JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — “This is our kingdom,” said Dorota Lato, walking through the door of Musik21, a conservatory for young musicians off State Bridge Road.
Pianos for sale and rent bordered the large, open space. They are the core instrument of the conservatory, though more than a dozen passionate teachers offer individual lessons on a variety of instruments for students in the early years of elementary school up to 12th grade.
Musik21 is under the auspices of the nonprofit Chopin Society of Atlanta, founded by Lato and her husband Piotr Folkert in 2000 to promote the music of Fryderyk Chopin and advance his legacy.
“All pianists — they talk in a specific language,” Lato said. “Most of the young generation play football or soccer or swimming. Those kids who play piano sometimes feel like not many of them, so they love to be with each other because they understand.”
Lato and Folkert are from Chopin’s native Poland and have been playing piano all their lives. An accomplished concert pianist, Folkert performs around the world.
The nonprofit originally began with concerts at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, featuring some of the world’s greatest pianists like Sergei Babayan, Ingrid Fliter and Kevin Kenner. Posters from over the years lined the back room.
Lato said the first-ever concert she presented sold out, which was the 250th anniversary of Chopin’s death. All 600 seats in the center were filled.
The society evolved over time, branching out from solely concertizing. With a desire to introduce Chopin and other classical music to younger kids, Lato said she began hosting art competitions, paintings of Chopin, and competitions on history.
“It was important that they really open their eyes to knowing who Chopin was, where he was born, what he composed,” Lato said.
Lato opened Musik21 in 2010. Currently, 400 students…
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