appreciate them. I have gotten some beautiful feedback and it’s been encouraging in these tough times.
Here is a Playlist I created on YouTube with my self-isolation shares. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel (believe me, it’s a great support for me to simply subscribe).
Self-isolation shares: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHKUoKpKxYzYI9-F9c1acfcHWhXdX4isH
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/katarzynasadej
Please also follow me on my other social media threads:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatarzynaSadejMezzoSoprano/
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Twitter: @MezzoSadej