World renowned Polish harpsichord player Elżbieta Chojnacka passed away on May 28, 2017 at the age of 77. Chojnacka graduated from Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Muzyczna in Warsaw and then studied in Paris with Aimée van de Viele, who was a student of Wanda Landowska. After her studies, Chojnacka settled in Paris where she started her…Continue Reading Elżbieta Chojnacka
Lidia Kierończyk passed away on April 3, 2017 after fighting a long illness. She was a teacher of music theory and since 1999, she was the head of the theory section in the School of Music on Głogowska Street in Poznań. She was associated with the Poznań School of Talents (now called: The Jadwiga Kaliszewska…Continue Reading Lidia Kierończyk
Roderyk Lange passed away on March 16. He was a devoted Polish researcher of dance, a founder of the Polskie Forum Choreologiczne, and a long-time editor of StudiaChoreologica. Roderyk Lange had lived in the Great Britain since 1967. In 1975 he earned a doctorate degree in ethnography. From 1979-1992 he worked as a professor in the…Continue Reading Roderyk Lange
By Marek Żebrowski Ściskam dłoń—I shake your hand—was the recurring refrain expressed in person or at the close of every handwritten letter from Maestro Stanisław Skrowaczewski, who passed away on February 21 in Minneapolis. Congratulating the Maestro after his concerts, too, was a rather formal ritual: smiles and warm words were fine, but please no embraces!…Continue Reading Touching Infinity
Leoncjusz Ciuciura, an ardent advocate for contemporary music and co-organizer of the Polish Chapter of Jeunesses Musicales International, died on February 28. He was 86 years old. Born 22 June 1930 in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Ciuciura studied composition with Tadeusz Szeligowski in Warsaw during the years 1954-1960. Laureate of numerous prizes, Ciuciura’s early works from the…Continue Reading In Memoriam Leoncjusz Ciuciura
Polish composer, pianist and music teacher Andrzej Nikodemowicz died at the age of 92 on January 28, 2017. Born in January 2, 1925 in Lviv, Nikodemowicz studied chemistry and composition at prestigious institutions in his hometown. He later went on to teach composition, music theory and piano at the Lviv Conservatory. In 1973, he was…Continue Reading Andrzej Nikodemowicz
Kevin Starr Kevin Starr—world-famous historian, chronicler of California and distinguished USC Professor—died in San Francisco on January 14, 2017 at 76 years old. The Polish Music Center had the great pleasure to host Professor Starr in 2010 in connection with our Ignacy Jan Paderewski sesquicentennial celebrations at USC, which included a panel discussion on Paderewski—the pianist, composer,…Continue Reading Obituaries January 2017
Polish composer and sound engineer Eugeniusz Rudnik died on October 24, 2016 at the age of 83. He was a member of the Polish Composers’ Union since 2008. Next to Andrzej Rakowski, Janusz Piechurski and Krzysztof Szlifirski, Rudnik was one of the first producers of electroacoustic music in Poland, and the co-creator of the so-called…Continue Reading Eugeniusz Rudnik
Halina Łukomska (1929-2016) Polish soprano Halina Łukomska died on August 30, 2016 at the age of 87. The artist studied voice with Stanisława Zawadzka and Maria Halfterowa at the Higher State Music School in Warsaw, where she received her diploma in 1954. She continued her studies with Giorgio Favaretto in Siena (1958) and Toti Dal…Continue Reading Obituaries – September 2016
April 4, 2016 marked the passing of Dr. Elżbieta Dziębowska, a noted musicologist and specialist in music of the nineteenth and twentieth century. For many years Dr. Dziębowska was associated with the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, serving as a Head of Music History and Theory Department from 1974-1978. She was also one of the founders…Continue Reading Elżbieta Dziębowska