Director Henryk Martenka and Prof. Piotr Paleczny, the Artistic Director of the International Paderewski Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz, Poland have just announced the final selection of contestants for this year’s auditions. Out of a total of 164 applications, 56 pianists from 19 countries were selected to participate in the 2016 Paderewski Competition. Poland will be represented by…Continue Reading Paderewski Piano Competition Lineup
It has been announced that the founder, artistic director and longtime conductor of the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Washington, DC, Piotr Gajewski will be feted at the Annual Gala Dinner by the Kosciuszko Foundation on Saturday, November 12, 2016. Born in Poland, Maestro Gajewski began to study piano there and continued at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston once…Continue Reading Kosciuszko FDN Honors Maestro Gajewski
The National Forum of Music presents two concerts of early Polish music around Wrocław in August. First, on August 20, Ars Cantusled by their artistic director Tomasz Dobrzański will perform “Cracovia civitas – music from the 15th-century Kraków manuscripts” in the Town Hall. On August 26, the Goldberg Baroque Ensemble from Gdańsk and their artistic director Andrzej Szadejko…Continue Reading NFM Hosts Early Music Concerts
On July 24 during the 9th Nowe Miasto Summer Festival, the Warsaw Camerata Orchestra led by Paweł Kos-Nowicki gave the world premiere of Concerto for Bassoon by Sebastian Zawadzki. Also on the program were Concerto for Oboe by Sebastian Krajewski and Antesy después by Jerzy Wołochowicz. Soloists for the concert were Marek Roszkowski – oboe and Leszek Wachnik – bassoon. The concert was…Continue Reading Zawadzki Premiere
On August 3, Polish clarinetist Barbara Borowicz will play a concert in the US dedicated exclusively to works by Polish composers, including world premieres of two new works commissioned by the performer: The Soul of Seul for clarinet and vibraphone by Ewa Fabiańska-Jelińska and Haiku No. 2 for clarinet and piano by Marcel Chyrzyński. Also on the program are Fragment H for clarinet and piano by…Continue Reading Premieres for Fabiańska-Jelińska and Chyrzyński
On July 10, the Polish Radio Choir will host an evening with composer Paweł Mykietynand a performance of his music—Shakespeare Sonnets for voice and piano and for piano and tape—as well as Lutosławski’s Five Songs to the words of Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna. Soloists for the evening will be Anna Zawisza – soprano and Maciej Grzybowski – piano, and Tomasz Cyz. Born in…Continue Reading Polish Radio Choir Salon Series – Mykietyn
The 7th edition of the Tauron Musica Electronica Nova Festival (MEN) was held from May 19-22, 2016, for the first time in its new home at the National Forum of Music (NFM) in Wrocław. This year’s theme was “Growing,” which corresponded to the motto of Wrocław European Capital of Culture 2016: “Spaces for Beauty.” According to Festival…Continue Reading Roemer, Strzelec and Zubel Premieres at Men Festival
From May 12-26, 2016, the Gorzów Philharmonic Orchestra hosted the Kilar Contemporary Music Festival. This Festival has become one of the most important musical events in the region. The idea is to promote the music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries—the composers and their achievements, as well as the artists specializing in its interpretation. During this…Continue Reading Premieres at Kilar Festival
The Polish Arts and Culture Foundation (1966-2016) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. From April 30 to May 13, the PACF co-organized several events in honor of its Founder, the late Mme. Wanda Tomczykowska, and the 50 remarkable years of promoting Polish culture in the Bay Area and beyond that she launched by starting the PACF. Guest of…Continue Reading PACF Celebrates 50 Years
Kilar. Geniusz o dwóch twarzach Maria Wilczek-Krupa Wydawnictwo Znak, 2015 Entitled Kilar. Geniusz o dwóch twarzach [Kilar. Genius of two faces], the first full biography of composer Wojciech Kilar provides a fascinating portrait of the recently deceased artist. Describing himself as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Kilar was known for his great love of fast cars and his…Continue Reading First Kilar Biography