On Saturday, October 25th, 2025, the USC Polish Music Center welcomed a group of students from the Polish School in Los Angeles (Polska Macierz Szkolna) for a special educational event dedicated to Polish music and history. The lecture, delivered by PMC Director Marek Zebrowski, focused on the life and legacy of Ignacy Jan Paderewski—one of Poland’s most celebrated musicians, statesmen, and independence activists.
Marek Zebrowski opened the lecture by introducing students to the historical background of the partitions of Poland and how these events shaped emigration and the creative lives of Polish composers abroad. The discussion then turned to Paderewski, whose extraordinary career as a pianist and composer was matched only by his political efforts, which helped Poland finally regain its independence after 123 years of foreign rule.
The visiting students had a unique opportunity to explore Paderewski’s life through the original artifacts preserved in the PMC’s Archives—including his letters, personal suitcase, and recordings of his music. The lecture was conducted entirely in Polish, except for one famous English quote often used by Paderewski at the beginning of his speeches:
“I have to speak to you about a country that is not yours, in a language that’s not mine.”
Following the lecture, students took part in group activities organized and supervised by Paulina Richter—a guest from SPMK and former Polish teacher—and Tomasz Fechner, PMC’s archive specialist. Divided into three groups, the students were invited to prepare short presentations on topics inspired by the lecture.
One group chose to research a contemporary Polish artist, athlete, or public figure who, like Paderewski, promotes Polish culture around the world. The other two groups imagined Paderewski traveling through time to the 21st century — exploring how his career and activism might look today, and how he could continue supporting Poland in modern times.
These activities encouraged the students to connect Poland’s past icons with its present and to reflect on how students themselves can follow in Paderewski’s footsteps by contributing to Polish culture and heritage.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of the USC campus led by Tomasz Fechner, featuring stops at several iconic locations—including, of course, the Paderewski monument. Erected by the PMC in 2007 with the help of many generous donors from across Poland, the US and Polonia communities everywhere, the group paused their tour for a photo with this monument to their new hero. The students also visited USC’s historic Doheny Library, as well as the Thornton School of Music and the School of Cinematic Arts. Back at the Polish Music Center, the event ended with a reception and screening of Ignacy Jan i jego plan, a beautifully animated short series produced by our colleagues at the SPMK about the life and work of Paderewski.
This educational event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Polish Consulate General in Los Angeles. The Polish Music Center extends its sincere gratitude to Consul Mateusz Gmura for his presence and support of our educational activities.