Katarzyna Sadej (mezzo-soprano) and Barbara Bochenek (pianist) are working on recording the 33 songs composed by Witold Lutoslawski under the pen name “Derwid.” These “pop” songs were tangos, waltzes, and foxtrots specifically composed for Polish radio, but have been largely forgotten. The duo has begun recording in Los Angeles, but they are seeking sponsors to…Continue Reading Lutoslawski “Derwid” Recordings
Marek Zebrowski will be giving a lecture on 11 August titled “Through Music to Freedom: Paderewski and World Politics,” followed by a performance of Paderewski’s most famous solo piano compositions. An exhibit about Poland will be on display in the library’s courtyard from 1-4:30 p.m. This event is coordinated by Judith Graham from the Santa…Continue Reading Polish Independence Celebration in Santa Monica
Warsaw Philharmonic has announced that they are holding auditions for the post of: ORCHESTRAL TUTTI MUSICIAN – 2nd VIOLIN (FULL-TIME). Auditions for 1st and 2nd stages have been scheduled for: 24 September 2018. Interested persons should submit their applications and artistic bios no later than 10 September. Applications may be submitted in person at The…Continue Reading Warsaw Philharmonic Announces Auditions
Almost exactly one year ago, the PMC heard from a dear old friend (and a fabulous conductor of the National Philharmonic Orchestra), Piotr Gajewski. Piotr alerted us and our audience to the cause of Szymon Rywalski, a young Polish horn player who received a huge merit scholarship from Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, but…Continue Reading The Musical Adventures of Szymon Rywalski
The Witold Lutosławski Society has announced its 2018 competition for a scholarship granted by the Composer’s Family. A scholarship of $10,000 USD for master’s education abroad will be awarded to one Polish student or graduate of a national music school or college. Polish composition and performance students interested in the works of the 20th and…Continue Reading 2018 Witold Lutosławski Society Stipend
Young, resourceful, ambitious, unconventional, surprising and courageous—these epithets accompanied the selection of Andrzej Kwieciński (b.1984) as Composer of the Month, named by Poland’s largest music publishers, PWM Editions. At the age of 21 in 2005, he had already won the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Prize and followed it with scholarship prizes from the…Continue Reading PWM’s May Composer of the Month: Andrzej Kwieciński
May 18 marked the seventh birthday of the Gorzów Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2011 a beautiful new building was opened with an inaugural concert featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Since that time, many concerts have featured leading artists from across the world presenting their talents for local music lovers. Housing about 600 seats, the main concert hall…Continue Reading Gorzów Phil Anniversary
Polish composer Joanna Bruzdowicz celebrated her 75th birthday this month. A longtime friend of the Polish Music Center and one of the first distinguished lecturers in our Paderewski Lecture-Recital annual series, Bruzdowicz had continued to collaborate with us on a number of different and exciting projects over the past two decades or so, as well…Continue Reading Bruzdowicz Birthday!
In her extensive May 8 interview for the Nowy Dziennik, a Polish language newspaper in New York, violinist Kinga Augustyn shared her insights on studying violin, performing, repertoire choices and her latest professional accomplishments. Kinga’s latest recording—a solo album of compositions by Georg Philipp Teleman on the Centaur label—was officially launched on May 5. Her…Continue Reading Kinga Augustyn Explores her Career as a Violinist
PWM Editions’s April “Composer of the Month” campaign will familiarize music lovers with the œuvre of Zygmunt Krauze. He is an extraordinary figure in the music community: a composer, pianist, teacher and organizer of musical events. This year, the composer will be celebrating his 80th birthday. In order to encourage the study Zygmunt Krauze’s scores,…Continue Reading PWM Composer of the Month: Zygmunt Krauze