Mike Witkowski’s struggle with cancer made watching his 20-year-old daughter perform with the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall all the more sweeter.
After being diagnosed with level three colon cancer in April of 2004, doctors gave the Springfield Township resident and father of five a 40 percent chance of survival.
While Witkowski was successfully battling cancer, his 20-year-old daughter Christine, who attends Northwestern University, was earning recognition as one of the country’s promising young musicians.
Christine, a 2003 graduate of Clarkston High School, was one of 61 musicians selected from conservatories, high schools and colleges to participate in the New York String Orchestra Seminar this December.
‘I was really excited. I didn’t think I was going to get in. I thought I could just compete next year. A lot of the musicians were a year older so I thought I could just come back next year,? said Christine.
The 10-day seminar challenged young musicians with exposure to new musical ideas and high professional standards as they prepared to perform two shows in the famed Carnegie Hall.
Witkowski’s success against the cancer allowed him to attend the Dec. 28 performance when the orchestra played Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
‘Considering my circumstances a year ago, it was nice to go and see her perform there. I was just proud to be there. Getting to see her perform at that venue was a dream,? said Witkowski. ‘And the best part was that she was really good.?
‘It was great. Last year when he was sick there was a lot he couldn’t come to. So it was nice to have him come out and be a part of things,? said Christine, who was one of the people who drove him to treatments when home from school.
Witkowski credited family and friends with helping him fight the disease and shock of the diagnosis.
‘I was fortunate my friends pulled together and got me the help I needed. I didn’t have to lift a finger,? said Witkowski, who had to take a break from his job as an associate professor focusing on criminology at the University of Detroit Mercy.
Witkowski said his friends threw him a fund-raiser on Dec. 10 at a Detroit brewery to help cover the costs of health care he could not afford.
‘During radiation and oncology, I was on my back because that stuff made me so sick. I was flat down the summer before my surgery, going to the mailbox was an accomplishment,? said Witkowski.
‘It was a wake up call and you start to appreciate the music in your life, which is your kids and what they accomplish,? he added.
The literal part of that ‘music? came in part directly from Christine’s performance in New York. And despite all the lore surrounding the venue, Christine said she felt comfortable on stage.
‘I’ve never played with such great musicians. I wasn’t nervous though because it wasn’t about you, but about playing great music with great colleagues,? said Christine.
‘Walking on stage at Carnegie Hall was one of the most amazing things. You’re in New York, a great city with all the history and you’re playing on stage where many great musicians have played,? she added.
As Christine’s musical career takes off, she is quick to credit many of the people key to her success.
‘My teachers in Clarkston schools were very supportive and really good about encouraging me. I don’t think I would have picked up having a music major in college without them,? she said.
‘My family’s been supportive. My mother and little sister put up with my playing while watching TV. Now it’s not as painful to listen to.?
When asked about where his daughter’s musical dexterity came from, Witkowski laughed saying he knew it did not come from him, but from her mother’s side of the family.
Christine received a full tuition scholarship to NWU for her musical and academic talents after a successful high school career that included participating in marching band, madrigals, concert band, choir and drama. Currently, Christine is considering grad school and hopes to pursue a career in music.
Christine has four siblings all present or past CHS students. They include Laura, D’Anne, Brian and Amanda.