What’s better than one Fulbright Scholar carrying out research at the PMC? Certainly, it’s two Fulbright Scholars working assiduously for several months in situ, who then amplify their research results by creatively transforming the gathered materials after returning to their native Poland. As of a week ago on Spotify and other streaming services, there is…Continue Reading A Fulbright Fulfillment: ‘Night Shadows’ Recorded
Blending beloved Polish favorites by Chopin and Paderewski with a lesser known work by Aleksander Tansman and a world premiere by Marcel Chyrzyński, this year’s PMC Spring Concert is not to be missed. Presented by the USC Polish Music Center on Saturday, March 28 at 4:00 p.m., the concert will feature the Cracow Duo. Comprised…Continue Reading 2026 PMC Spring Concert: Cracow Duo Premieres Chyrzyński
USC Polish Music Center Director Marek Żebrowski has received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa [Honorary Doctorate] from Jan Kochanowski University (UJK) in Kielce, Poland. It is the highest academic distinction awarded by UJK, and he is only the 23rd individual to be honored with this title by this university. The honorary degree was conferred…Continue Reading PMC Director Marek Żebrowski Awarded Doctor Honoris Causa in Poland
‘Tis the Season… Once again, the Holiday Season is upon us and to our great delight during the past few weeks many PMC friends and supporters came forth bearing generous gifts for us. They ranged from rare and interesting books to numerous recordings that include several lesser-known works by Polish composers, as well as scores…Continue Reading PMC Gifts: December 2025
Dear Friend, This year marked the completion of the fortieth anniversary of the Polish Music Center’s presence on the USC campus. Since 1985, we have continued the work and sustained the legacy of Wanda Wilk, our founder and first director. Last fall we launched our celebrations with a concert of music by Henryk Wars, whose…Continue Reading 2025 PMC Year-In-Review
During the past two months our library holdings have been expanded by a few significant donations. Dr. Piotr Hapanowicz, curator and head of the Krzysztofory Palace Museum, gifted us a fascinating book, Zagadkowy Kraków [The Puzzling Kraków], covering the history of Poland’s first major capital. Filled with engaging facts, captivating stories and graced by fine…Continue Reading Gifts to PMC: Sept-Oct 2025
On Saturday, October 25th, 2025, the USC Polish Music Center welcomed a group of students from the Polish School in Los Angeles (Polska Macierz Szkolna) for a special educational event dedicated to Polish music and history. The lecture, delivered by PMC Director Marek Zebrowski, focused on the life and legacy of Ignacy Jan Paderewski—one of…Continue Reading Polish School Students Visit the PMC for Lecture on Paderewski
Magdalena Majewska’s Paderewski, published by PWM as part of their “little monograph” series, was a huge hit with Polish readers almost as soon as it appeared in 2024. Now, thanks to editing assistance from the Polish Music Center, this entertaining little volume has been published in an English translation. This new version was officially introduced…Continue Reading New Paderewski Biography in English
The long-awaited premiere of string arrangements of music by Henryk Wars based on the materials held in the PMC Wars Collection was finally realized thanks to the Polish Chamber Musicians’ Association (SPMK) and a grant they secured for this unusual project. They were presented at the Kraków Music Salon, an annual concert series organized by…Continue Reading Wars/Vars World Premiere & SPMK Performances in the US
Organized by the USC Polish Music Center, celebrations across Los Angeles of the artistic and intellectual legacy of Szymon Laks (1901-1983) will be held on October 19. Paris-based Polish Jewish composer and writer Szymon Laks’s music uniquely balances elements of French modernism, Polish folk music and American jazz. The composer survived imprisonment at Auschwitz by…Continue Reading 19 Oct 2025: Paderewski Lecture-Recital & Conversation with André Laks