Dorota Wilhelmi

Dorota Wilhemi, age 60, passed away on December 25, 2020 at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton following a period of declining health. 

Dorota was born on June 30, 1960 in Warsaw, Poland.  Her parents were Hanna Wilhelmi and Zdzislaw Ludwik Wilhelmi. 

She was an accomplished musician who played the violin, viola and cello.  She began studying music at the age of seven. After graduating high school, she studied at the Hans Eisler Music Academy in Berlin, Germany. She received her Master of Arts and Music Diploma from The Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland.

She performed throughout the world beginning her career in Cali, Columbia as a member of the Symphony Orchestra and String Quartet.  She then traveled to Europe and performed in orchestras in Poland, Germany, Belgium, France, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and Sweden.  Dorota also performed in Seoul, South Korea as a member of the Classic Trio and was the Concertmaster for the Symphony Orchestra in Valencia, Spain.

She moved to the United States where she continued her musical career performing with orchestras in Indiana and Michigan.  Dorota’s dream of owning a private music school was fulfilled in 2005. She and her husband, Stanislav Kol, established the Music Academy in Greenfield, Massachusetts.  The academy offered lessons in violin, viola, cello, piano, voice, guitar, drums and wind instruments. In addition, she taught for 10 years at Greenfield Community College for children from the Far East.  An accomplished musician, she enjoyed sharing her talents with the students she taught in Columbia, Poland, South Korea, Indiana and Massachusetts.

Dorota enjoyed cooking and prepared dishes from various cuisines for social gatherings she held.  She spoke several languages including Polish, English, Spanish, German & Russian.  She was a valued artist, very sensitive, emotional, caring and loved by her family and friends.  The most important things to Dorota were music and spreading Polish culture around the world.  She never shied away from displaying her musical talents during social gatherings; playing, teaching, talking about and listening to music made Dorota feel most happy and alive. 

Despite Dorota’s vast amount of traveling, her parents living in Poland did not feel her absence because they were in regular contact with her and visited her around the world.

She is survived by her mother, Hanna Wilhemi of Poland and her cousin, Natalie Romaniuk of Canada where Dorota’s mother was originally from, her dear friends, Monika Twardowska, Tomasz Kurasz, Aliona Petcu and Robin Stone.  Dorota also leaves behind her two cherished cats, Romulus and Titus. Dorota will be missed dearly by her family, friends and students.  Her husband, Stan Kol, predeceased her.

Due to the pandemic, no services will be held.  Mitchell Funeral Home in Easthampton is handling the arrangements. 

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