In 2017, the Karol Szymanowski Music Society is celebrating their 40 anniversary. The celebration started on March 1 in Katowice with the 20th edition of the “Evenings with music by Karol Szymanowski” Festival [Wieczory z muzyką Karola Szymanowskiego]. The 2017 “Evenings” Festival will include five monographic concerts (March 1, 8, 15, 23 and 29) performed by teachers and students of the Academy of Music in Katowice, where Karol Szymanowski is the patron. The final concert happens to fall on March 29, 2017: the 80th anniversary of Szymanowski’s death, when there will be a gala concert performed by  the Academic Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mirosław J. Błaszczyk.

The Karol Szymanowski Music Society was established in 1977 in Zakopane in Villa Atma – the house where Szymanowski lived from 1930-35. In 1976 the villa was transformed into a museum and the headquarters of the Karol Szymanowski Music Society. The initial board of members of the society featured figures such as Andrzej Bachleda Curuś,  Wojciech Kilar and Witold Rowicki. Currently, the Karol Szymanowski Music Society is run by prof. Joanna Domańska (president), Eugeniusz Knapik Arkadiusz KubicaSławomir Czarnecki and Józef Kolinek. Their main aim is to promote music by Szymanowski through organizing festivals, exhibitions, concerts, competitions and lectures. In 2012, the Society initiated the “Karol Szymanowski International Music Competitions in Katowice” project, featuring current competitions for composers and ensembles, as well as future plans to include violinists, singers and pianists.

Wednesday March 15, 2017 | 7:00 p.m.
“Evenings with music by Karol Szymanowski” feat. pianists Magdalena Lisak & Piotr Sałajczyk
Concert Hall, Szymanowski Academy of Music
ul. Zacisze 3, Katowice, Poland
Admission: FREE
Info & Tickets: www.szymanowski.zakopane.pl | +32 77 92 100 | informacja@am.katowice.pl

March 23, 2017 | 7:00 p.m.
“Evenings with music by Karol Szymanowski” feat. sopranos Marta Brzezińska, Anna Noworzyn / pianist Grzegorz Biegas and violinist Beata Warykiewicz-Siwy / pianist Michał Sadzikowski
Concert Hall, Szymanowski Academy of Music
ul. Zacisze 3, Katowice, Poland
Admission: FREE
Info & Tickets: www.szymanowski.zakopane.pl | +32 77 92 100 | informacja@am.katowice.pl

March 29, 2017 | 7:00 p.m.
“Evenings with music by Karol Szymanowski” feat. Chór Contento Core with Małgorzata Wasiucionek and Academic Symphony Orchestra, Mirosław J. Błaszczyk – cond.
Concert Hall, Szymanowski Academy of Music
ul. Zacisze 3, Katowice, Poland
Admission: FREE
Info & Tickets: www.szymanowski.zakopane.pl | +32 77 92 100 | informacja@am.katowice.pl

[Sources: polmic.plszymanowski.zakopane.plam.katowice.pl]