With great sadness we announce the passing of Robert J. Vars, the son of the great Polish composer of film and symphonic music, Henryk Wars. Born on March 10, 1934, in Warsaw as Robert Józef Warszawski, he celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year and died in Los Angeles after a brief illness on November…Continue Reading A Life in Music and Law
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Janusz Olejniczak, a monumental figure in Polish music. Olejniczak, a virtuoso pianist, teacher, and advocate for Chopin’s music, passed away on October 20, 2024 at the age of 72. Born in Wrocław in 1952, Janusz Olejniczak’s talent was apparent from an early…Continue Reading In Memoriam: Janusz Olejniczak (1952–2024)
Obituary by Marek Zebrowski Jan A. P. Kaczmarek, a prolific composer of film scores in Poland and Hollywood, died on May 21, 2024. He was 71 years old. Born on April 29, 1953, in Konin in western Poland, Kaczmarek pursued music and law, graduating in 1977 from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. By the…Continue Reading The Music Remains…
We regret to inform our readers that Ewa Podleś, the great Polish opera singer, passed away on January 19, 2024 at the age of 71. Possessing a beautiful and rare true contralto voice with a range of three-plus octaves, Ewa Podleś sang in the most prestigious houses around the world—Teatro alla Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin,…Continue Reading Obituary: Ewa Podleś, an Opera Legend
It is our deep sorrow to report that our friend and former PMC librarian, Dr. Barbara Zakrzewska, passed away in Poznań on November 30, 2023 at the age of 77….Continue Reading Obituary: Composer and Musicologist Barbara Zakrzewska
An Obituary by Marek Zebrowski Hy Blythe, an iconic figure in Paso Robles for many decades and a great champion of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, died at home on 31 March 2023. He was 95 years old. He left his wife, Hellie (pictured together above, at their home in 2007), daughter Leslie and son William, as…Continue Reading MEMORIES AND INSPIRATIONS
An Obituary of Stefan Wenta by Marek Zebrowski Stefan Wenta, a world-renowned dancer and choreographer, author, chess master and bibliophile, died in Los Angeles on August 8. He was 92 years old. Dance was his passion and destiny. Although in his rich and eventful life Wenta’s accomplishments spanned many different artistic endeavors, Terpsichore was his…Continue Reading Taking the Last Step
On Saturday, March 12, the Chopin Music University in Warsaw will present a concert entitled “Z bliska i z oddali – In memoriam Joanna Bruzdowicz” [From up close and far away – In memoriam Joanna Bruzdowicz]. The concert program will feature three trios for flute, viola and piano by three Polish women composers—Joanna Bruzdowicz, Anna…Continue Reading Bruzdowicz Memorial Concert
By Marek Zebrowski With great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Joanna Bruzdowicz on November 3, 2021 at her home in the French Pyrenees. She was 78. Born in Warsaw on 17 May 1943, Joanna Bruzdowicz was a child prodigy, who began to compose at the age of six. She studied composition with Kazimierz…Continue Reading If Music Be the Food of Love… A Tribute to Joanna Bruzdowicz
Regina Chłopicka – an outstanding musicologist, professor at the Academy of Music in Kraków and member of the Polish Composers’ Union since 1981 – has died. In 2021, she received the Annual Award of the Polish Composers’ Union for outstanding achievements in the field of music. She was a long-time professor in the current Department…Continue Reading Regina Chłopicka Obituary