Mary Sewall

Introducing myself to readers makes me feel already at ease with the situation. I believe that is because there are really no strangers in the world, as we are all sharing experiences in a globe that is called a Planet. Why we are all here at the same time has different meanings to each of us? There is no one answer to this question. But, it is a wonderful conviction to think, have thoughts, and a feeling heart.

To go to the beginning, my mother was born in Hungary. As a child, I always remember her sitting in a rocking chair, and murmur, head resting on her right arm "Beautiful Vienna." My father came from Austria. They came to America, and settled in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia, Pa. They had 9 children, of which I was No.7--- 6 boys and 3 girls.

I took piano lessons at an early age and went through the 10 books of a series that was popular at the time. As I got older, the teacher put me in charge as the pianist of a group that would assemble once a week in the basement of the Studio, and afterwards a few of us would have coffee in the nearby café. We had about 20 musicians, playing assorted musical instruments. I loved it! That was the highlight of my life.

One day one of the musicians invited me to a Church Concert, and afterwards we stopped at the same café near the Music Studio, which was in the downtown area of the city. As we were leaving my companion, said, "Oh, I want to say hello to someone, excuse me." On his return he brought me over as his friend wanted to meet me. It turned out that I was introduced to Eugene Sewall, who at the time was the leading baritone of the Opera House of the Philadelphia Academy of Music.

He said, "Do you like opera?" I nodded, "yes" He then handed me a ticket for "Verdi's Rigoletto," and said "I'd like you to come backstage later." I went to see the opera, my very first, but I was very familiar with Verdi's music, and was entranced by it, as much as listening to Beethoven. This opera was with the full orchestra, and setting. The next day there was a review in the newspaper by an established critic who praised his performance.

I never went backstage after the opera. I was too shy to meet someone with such presence, but I did enjoy the opera. A few weeks later, playing with the music group, as usual, the door opened at intermission time, and to my shock, in walked Eugene Sewall. I almost fell off the piano stool. He stayed until the end of our session, and we all went to the café afterwards. I am sorry to rush this, Dears, as I don't have space to go into the details, but we got married a few months later.

At this point we were living in New York, and I spent most of my time teaching and playing in piano recitals. On many cold snowing days, as I would wait for buses, I'd play my pieces mentally. This process relaxed me to no end. Instead of being anxious if I could handle the concert, I'd have the pieces freshly played in my mind, and of course, what could be better than that!

To jump to the present I am living in Philadelphia again, where this narrative of events started. We all have a story to tell. This part of life lives forever. Hope to hear from you. --- Mary Sewall---