Immediately after completing his work with the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles and the Paderewski Youth Cultural Exchange, both co-organized by the Polish Music Center, PMC Director Marek Zebrowski left the states for work in Poland in November and December. During this visit, Dir. Zebrowski will perform concerts, give lectures, and meet with critical PMC partners in major Polish cities such as Poznań, Gdańsk, Kraków and Warsaw. Apart from reconnecting with those already familiar with our institution, a main theme of this trip is to introduce the history and special collections of PMC to new audiences, especially at the Academies of Music in Poznań and Gdańsk.

On November 23, after giving a lecture in Poznań at the local Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music, Dir. Zebrowski received a prestigious award from Wojewoda Wielkopolski [The Governor of Greater Poland], Zbigniew Hoffmann. The purpose of this award is to distinguish people with exceptional merits in regards to Polish culture who are connected with the region of Greater Poland. Although Zebrowski’s efforts to promote Polish culture abroad were the main reason of receiving the prize, Governor Zbigniew Hoffmann also underlined the value of his artistic achievements and didactic work.

Below is the first report back from Dir. Zebrowski while in Poland, with more to follow in the January Newsletter.