Henry Doktorski American accordionist Date of Birth: 30.01.1956 Country: USA

1. Biography of Henry Doktorski
2. Early Musical Journey
3. A Spiritual Journey and Accordion Revival
4. Accomplishments in Pittsburgh
5. Current Work

Biography of Henry Doktorski

Henry Doktorski is an American accordionist and one of the leading concert accordionists in the country. He has performed with renowned musicians such as cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, violinists Gil Shaham and Itzhak Perlman, and conducted by Lorin Maazel, John Williams, Mariss Jansons, Julius Rudel, David Del Tredici, and Howard Shore. Born on January 30, 1956, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Doktorski comes from a family of Polish immigrants. His Polish roots influenced his decision to study and master the art of playing the accordion from a young age.

Early Musical Journey

Doktorski began taking accordion lessons at the age of seven and was considered a rare talent. In his early years, he played both folk music and jazz standards, inspired by the television shows featuring the famous accordionist Myron Floren. However, his musical tastes shifted towards rock music in the late 60s and early 70s, where he played the accordion in a band that covered songs by The Beatles, Grand Funk Railroad, Carlos Santana, and Black Sabbath. Despite a few performances, he eventually felt that the accordion was stylistically incorrect for electronic music and switched to playing the electronic organ.

Through his school choir, Doktorski discovered classical music and began taking piano lessons at the age of 16. He had enough experience and talent to earn a scholarship and continue his education at Park College in Missouri. There, under the guidance of Robert C. Anderson, he participated in musicals as both an actor and musician, sang in the choir, and performed on piano, harpsichord, and celesta with the Northland Symphony Orchestra. He graduated from college with honors in 1978, specializing in performance and music education.

A Spiritual Journey and Accordion Revival

In August 1978, Doktorski's life took a drastic turn when he joined the Hare Krishna movement and settled in a community in West Virginia. He explained that he was unhappy and wanted to develop his spiritual side. In the 80s, he made several trips to India, taught at an elementary school, and participated in Krishnaite festivals and charitable projects. From 1986 to 1993, he served as the chief organist, choir director, orchestra conductor, and composer in the community. At the request of his guru, Doktorski picked up the accordion again after a long hiatus and played it during an evening service. Accordion music became a hit in the community, and many of his fellow monks asked him to teach them how to play the instrument. By the end of the decade, he formed a full orchestra of accordionists that debuted on November 17, 1989, at a city parade. The orchestra won several prestigious awards the following year, and Doktorski himself took first place in a competition organized by the American Accordion Musicological Society.

In 1990, American composer Alan Hovhaness composed a piece titled "Hymn for Doktorski" in his honor. Doktorski recorded this piece on his CD "Classical Accordion Recital" in 2005. However, in October 1993, after learning that his guru and spiritual mentor engaged in inappropriate behavior with young men, Doktorski questioned his authority and leadership qualities and moved to Pittsburgh.

Accomplishments in Pittsburgh

After relocating to Pittsburgh, Doktorski sought to leverage his virtuosity on the accordion and classical music education. From 1995 to 2005, he performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra 40 times, showcasing his skills on the accordion, piano, organ, harpsichord, and celesta. He also appeared as a guest accordionist with various American orchestras. In addition to his performing and teaching activities, as well as involvement in charitable projects, Doktorski is known as a prolific writer. His articles and essays have been published in a wide range of journals, from "Music Theory—Explorations and Applications" to "Rolling Stone," "Playboy," and "USA Today."

Current Work

Since 1997, Doktorski has held a position at the City Music Center of Duquesne University Mary Pappert School of Music. He earned his master's degree in composition and continues to contribute to the music community as a performer, educator, and composer.