You’ve really got to love Southwest Airlines for allowing their flight attendants to be funny, loving and sometimes even risqué when it comes to their PA announcements, their treatment to passengers … and even allowing a passenger to perform a concert at cruising altitude.
Frances Borowsky, a world renowned cellist who has performed in 35 countries, was flying Southwest Airlines back home to Baltimore after a concert in Nebraska.
Borowsky posted on her Instagram account (embedded below): “Just had the coolest (craziest?) experience on my Southwest flight today! My trio and I performed in Omaha last night, and on the way home today, the Southwest flight attendants asked me if I’d like to play a piece for them on our flight. I jumped at the chance! I’ve performed in 35 countries, but a mini-concert at 35,000 feet is a first for me. Navigating the bowing was a bit tricky with the limited elbow room, but I did what I could. As for the selection, Bach’s Prelude from Suite No. 1, of course! I’m so grateful to the Southwest crew and all the passengers who listened. It was a truly unforgettable experience! PS My brother, violinist Emmanuel Borowsky, gets video cred. He’s a happy and proud Southwest customer, and for those who might remember his name from a few years ago, his violin has made it onboard for every Southwest flight over the past few years.”
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ABC News affiliate WMAR interviewed Borowsky in the video embedded below, who said she grew up in Baltimore in a family of musicians. She’s been in performing front of a crowd since the age of seven and traveling to a gig is no big deal.
When she travels, she can’t check her instrument so instead she buys an extra seat for her cello. She told WMAR: “Talking with the crew who’s managing the flight, always trying to be on their good side. Like, ‘Hey, I need an extra seatbelt, this is what’s up…That’s always an adventure.”
She said she “overheard one of the flight attendants was having a pretty rough day.” So she asked if they’d enjoy a little free music and offered to “stay after the plane lands and play for just the crew. And one of the attendants said yeah, that would be great. And then came up and said, ‘How about after beverage service?’”
The flight attendant made an announcement: “Have you ever heard live music, on an airplane, while flying? Because probably most of you have seen that cello taking the first-row seat.”
Borowsky pulled out her cello and took a seat in the jump seat and began to play Bach’s Suite No. 1. Borowsky later commented, “There’s actually less room than I anticipated.”
I was expecting the comments across social media to be mixed since they almost always are and I imagined passengers complaining they just wanted peace and quiet but it appears there aren’t many passengers who don’t appreciate a professional cellist playing Bach during beverage service. I’m not even into classical music but I would have loved it too, like all of those who took the time to comment:
@Girlpianist: That is ridiculously cool! As a pianist that is something I likely will never accomplish… Jealous!
@andrew.reiner.author: That is so cool! I think you just created a ‘thing’ for flights that would calm a lot of people down—and get them interested in classical music!
@grapejuice475: Imagine if someone told Bach one of his pieces would be played 35,000 ft in the air one day! I think his mind would be completely shattered 😂 SUPER COOL!! 🫶
@failed_snail: I love the flight attendants going about their business too. That’s going to make Southwest’s hit list for sure. :)
@purswell_brody20: Definitely doing this next time I have my cello on a flight
@keirbriscoe: you are, without a doubt, the coolest Southwest passenger ever!
@thomasschwarting5108: I would LOVE that! Love music! Haven’t flown in AGES!
How about you? Would you like to hear Borowsky or another professional artist perform in-flight? Taylor Swift mentioned in her NYU commencement address that she and her mom always flew Southwest Airlines and even played a trick on passengers to keep the middle seat open. But how amazing would it have been to have Taylor perform at 35,000 feet?
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