“Music is my life – literally. Besides being my profession, it is my life-long passion, and it fills my life to the fullest.”
Few leaders can say that their work and their calling are one and the same. Dr. Beata Golec can. As the founder and owner of Golec Music Studio in Victor, New York, she has spent her life doing what she loves and building something meaningful around it. A world-class pianist, award-winning composer, and committed educator, her journey began at the age of 13 in Poland, where she first started composing music. That early passion carried her all the way to the Eastman School of Music, where she earned her Doctor of Musical Arts, and eventually to a studio that welcomes students of all ages and abilities.
Dr. Golec serves as a professor at SUNY Geneseo and RIT, where her approach to teaching has left a lasting impression on students and peers alike. Her dedication earned her the 2020 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the 2024 Victor Business Award, and the Ontario County ATHENA Leadership Award. Through initiatives like the Young Musicians’ Concerts, which support local food pantries, she has shown that her commitment to community runs just as deep as her commitment to music. For Dr. Golec, leadership has never been about authority. It has always been about purpose, and the difference that passion can make in the lives of others.
A Life Dedicated to Music, Service, and Excellence
Dr. Golec’s work spans several disciplines. She is a pianist, composer, music theorist, and educator whose influence reaches well beyond the walls of her studio. She serves on the Board of Examiners for Advanced Placement in Music Theory and the International Baccalaureate in Music, as well as the Board of Assessment Review for the town of Victor, New York. She also serves as the Director of Music Programs at Holy Cross and Our Mother of Sorrows Churches in Rochester, New York.
Her recognition has continued to grow in recent years. In 2025, she sponsored the “Unmasking the Silence” Masquerade Ball for Suicide and Mental Health Awareness and the 40th Ontario County ATHENA Leadership Awards. In 2026, she was named a finalist for the ROC the City Choice Awards in the Best Professional Services category and went on to win the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics, a fitting recognition for someone whose work has always been guided by principle.
At the heart of it all is a deep and personal relationship with music. “I feel, breathe, teach, analyze and share music,” she says. For Dr. Golec, the act of sharing is not incidental; it is essential. Music, she believes, cannot truly exist without being shared, and that belief is what led her to found Golec Music Studio.
Running the studio has been as rewarding as it has been demanding. Beyond the creative and professional fulfillment it brings, it has required her to take on every role imaginable, from managing finances and marketing to scheduling and customer support. She embraces all of it. “It is an incredible journey, and I love every day of it.”
Shaped by Resilience, Driven by Tenacity
“I strongly believe that resilience and tenacity shaped me and my life’s journey,” says Dr. Golec. For her, resilience is the ability to adapt when circumstances change, while tenacity is the quiet, persistent drive that keeps a person moving forward, learning, and evolving. Together, these qualities have not only defined her character but also prepared her for the many transitions her life has demanded.
Having moved across continents and navigated entirely different languages, cultures, and ways of living, Dr. Golec developed an ability to adjust quickly and without hesitation. She sees this openness to change as one of the most valuable skills a person can carry, both personally and professionally. Her many roles as a performer, educator, organizer, and leader have further reinforced this mindset, sharpening her critical thinking, strengthening her communication, and training her to find opportunity even in situations that seem difficult or impossible to resolve.
This adaptability is perhaps most visible in how she approaches her students. Dr. Golec works with a remarkably wide range of learners, from very young children and neurodiverse students to adult learners managing the physical limitations that come with age, illness, or memory loss.
She works with those who are retired and seeking renewed purpose, and with those returning to music after years away, drawn back by its well-known capacity to heal. She also prepares students for NYSSMA competitions, music theater and choral auditions, and college, graduate school, and job interviews. The breadth of her students’ needs has made adaptability not just a personal strength but a professional necessity.
The People Who Shape Us
Dr. Golec reflects thoughtfully on the role that adversity and success play in shaping relationships. Both, she believes, act as filters that reveal who is genuinely present in a person’s life and who is not. “When we go through life challenges, especially those caused by interpersonal conflicts, we learn quite quickly who our true friends are,” she says. In her view, dishonesty, manipulation, lack of empathy, and insecurity are at the root of most relationship breakdowns, whether personal or professional.
Success, she notes, is equally revealing. Those who are genuinely supportive will celebrate another person’s achievements with warmth and sincerity. Those who are not will often respond with quiet resentment or dismissive remarks. Dr. Golec is clear about how she handles this: by investing in relationships that are meaningful and positive, and by stepping away from those that are not.
At the foundation of everything is a commitment to continuous personal growth. For Dr. Golec, developing oneself goes far beyond professional achievement. It shapes values, raises standards, and demands honesty. Integrity, accountability, and following through on one’s word are not simply professional principles for her. They are the way she chooses to live.
A Studio Built for Every Learner
The mission of Golec Music Studio is to inspire and nurture the next generation of artists. Students of all ages and skill levels are welcome, and the studio offers a wide range of musical disciplines, including piano, voice, music theory, and composition. Specialised services such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exam preparation are also available, ensuring students are well-prepared for the academic demands that lie ahead.
Instruction is offered both in-person and virtually, and the studio provides dedicated support for college and music theater auditions, helping aspiring performers put their best foot forward. Services extend further to include competition preparation, recordings, transcriptions, and the creation of musical experiences for weddings, celebrations of life, and charity and corporate events. At Golec Music Studio, students do not simply learn music. They build confidence, creativity, and a lasting appreciation for the art.
Rooted in Community, Open All Year
The studio operates as a one-person business, yet its reach is anything but small. Dr. Beata Golec collaborates with volunteers, non-profit organisations that support students with disabilities, and local leaders who share her fundraising goals. Golec Music Studio is also an approved vendor for the New York State Department of Education and Heritage Christian Services, through which it provides lessons to students with learning disabilities.
One of the studio’s distinguishing qualities is that it remains open year-round, including during school breaks and the summer season. Dr. Golec sees this as a meaningful point of difference. Continuity in music education, she believes, is critical for retaining skills, deepening knowledge, and giving students a strong start heading into each new school year.
Her approach to leadership is equally intentional. She leads by example and actively seeks out collaborative projects that give young students a genuine sense of belonging and purpose. Her goal is for young artists and performers to take pride in their work, own their creativity with confidence, and feel ready to share it with the world. It is this belief that makes the Young Musicians’ Concerts so personally significant to her.
Music as Medicine for the Mind
“I consider music learning and music-making the most effective brain food,” says Dr. Golec. It is a view grounded in science as much as in personal experience. Music activates the entire body and engages the auditory, visual, and motor cortices simultaneously. Regular music-making improves coordination, sharpens critical thinking, and strengthens memory. Over time, it boosts motivation, lifts mood, promotes neuroplasticity, and builds a cognitive reserve that helps protect against deterioration and decline.
For Dr. Golec, however, learning music goes well beyond its neurological benefits. When students engage with a piece of music, they are also uncovering the background, culture, traditions, and emotions of the composer behind it. Understanding the structure of a composition, its origins, and the circumstances that inspired it are, in her view, the true foundations of musicianship. As percussionist Evelyn Glennie explored in her TED Talk, “How to Truly Listen,” there is far more to music than the notes on a page. This is precisely why Dr. Golec incorporates music theory, history, and analysis into her sessions, equipping students with the critical thinking skills they need to become independent, confident musicians.
Music also holds a deeper social and emotional significance. Dr. Golec sees it as the most universal language available to humanity, one that heals, soothes, and makes genuine connection between people possible. At a time when social media and unrealistic standards are driving anxiety and loneliness, and online interactions are increasingly replacing real human contact, making music together offers something genuinely different. It fosters emotional wellbeing, restores balance, and reminds people that they are part of something larger than themselves. For Dr. Golec, this is precisely why music education deserves a place in every life, regardless of age or ability.
Teaching as a Two-Way Journey
Dr. Golec holds a firm belief that teaching and learning are inseparable. Every student who walks into Golec Music Studio brings a unique musicality, sensitivity, and personality, and she pays close attention to all of it. “Making music is not about right or wrong answers. It is about delivering a message in the most effective way possible to engage others and to encourage the listeners to hear the story and to give them the freedom to interpret and make the story alive in their own imagination,” she says.
Her teaching approach is structured, honest, and high in its expectations. Every session combines analytical and historical concepts, and students of all ages receive written homework adjusted to their level. She believes that the more time students invest in theory, notation, and analysis, the more independent they become, and the faster their long-term progress follows. At the core of it all is clarity: simplifying complex tasks, staying organised, and always being prepared with more than one way to explain or solve a problem.
Beyond the Lesson, Behind the Student
Emotional support is an equally important part of Dr. Golec’s methodology. She is mindful that life does not pause at the studio door, and when personal difficulty or trauma affects a student, her role shifts to meet whatever support is needed. She encourages her students well beyond their sessions, reminding them of their progress and expressing genuine belief in their potential.
Teaching seven days a week across a wide range of individuals has deepened her understanding of humanity and sharpened her empathy. Each student’s story broadens her perspective and informs how she teaches. Watching them succeed in competitions, earn scholarships, and pass auditions brings her profound satisfaction. “Seeing their progress and happy faces is the most treasured accomplishment an educator could ask for,” she reflects.
Before Leadership Journey
- Focused more on pleasing others than my own goals
- Prioritized others’ needs over my own
- Tried to do everything myself instead of delegating
- Less attention to long-term financial goals
- Career stage: building skills, taking on many roles
After Leadership Journey
- Maximizing time through delegation of work and home tasks
- More time for experiences, frequent travel, and exploring the world
- Personal and business growth through continuous learning
- Sharing knowledge with other business owners
- Choosing relationships, collaborations, and projects wisely
- Healthy balance between family, work, and experiences
- Using delivery services to save time for meaningful activities
- Virtual meetings and lessons to reduce driving and traffic time
- Financial intelligence: making smart decisions for now and the future
A Day in Dr. Beata Golec’s Life
Early Morning
6–6:30 am
– 3 alarms, gentle wake-up, water, stretching
6:30–7:30 am
– Get ready, check emails/texts, healthy breakfast, laundry & dishes“Clean space = clear, healthy mind” – organized spaces boost focus, reduce stress
Start of Workday
7:30 am – Work communications, scheduling, billing/invoices, teaching, writing, practicing
Midday
Teaching, practicing, work meetings
Key Work Priorities
✓ All paperwork done in morning
✓ Scheduling requests recorded immediately (avoid errors)
Evening
Cooking new dishes with family, family dinner, movie
Family is my most treasured value – quality, purposeful time together
Cooking = relaxing, calming, stimulating; meaningful conversations happen while cooking
Night / Wind-down
Movies & travel documentaries, plan future trips, evening tea, bed at reasonable hour
Open Letter for Aspiring Women Leaders, Educators, Artists, and Young Musicians
Dear Dreamers and Future Leaders,
Keep your child-like curiosity alive and always ask questions. They lead to unexpected and surprising discoveries that shape your path in ways you cannot imagine.
Follow and choose your own dreams. No one can assign or dictate your future or your path. Your life and your choices are up to you alone. Do not allow anyone to dismiss or minimize your value, your ideas, or your expertise. You bring something unique to the world.
Having courage means taking small steps every day. Big achievements do not happen overnight. They are the result of continuous dedication and hard work. Celebrate each small victory along the way.
Do not expect a cookie-cutter career of 9–5 jobs to be fulfilling, as they often have limited opportunities. Think outside the box and make your skills useful, purposeful, and needed. Create your own path where your art, your voice, and your education matter.
Your journey starts today. Take that first step.
Dr. Beata Golec
Founder & Owner,
Golec Music Studio
Quick Takes
1. One tool or app you would recommend to professionals in your industry:
Music Apps:
Metronome and Keyboard Apps
For Traveling and Learning About the World (while maximizing the American Express benefits):
AMEX Travel
2. One quote that motivates you the most:
“Outer order contributes to inner calm” – Gretchen Rubin
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value” – Albert Einstein
“Time is not refundable; use it with intention” – Anonymous
“Action is the foundational key to all success” – Pablo Picasso
“Creativity isn’t about wild talent, as much as its about productivity. To find new ideas that work, you need to try a lot that don’t. it’s a pure numbers game” – Robert Sutton
3. One piece of advice you would offer to upcoming entrepreneurs or future business leaders:
Do not be afraid to say “no” and trust your gut feeling. I promise it is always right!
Saying “no” when necessary and respecting our boundaries translates to not pursuing a relationship or a project that could potentially disrupt our life’s balance or harm us. But that’s OK! It is critical to set boundaries to protect our time, energy and emotional well-being. This in turn will prevent overcommitting and resenting projects which were not meant for us anyway.
5 Key Takeaways from Dr. Beata Golec’s Journey of Impact Through Music and Leadership
- Passion becomes powerful when it is used to inspire and uplift others.
- Resilience and adaptability are essential for overcoming challenges and achieving long-term success.
- Music is more than an art form—it can educate, heal, connect, and transform lives.
- Great leadership is built on service, integrity, and creating opportunities for others to grow.
- Lifelong learning and genuine care for people create a lasting and meaningful legacy.
