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| Professor Ryszard Zimak |
Professor Ryszard Zimak
Ryszard Zimak graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. He studied at the Department of Musical Education under Professor Jozef Bok and finished with honours in 1971. He is now Full Professor of the Musical Arts and has his own choir conducting class.
He was Deputy Dean and Dean of the Department of Musical Education in 1989-1993, Deputy Rector for Research and Teaching in 1993-1999 and Rector of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw for two terms of office in 1999-2005. He is now Head of the Chair of Choir Conducting.
Ryszard Zimak has co-operated with AEC and ABAM, the European Rectors' Conferences. In 2002-2005 he was President of the Conference of Rectors of Artistic Universities (KRUA) and member of the Presiding Officers of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities (KRASP).
Ryszard Zimak was assistant conductor (1973-1974) and conductor (1977-1983) of the National Philharmonic Choir. He was permanent conductor of the Warsaw Chamber Opera and head of the Chamber Choir in 1983-2005. He was artistic director of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music Mixed Choir in 1982-2005.
As a conductor Ryszard Zimak specialises in great oratorio works, e.g. by J. S. Bach, J. F. Haendel and W. A. Mozart. Recently he has conducted such works as G. Verdi's Missa da Requiem, I. Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms, Karol Szymanowski's Stabat Mater, Stanislaw Moryto's Stabat Mater, Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. He prefers to produce unfamiliar Polish compositions a capella and vocal-instrumental works. He has prepared and conducted many works by such composers as: J. Elsner, W. Dankowski, M. Leopolita, B. Pêkiel, S. F. Lechleitner, D. Stachowicz and J. Staromiejski.
He has performed in many European countries and also in South Korea, Taiwan and the USA. He has conducted many symphony and oratorio programs at Polish Philharmonics.
He has sat on the juries of many choir competitions and reviews. He has recorded a number of CDs and has also recorded for radio and television.
Ryszard Zimak has received several awards: the Ministry of Culture and Art Award in 1992 and the Cross of the Order of the Polish Revival in 2002.
In 2005 the Minister of Culture honoured him with the Order of Merit for Polish Culture and an individual award. He has also been awarded the "Gloria Artis" Silver Medal.
Ryszard Zimak is currently Director of the National Fryderyk Chopin Institute.
Compiled by: The Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music