Following on the heels of their riveting performance this past weekend at the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles, the duo of Joanna Freszel (soprano) and Łukasz Chrzęszczyk (piano) continue their tour northward up the West Coast of the US. These two outstanding young Polish artists are individually winners of some of most prestigious awards in Poland and beyond….Continue Reading Freszel Duo: Seattle (12/5) and San Francisco (12/7)
Dear Friends of the Polish Music Center, Another year has passed very quickly and, again, quite a lot has happened at the USC Polish Music Center throughout 2023. As you peruse the summary below of our major events, milestones, and accomplishments achieved this year, we hope you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to support…Continue Reading Year-in-Review: PMC in 2023
On November 28, the International Festival of Contemporary Music “New Waves” begins its 9th iteration. Organized by the Gdańsk Branch of the Polish Composers’ Union, this festival focuses on finding ways to highlight the ideas coming from new composers and present contemporary creativity in bright new ways. The festival will be held in Gdańsk from…Continue Reading Premieres at the 2023 Int’l Festival of Contemporary Music “New Waves”
On Sunday, December 3, the Freszel Duo will perform ‘Works by great Polish composers of Jewish descent’ at the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles. Their program features compositions spanning the years immediately before, during, and after World War II. This event is organized by HMLA, in partnership with the USC Polish Music Center, Polish National…Continue Reading Freszel Duo at HMLA
On October 23, 2023, during the evening gala in the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, the Koryfeusz Polish Music Awards were presented to this year’s winners. The honorary lifetime achievement award went to Irena Santor, considered the first lady of Polish song and a performer of many unforgettable hits on the Polish music scene. Martyna Pastuszka became…Continue Reading 2023 Koryfeusz Polish Music Award Winners
A special all-Polish concert honoring the anniversary of the restoration of Poland’s sovereignty in 1918 will take place on 11 November 2023 at the Polish Museum of America (PMA) in Chicago. The music will be performed by the Cracow Duo: Kalinowski & Szlezer, with whom the American audiences are already well acquainted. Comprised of Jan…Continue Reading Nov 11 Concert with Cracow Duo at PMA in Chicago
This November marks two years since the passing of Joanna Bruzdowicz (1943-2021), one of the top Polish composers and promoters of Polish culture. Alongside Grażyna Bacewicz, Anna Maria Klechniowska, Bernardetta Matuszczak, Barbara Niewiadomska, and Marta Ptaszyńska, Bruzdowicz was one of several Polish female composers who studied with the famous Nadia Boulanger in France. Joanna Bruzdowicz…Continue Reading Czarakcziew & Kowal Honor Joanna Bruzdowicz
Bandonegro, a world-class quartet from Poland, is a group of four young and very accomplished musicians. They are Michał Główka (bandoneon/accordion), Jakub Czechowicz (violin), Marek Dolecki (piano) and Marcin Antkowiak (double bass). They specialize in traditional Argentine tango and Tango Nuevo, as well as compose their own works, blending in elements of jazz and classical…Continue Reading Bandonegro Comes to LA on North American Tour
The new Flute Concerto by Marta Ptaszyńska—well-known Polish composer who is Professor Emerita of Music and the Humanities at the University of Chicago and honoree of the PMC’s 2005 Paderewski Lecture-Recital, as well as a significant donor to our unique Manuscript Collection—was world premiered on Sunday, October 29. The premiere performance was given by flutist…Continue Reading Ptaszyńska World Premiere
For the third year in a row, the New York City based Polish violinist Kinga Augustyn is performing in Italy during the fall season. This year she is presenting two concerts with the MÁV Symphony Orchestra from Budapest. The first, on October 25 is at the historical Teatro dal Verme in Milan. The second two…Continue Reading Kinga Augustyn in Italy