Meet Jack London Piano Club pianist and vocalist Rubina Mazurka, interviewed by
Nancy Watson on 1/27/2015
1. You've been playing with the JLP Piano Club at the
concerts for about a year now. How did you learn about the
Club, and what made you decide to participate in the
concerts?
Actually, I had no idea the Jack London State Historic Park had a
Piano Club. I came to the park on one of my frequent visits and
when I was at the House of Happy Walls, I heard someone playing
the Steinway upstairs. Turned out that anyone could play it, as long
as they were part of the Club. The concerts seemed like something
super fun, and why shouldn't I do something that seems fun?
2. I know you are in high school somewhere in the Bay Area. Where do you live and go to school?
Are you from a musical family? What other interests/hobbies/talents do you have?
I live in SF and go to SOTA, which is an arts school. My family has a musical education, but none of them are
professional musicians.
3. For the future, do you already have your sights on a college or a course of study?
I don't know yet.
4. How long have you been playing the piano? What made you start? What kind of music do love
to play the most? Genres? Composers? Eras? What are your plans for continuing the piano--and
your goals?
I have been playing the piano from the age of 4.5 (12 years in all). At 4, I'm afraid it was merely my parents
who made me start. I enjoy classical music, although lately I haven't been studying many classical pieces.
I've been focusing on Romantic. The Romantic era is probably my favorite, in particular Chopin, which is
perfect for the JLP Club's upcoming Chopin concert on February 22. For vocal pieces, I enjoy any style.
Singing is quite different from playing the piano, and as a person who does both I can sense that difference
very well.
5. The last few concerts, you have also performed vocally, several different types of songs--a
lullaby, an aria, Jack and Charmian's favorite song. What prompted you to start singing and to sing
before audiences? When did you begin to do so? How do you choose your songs?
Singing before an audience is part of the profession. I started when I was ten or eleven. Choosing pieces
depends on the theme of the concert and on whatever I have prepared at the given moment.
6. Piano and classical music are not as common these days with young people. What is it that has
drawn you to this type of music, as opposed to what is more typical among your age group?
The music a child listens to is always directly influenced by the music their parents listen to. The pop culture
is listened to by many adults and therefore by their children. However, there are still people who listen to
classical music (classical as in the classic composers, not the era). I am surrounded by both people who enjoy
popular music and people who enjoy classical music.