Obituary: Elżbieta Markowska 

The tragic news about the death of Elżbieta Markowska, former director of the Polish Radio – Channel 2 and president of the Witold Lutosławski Society, was announced on 24 January 2021.  Elżbieta Markowska graduated in musicology from the University of Warsaw under the supervision of Professor Józef Chomiński. From 1970 she was associated with the…Continue Reading Obituary: Elżbieta Markowska 

In Memoriam: Jan Krenz

Maestro Jan Krenz, an outstanding conductor, composer, and honorary member of the Polish Composers’ Union, died on 15 September 2020 at the age of 94. Jan Krenz was a student of Zbigniew Drzewiecki (piano), Kazimierz Sikorski (composition) and Kazimierz Wiłkomirski (conducting). From 1947-49 he worked at the Poznań Philharmonic. In 1949, he became associated with…Continue Reading In Memoriam: Jan Krenz

In Memoriam Krzysztof Penderecki

By Marek Zebrowski One cannot predict anything, but I would nonetheless like my music to survive, just like Szymanowski’s. Times have changed, yet Chopin’s music remains. Thus, I hope, my music will also remain.” [Penderecki for National Chopin Institute, quoted at onet.pl] Krzysztof Penderecki died in Kraków in the early hours of Sunday morning, March…Continue Reading In Memoriam Krzysztof Penderecki

In Search of Harmony: An Obituary of Joe Herter

By Marek Zebrowski Joseph Anthony Herter, conductor, author and scholar, professor of music and concert producer, died in Warsaw on 12 December 2019. He was 74 years old.  It was a long journey from Detroit—a great Midwestern metropolis with a huge Polish émigré community—to Warsaw, which eventually became Joe Herter’s adopted homeland. This continental crossing…Continue Reading In Search of Harmony: An Obituary of Joe Herter

Jan Kulma Obituary

Jan Kulma, theater and television director, musician, philosopher, writer, Home Army soldier, participant in the Warsaw Uprising, husband of poet Joanna Kulmowa, and co-founder of the Warsaw Chamber Opera, passed away on 30 August 2019. He was born in 1922. During the Warsaw Uprising, Jan Kulma belonged to the 125th platoon of the second company…Continue Reading Jan Kulma Obituary

Musical Epitaph in Memory of Paweł Adamowicz

The Polish premiere of Epitaph for Paweł Adamowicz composed by Katarzyna Kwiecień-Długosz will take place on January 18. Monika Kaźmierczak will perform the piece on the carillon of the St. Catherine’s Church in Gdańsk. The composer dedicated the Epitaph to the recently murdered Mayor of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz, whose name and city are referenced within the composition of the work…Continue Reading Musical Epitaph in Memory of Paweł Adamowicz

Milewski Remembered In Brazil

Just over a year ago, on 23 June 2017, Polish virtuoso violinist, Jerzy Milewski, died in Brazil after a long illness. Shortly thereafter, we published his obituary, noting the sadness and great loss to Polish music in his passing. The strength of Milewski’s character, his gregarious personality and great mastery of the violin remain firmly…Continue Reading Milewski Remembered In Brazil

Obituary: Henryk (Henry) Jordan Stojowski

Son of the world-famous pianist and post-romantic composer, Zygmunt (Sigismond) Stojowski, and acclaimed pianist and teacher Luisa Stojowska, Henry passed away in Richmond, Virginia USA on Sunday, 2 September 2018. Born prematurely in Fontainebleau, France, while his parents were on a European concert tour, he was christened with the name Henri in honor of the…Continue Reading Obituary: Henryk (Henry) Jordan Stojowski