Established by Poland’s Adam Mickiewicz Institute in 2011, the I, CULTURE Orchestra (ICO) is an ensemble of outstanding young musicians from Poland and the Eastern Partnership member states – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Members audition and are chosen anew each season, and this year’s ensemble of 111 artists was announced in April 2014.

The mission of the I, CULTURE Orchestra is to foster positive change in the cultural and social development of the countries of Eastern Europe and Southern Caucasus through enterprises of the highest artistic quality. Above all, the I, CULTURE Orchestra is an exquisite ensemble, but it is also an initiative of enormous social potential, a laboratory of civic education, cooperation, and understanding which transcends every division.

The Orchestra’s success has been founded on the universal principles of solidarity, integration, and friendship. As an educational project, the ICO enables young talents to change their perspective on their respective artistic surroundings and hone their skills under the supervision of eminent instrumentalists of some of the world’s most prominent orchestras.

As a part of its mission, the ICO holds at least one annual residency and conducts one annual international tour each year, and the following are scheduled for 2014:

RESIDENCY

27 July – 9 August 2014, Gdańsk, Music Academy/Baltic Philharmonic

CONCERTS

5 August 2014, Gdańsk, Poland: Chamber Music Concert, St John’s International Culture Centre

7 August 2014, Gdańsk, Poland:Frédéric Chopin Polish Baltic Philharmonic

Andrzej Panufnik – Sinfonia Elegiaca (Symphony No.2)

Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 „Leningrad

10 August 2014, Kassel, Germany:Kultursommer Nordhessen, Kongress Palais – Stadthalle

Gara Garayev – Two Images from „Seven Beauties“

Franz Liszt – Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat major

Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 „Leningrad

12 August 2014, La Roque d’ Antheron (Nantes, France):34e Festival International de Piano

Antonín Dvořák – Slavonic Dance No.1 Op. 46

Franz Liszt – Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat major

Aram Khachaturian – „Spartacus” Suite

17 August 2014, Edinburgh, Scotland:International Edinburgh Festival, Usher Hall

Andrzej Panufnik – Sinfonia Elegiaca (Symphony No.2)

Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 „Leningrad

23 August 2014, Stockholm, Sweden: Baltic Sea Festival

Gara Garayev – Two Images from „Seven Beauties“

George Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue

Aram Khachaturian – „Spartacus” Suite

[Source: iam.pl, culture.pl]