Biography
"When Zuzana Gabor was a child in her home of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, she
didn't have the means to go to the concerts presented by the local philharmonic
Orchestra.
So she and her brother would take an empty violin case, and walk into the
Concert Hall minutes before the regular orchestra members arrived. The security
guard, thinking they were musicians, would let them pass without question. Then
they'd hide the case and enjoy the music.
Years later, they finally confessed to astonished guard.
It’s all part of Gabor’s musical upbringing. She comes from family which includes a number of respected musicians -
including an uncle who is now conductor with the Slovak Philharmonic orchestra. She even attended a school, famous
as the site of Mozart’s first concert.
It was an upbringing that provided her with all kinds of musical opportunities - opportunities that, she feels, children in
rural areas often miss.
It was for that reason that Gabor decided to open a piano studio in Bradford - after about with illness and a move by
her husband to the municipality resulted in her giving up her Scarborough studio. In the basement of the family’s
Britannia Avenue home, decorated with treble clefs, busts of Beethoven and Mozart, posters, and photographs of the
Beatles, Gabor tries to bring the love of music, and the discipline of the classics, to students who range from 3 to 66. "I
feel here as if I'm on a mission."
Gabor studied both music and history in Komensky University in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, and the "history of music"
plays an important role in her lessons, along with Royal Conservatory of Music theory, and hands-on piano lessons.
Every year, students prepare for Royal Conservatory of Music exams, and some compete in local music festivals. This
year, the studio had 1st place at the Kiwanis festival, and 5 prize-winners at the Lion’s Music festival in Newmarket.
"I teach the way my teacher taught me - a special way. The kids like it", says Gabor, who started her musical studies at
the age of 5 - but she admits that the discipline can be tough, for kids used to taking the easy route, and getting their
own way.
She herself wanted to quit music, as a child. "was then years old, and I said, I'd rather go play football... but now I say
thank-you" to the parents who insisted she complete her studies.
Her students seem to enjoy the challenge - which can include writing reports on movies about the famous composers,
and listening to tapes to identify the composer. In fact, the only ones who've quite are the kids who have moved out of
the community."
- Bradford Times