During the past two months our library holdings have been expanded by a few significant donations. Dr. Piotr Hapanowicz, curator and head of the Krzysztofory Palace Museum, gifted us a fascinating book, Zagadkowy Kraków [The Puzzling Kraków], covering the history of Poland’s first major capital. Filled with engaging facts, captivating stories and graced by fine…Continue Reading Gifts to PMC: Sept-Oct 2025
This year, Unsound New York is part of the overarching Unsound Festival’s WEB theme, connecting events in New York, Kraków and Osaka. Taking place between October 27 – November 6, Unsound New York will be held in several venues across the city. The opening night of Unsound New York is on October 27 at Pioneer Works, with a double…Continue Reading Unsound New York 2025
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…Continue Reading Polish School Students Visit the PMC for Lecture on Paderewski
During fall of 2025, the Salastina Music Society will present the music of Mieczysław Weinberg in beautiful chamber music spaces throughout Southern California. Entitled “Main Series No.1: Exile, Return, and Reinvention,” the program also includes Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, and Igor Stravinsky, and it will be presented in West LA, South Bay, Orange County, Santa Barbara and…Continue Reading Salastina Presents Weinberg Across Southern CA
by Marek Zebrowski I devoted my entire life to editorial work—that is to helping other authors avoid the improper use of words. Because, I think, words are the most important thing we have. -Teresa Chylińska, from the interview “O wszystkim z kulturą” with Polskie Radio Dwójka [undated] With great sadness and much regret, we note…Continue Reading The Lady Is Not for Turning
On September 20, 2025, long-time PMC colleagues pianist Marek Szlezer, cellist Jan Kalinowski, and composer Marcel Chyrzyński were celebrated during the 5th edition of the International Competition ‘Muzyczne Orły [Musical Eagles]‘. Jan Kalinowski, Marek Szlezer, Wojciech Koprowski, and Piotr Lato received a distinction in the Phonograph Record category for their album of chamber works by Marcel Chyrzyński….Continue Reading 5th Int’l ‘Musical Eagles’ Competition
The preliminary round of the 19th International Chopin Piano Competition concluded in May 2025 at the Warsaw Philharmonic, after 12 days of daily auditions. From the 162 pianists who performed, the jury selected 66 pianists to advance. They will return to Warsaw this October, where they will be joined by 19 pianists admitted directly to…Continue Reading The 2025 Chopin Competition in Warsaw
The 7th International Tadeusz Wroński Violin Competition concluded on September 28 in Warsaw, after a week of outstanding performances streamed live on The Violin Channel. Open to violinists of all nationalities born after April 1, 1990, the competition brought together a remarkable group of young musicians from across the globe. Following three rigorous rounds, the…Continue Reading Winners of the 7th Int’l Tadeusz Wroński Violin Competition
Organized by the USC Polish Music Center, celebrations across Los Angeles of the artistic and intellectual legacy of Szymon Laks (1901-1983) will be held on October 19. Paris-based Polish Jewish composer and writer Szymon Laks’s music uniquely balances elements of French modernism, Polish folk music and American jazz. The composer survived imprisonment at Auschwitz by…Continue Reading 19 Oct 2025: Paderewski Lecture-Recital & Conversation with André Laks
Philanthropist and civil servant Thaddeus “Tad” Taube passed away on September 13, 2025 at the age of 94, at his home in San Mateo County, California. Born in Kraków in 1931, he left Poland with his family before the outbreak of World War II, and dedicated his life and philanthropy to furthering the Polish-Jewish dialogue…Continue Reading Honoring Tad Taube