We are pleased to inform that on 1^st October 2012 the Department of Piano, Harpsichord and Organ is launching the second degree studies – major: Instrumental Studies, Specialty: Piano Playing, language of tuition: English. The studies will be payable.

We hope these studies will be a substantial facilitation for the candidates who are foreigners and want to obtain an MA Diploma (with the title of magister sztuki) at the FCUM.
The studies will be carried out according to the enclosed plan.
The enrolment procedure will be held from 2^nd to 7^th July 2012 and it will be based on the general rules as specified in the prospectus for candidates for the freshman year in the Academic Year of 2012/2013. Admission limit: 8
Extramural studies will be started if at least 3 candidates are accepted.
You are cordially invited to the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music!

Plan

4^th October 2011, 12:00 p.m.

On Tuesday a new academic year 2011/2012 was ceremonially inaugurated at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. The FCUM Rector, Professor Stanisław Moryto welcomed many outstanding guests who came to this ceremony, such as: His Eminence Rev. Cardinal Józef Glemp, Bishop Tadeusz Pikus, who represented His Eminence Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, Metropolitan Bishop of Warsaw, Father Bernard Sawicki, PhD, Abbot of the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec, Professor Wiktor Jędrzejec – Director of the Department of Art and Culture Education at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Wioletta Laszczka, Head of the Department of Higher Art Education at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Members of Parliament and Senators of Poland, Honorary Doctors of the FCUM, representatives of diplomatic posts and Heads of music schools and cultural institutions.

After the speech delivered by His Magnificence Rector Professor Stanisław Moryto festive immatriculation of students took place. This academic year our University has 350 freshmen students at seven Departments. Next, Prof. Jędrzejec, Director of the Department of Art and Culture Education at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage handed in Medals awarded by President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski “For Long Service” to well-deserved employees of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music.

Further on, Director Jędrzejec handed in honorary mentions of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage: Honorary Badges “For Merits to Polish Culture” and Minister’s Award for artistic and didactic achievements. The laureate of this award was Professor Maja Nosowska.

The Pro Polonia Society Foundation once again awarded outstanding students of the FCUM with Fellowships, which were handed in by po Professor Ryszard Cieśla — Vice-Rector for Teaching Affairs and Mr. Han Sung-Rae, Director of the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Republic of South Korea. Professor Witold Osiński, Dean of the Department of Sound Engineering handed in awards to the laureates of the Professor Antoni Karużas Music Recordings Competition. Then the floor was given to Zuzanna Całka, Head of the FCUM Student Government.

The first part of the ceremony ended with the inaugural lecture titled The mysticism of melody – between Gregorian chorale and Chopin delivered by Father Bernard Sawicki, PhD, Abbot of the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec.

In the artistic part we could listen to Eunho Chang (South Korea), who performed his own composition on the piano titled The Unification of The Four Elements (2008).

With regret I have to announce the death of Professor Regina Smendzianka after a long and painful illness on the 14^th September 2011.

Professor Regina Smendzianka was an outstanding and world famous pianist, she held the position of Rector of the State Higher School of Music in the period of 1972–1973 and was a Doctor Honoris Causa of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music.
Professor, laureate of the 4^th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, and later on she herself was a juror of subsequent editions of this competition, as well as the P. Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow or competitions in Salerno, Tokyo and Bydgoszcz. Starting from her debut in March 1947 she performed recitals, gave concerts as a soloist with the most famous orchestras (e.g. artistic tours with the National Philharmonic or the Great Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio) in all concert halls in Poland and in almost all European countries, as well as in the USA, Canada, Mexico, South America, former USSR, Japan, China, Mongolia etc.
She was Rector of the State Higher School of Music (the institution which the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music emerged from) in the period of 1972–1973, Doctor Honoris Causa of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music (2002), Honorary Professor of the FCAM (1997), promoter of the Polish piano music (Chopin, Paderewski, Szymanowski, Szymanowska, Ogiński, Lessel, Janiewicz, Moniuszko, Malawski, Bacewicz, Łuciuk), also in publications (as an editor), during talks and lectures, she recorded a number of LPs and CDs, she was an author and producer of TV programmes, organizer of concerts at the St. Andrew Bobola Sanctuary, outstanding pedagogue, she was connected with the Warsaw conservatory since 1966. She educated 77 pianists altogether, both during MA studies (35) and postgraduate studies (42), both Poles (30) and foreigners (47), including many prize winners of international competitions, as well as pianists who now have the titles of professors, she established the “Regina Smendzianka Foundation”, which supports young pianists.
She received awards of the Minister of Culture and Art six times, and the Gold Medal “For Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis”, she was also decorated with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, and others.
Her death is an irrecoverable loss for the Polish artistic community, we lost an outstanding artist and great pedagogue, scholar and promoter of the Polish music works.

Most sincere condolences for the family and loved ones, alumni, friends and co-workers

Rector of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music

With regret I have to announce the death of Professor Jerzy Jurek suddenly on the 14th September 2011, at the age of 66.

Professor Jerzy Jurek held the position of Dean of the Department of Instrumental Studies in the period of 1999–2005 and again from 2008, Vice-Dean of this Department in the period of 1991–1996 and 2005–2008.
From 1992 he was Professor at our University, and in the period of 1995–2004 he was also Professor at the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź. Outstanding instrumentalist, prize-winner at numerous international music competitions, teacher of many generations of talented Polish musicians; many times awarded with high national decorations – including the Officer’s Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, numerous awards of the Ministry of Culture and of our University’s Rector, juror at international music competitions, activist of the social cultural movement.
We lost an outstanding artist and pedagogue devoted to the Polish music culture.

Most sincere condolences for the family and loved ones, friends and co-workers

Rector of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music

Rector and Senate of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music would like to invite you to the INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2011/2012, which will take place on 4^th October 2011 at 12:00 at the FCUM Concert Hall, 2 Okólnik St.

Programme of the event:

1. National anthem
2. Speech by His Magnificence Rector Professor Stanisław Moryto
3. Festive immatriculation of students
4. Gaude Mater Polonia
5. Handing in the decorations and medals
6. Handing in the Pro Polonia Society Fellowships
7. Handing in the awards to the laureates of the Professor Antoni Karużas Music Recordings Competition
8. Speech of a representative of the Student Government
9. Gaudeamus igitur
10. Inaugural lecture
11. Artistic Part

Inaugural lecture: The misticism of melody – between Gregorian chorale and Chopin delivered by Father Bernard Sawicki, PhD, abbot of the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec

Artistic part: Eunho Chang (South Korea) – piano in the programme: Eunho Chang — The Unification of The Four Elements (2008)

After the ceremony we invite you to go to the exhibition of works of students of the Interuniversity Multimedia Specialty on display in the Concert Hall foyer.

ATTENTION: From 1^st July 2011 the bank account number of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music for PLN payments is changed. The new bank account number is: 62 1750 0009 0000 0000 1333 6188

July — August 2011
Warsaw, 56/60 Krakowskie Przedmieście St.

We cordially invite you to the 11^th edition of the Summer Music Evenings Festival – DZIEKANKA 2011. The Festival is organized by the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in cooperation with Stołeczna Estrada and the Capital City of Warsaw Municipal Office.
It is held in the building of the students’ hostel “Dziekanka” at Krakow­skie Przedmieście 56/60 Street, every Wednesday at 6 p.m. throughout July and August.
The concerts are performed in a beautiful historical courtyard of the hostel, surrounded with a wooden gallery, or – in case of bad weather – in the newly redecorated Józef Elsner Concert Hall, also in Dziekanka.
The Festival’s Artistic Director is Ryszard Zimak. Like every year, the anchorman during the concerts will be Andrzej Krusiewicz.
Poster

5 June 2011, 5 pm
Fryderyk Chopin Concert Hall

On Sunday, 5 June 2011, FCUM will hold a charity concert “Kizuna – the bonds of friendship”.

Musical performances by Japanese students have been organised on a yearly basis by the Japanese Club in Poland. This year, in the wake of the devastation brought about by the earthquake hitting Eastern Japan on 11 March, Polish FCUM students and teachers joined the event. Together, they organised a musical event during which money will be collected for the victims of the disaster.
The concert program includes works by J.S. Bach, F. Chopin, K. Szymanowski, P. Tchaikovsky, F. Liszt and S. Rachmaninow, performed by the Japanese and Polish students of FCUM.

August 18–28, 2011
Janowiec

More information
Web page

18^th–24^th September 2011

From 18^th to 24^th September 2011 there will be the 5^th International Piano Duo Competition taking place in Białystok. The competition is organized by the Society of Friends of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Białystok for the fifth time.
Its co-organizer is the Department of Instrumental and Educational Studies of the FCUM in Białystok.
More about the competition www.pianoduo.pl
Regulations
Poster

On 30^th March 2011 in the FCUM’s Concert Hall there was a concert from the cycle “Wednesday in Okólnik Street” — A tribute to John Paul II.
The performers were: Chopin Vocal Consort, the FCUM Instrumental Ensemble, Bartosz Jakubczak — organ, Krzysztof Marosek — positive, Adam Bogacki – double bass, Marek Żwirdowski — trombone, Ryszard Zimak — conductor.
The artists performed works by Johann Sebastian Bach:

• Prelude and Fugue in C Major BWV 545
• Motet Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden BWV 230
• Fantansia Jesu, meine Freude BWV 713
• Motet Jesu, meine Freude BWV 227
• Fantasia in C Minor BWV 562
• Motet Komm, Jesu, komm BWV 229
• Motet O Jesu Christ, mein’s Lebens Licht BWV 231

22^nd February 2011, 12:00

On 22^nd February 2011 at 12:00, for the 200^th anniversary of the music Alma Mater there were Festive Celebrations of the University Day in the FCUM Concert Hall, at 2 Okólnik Street.

Programme of the event:
National anthem
Speech by Rector Prof. Stanisław Moryto
Handing in the orders, decorations and medals
Festive doctors’ graduation ceremony
Handing in the diplomas of doktor habilitowany
Gaude Mater Polonia
Handing in the Magna cum Laude medals
Handing in the Société Genéralé scholarships
Handing in the Rector’s Grand Prix
Ceremonial fanfare

Artistic part:
Karol Lipiński — Rondo from Trio in A Major Op. 12
Performers: Konstanty Andrzej Kulka — violin, Andrzej Gębski — violin, Andrzej Wróbel — cello

18–31 July, 2011
Master classes for pianists, singers, string players and composers
Private lessons — Workshops — Concerts — Excursions

Artistic Director: Professor Andrzej Dutkiewicz, PhD
Secretariat: Maria Neugebauer, tel. /fax: +48 504 822 910
or Natalia Sukiennik, tel. +48 604 908 722
e-mail: neugebauer@chopin.edu.pl or info@chopin.edu.pl

The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland announces its 12th intensive music course and festival From Chopin to Górecki — Sources and Inspirations.

The Chopin — Górecki Music Festival consists of private instruction by acclaimed international artists, master classes, lectures, concerts and excursions in Poland. Participants will experience individual instruction with world renown teachers. (To read the brochure click here).
Brochure in Japanese.

Currently in its twelfth year, the Chopin — Górecki Music Festival has evoked the interest of serious musicians world-wide who are excited by the unique opportunity of experiencing first-hand Chopin’s unforgettable homeland.

Participants will be surrounded by the same inspiration that captured the hearts and souls of great Polish composers from Chopin to Górecki. We will visit the birthplace and house of Fryderyk Chopin and experience the rich, Polish folk tradition.

Tuition: for the Chopin-Górecki Music Festival which includes all accommodations, lessons and trips is 710 Euro.

Accommodation: participants are housed in shared double rooms (breakfast included) with a bathroom in Dziekanka - students hostel, situated in the centre of Warsaw, a walking distance to the University of Music and the beautiful Old Town.

Lessons: at the University’s building. Every participant will get four lessons (one hour each) and the best participants will perform in a public concert at the end of the Festival. Due to a limited number of applications accepted, early registration is recommended.

Deadline for application is May, 31, 2011 (download)

Send your application form to:
The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music
International Relations and Promotion Office
2, Okólnik str., 00–368 Warsaw, Poland
Tel./fax: +48–22 827 83 10
e-mail: neugebauer@chopin.edu.pl or info@chopin.edu.pl

Registration fee of 160 Euro should be paid to:
Fundacja Uniwersytetu Muzycznego
Bank: PKO BP Plac Powstańców Warszawy 4, Warszawa PL
Account number: PL 37 1020 1013 0000 0102 0021 0062
Swift code: BP KOPLPW
Please add: From Chopin to Górecki

A few words about our former Festival

On 4–6 November 2010 there was an annual congress of the Association of European Conservatories (Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies des Musique et Musikhochschulen — AEC) held at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music.

The FCUM was entrusted with co-organisation of the congress, in which almost 300 rectors of European and non-European conservatories (Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Singapore, USA) participated, on account of the Chopin year celebrated in 2010, as well as the jubilee of 200 years of existence of Warsaw’s university of music.
There was a special artistic programme prepared for this occasion, part of it was a gala concert of pedagogues of our university at the National Philharmonic, and brief student performances preceding each plenary session at the Fryderyk Chopin Concert Hall.
The theme of the plenary debates and group discussions was financing the European artistic education in times of economic crisis and the development of the European programme called ERASMUS-Polifonia.

You can find details about the AEC at the website: www.aecinfo.org

The agenda
Photo gallery

Dear Students and Teachers — former and current participants of the International Music Festival and Master Classes called FROM CHOPIN TO GÓRECKI

We are very happy to inform you that our 11^th edition of the Festival which took place traditionally at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland from July 17 — 31 was very successful. The students and guests of the Festival who came this year from Belgium, Korea, Japan and United States, had the opportunity to hear Chopin music performed by Polish young artists in Chopin’s birth place in Żelazowa Wola, the Łazienki Park and in concerts organized at our University. This year we all celebrate 200 anniversary of Chopin birth — so those concerts were specially important for our students to learn and to compare the interpretation of Chopin music played by native Polish musicians. They also visited a new-opened Museum of Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw. The participants of this year Festival had also opportunity to be introduced to the contemporary Polish music written by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Kazimierz Serocki and Stanisław Moryto. The concert called From Górecki to Chopin was performed by our distinguished faculty — Jerzy Sterczyński, Stanisław Skoczyński, Andrzej Wróbel, Andrzej Dutkiewicz and Camerata Vistula Ensemble. During the Festival the students had the chance to learn how to dance Polish folk dances like Mazurkas and Polonaises and what to do to understand better the style of Chopin mazurkas and polonaises by attending the lecture presented by professor Jan Kadłubiski.

But the most important in our opinion was the Final Concert of Participants! The level of this concert was extremely high. All performers played very well and the pianist A. Burmistrov from Belgium and Kim Ji Soo from Korea were simply outstanding. We were very proud to have them here as the students and we wish them and other participants all the best in developing their own artistic carrier.

We hope that the next summer, during our 12th Festival FROM CHOPIN TO GÓRECKI, which — like this year — we will organize in the second half of July 2011, the group of young talented musicians — string players, pianists, composers will be able to come to Poland to learn more about music performance and interpretation of Romantic and Contemporary Music.

For more information please feel free to contact us by e-mail.

From 4 to 6 November 2010 the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music will host the yearly Congress of the AEC (Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen).

In the light of the ongoing Chopin jubilee the AEC Council has decided to hold the 2010 General Congress in Warsaw, at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music.

Founded in 1953, Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen is a cultural and artistic organisation that unites under its umbrella almost 300 institutions from 55 countries of the world. The organisation’s mission and objectives, announced during the 2000 General Assembly in Vicenza, are:

• to initiate and and maintain relations between member institutions
• to implement a variety of international projects concerning significant aspects of artistic education
• to organise yearly congresses and thematic seminars dedicated to the national, European and international aspects of artistic education.

The programme of the 2010 Congress (incl. General Assembly, AEC Council meeting, working groups and common interest groups meetings) will focus on the issues of international systems of music education.

As the host of the event, the FCUM will treat the participants to a special Chopin-related programme. A series of artistic performances as well as cultural and tourist attractions will be prepared, aimed at promoting Fryderyk Chopin and his work among the 300 music school representatives for whom the person and heritage of the outstanding Polish composer is likely to be one of the highlights of their visit to Warsaw.

Details regarding congress registration and programme are available from the AEC website: www.aecinfo.org

1 July 2010, 6:00 pm
Dziekanka
58/60 Krakowskie Przedmieście St.

During the inaugural concert of the 10th Summer Evenings Music Festival DZIEKANKA 2010 was a performance by Oscar Williams Jr and Perfected Praise Gospel Band (line-up: Oscar Williams Jr – piano, vocal, Tracy Smith – vocal, Thelma Guyton – vocal, Meaghan Williams – vocal).

The following pieces were performed:

• Thomas Dorsey (1899–1993) - It’s A highway to Heaven, Since I’ve Been Born Again (trad.), Precious Lord (trad.), How I Got Over (ttrad.)
• Duke Ellington (1899–1974) — Come Sunday, Oh Mary Don’t you Weep (trad.)
• Andrea Crouch (born 1942) — Soon and Very Soon, We are Not Ashamed
• Edwin Hawkins (born 1943) — Oh Happy Day
• Kirk Franklin (born 1970) — Why We Sing
• Albertina Clark (born 1954) — You Brought the Sunshine
• Judith McCalister — Hallelujah You are Worthy To be Praised
• Oscar Williams Jr (born 1980) — There is Hope

The numerous audience was welcomed by the Artistic Director of the Festival, Prof. Ryszard Zimak. The evening’s special guest was the Deputy Chief of Mission of the American Embassy in Poland, William Heidt. The performance was introduced by Andrzej Krusiewicz.

Jan Głębowski strikes the opening gong

Professor Ryszard Zimak, Artistic Director of the Festival

Deputy Chief of Mission of the American Embassy in Poland, Wil­liam Heidt

Andrzej Krusiewicz introduced the performance

July — August 2010
Warsaw, 56/60 Krakowskie Przedmieście St.

We cordially invite you to the 10^th jubilee edition of the Summer Music Evenings Festival – DZIEKANKA 2010. The Festival is organized by the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in cooperation with Stołeczna Estrada and the Capital City of Warsaw Municipal Office.
It is held in the building of the students’ hostel “Dziekanka” at Krakow­skie Przedmieście 56/60 Street, every Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. throughout July and August.
The concerts are performed in a beautiful historical courtyard of the hostel, surrounded with a wooden gallery, or – in case of bad weather – in the newly redecorated Józef Elsner Concert Hall, also in Dziekanka.
The Festival’s Artistic Director is Ryszard Zimak. Like every year, the anchorman during the concerts will be Andrzej Krusiewicz.

11–13 May 2010

The cooperation agreement between the then-Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music (currently the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music) and the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg was signed in June 2002. This agreement has given the students and teachers of both schools an opportunity to create partnership projects such as concerts, master classes and academic lectures. Within the agreement framework, Polish-German student exchanges have been organised between the two institutions: students of the late Prof. Mirosław Ławrynowicz visited Freiburg, while the Warsaw school was host to a visit by Professors Gilead Mishory (piano) and Bruno Schneider (horn) who both conducted master classes and gave a live performance.

Rüdiger Nolte, the present rector of Freiburg’s Hochschule für Musik, paid a visit at the FCUM in May 2009. As a result, another joint chamber music project has been created by the two schools. Between 8 and 14 May 2010 four students from Freiburg will visit Warsaw, along with their professor, Ms. Sylvie Altenburger, who will conduct chamber music master classes at the FCUM. On 13 May at 3pm the four visiting students – Ms. Anne Schinz, Ms. Mona Gansczyk, Ms. Kayo Kida and Ms. Clara Pouvreau – will give a live performance at the FCUM of one of Beethoven’s quartets. This concert will be followed by a joint performance with the Meccorre String Quartet (representants of the FCUM) of Mendelssohn’s famous octet. On the same day the Polish students’ performance will accompany the “Science and Art in Europe” conference in Warsaw. For this occasion, Wojciech Koprowski, Aleksandra Tomasińska, Michał Bryła and Karol Marianowski will play the famous string quartet by Haydn, followed by the above-mentioned Mendelssohn octet, which will be performed together with the German students.

18–31 July, 2010
Master classes for pianists, singers, string players and composers
Private lessons — Workshops — Concerts — Excursions

Artistic Director: Professor Andrzej Dutkiewicz, PhD
Secretariat: Maria Neugebauer
Tel. /fax: +48–22 827 83 10
e-mail: neugebauer@chopin.edu.pl or info@chopin.edu.pl

The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland announces its 11th intensive music course and festival From Chopin to Górecki — Sources and Inspirations.

The Chopin — Górecki Music Festival consists of private instruction by acclaimed international artists, master classes, lectures, concerts and excursions in Poland. Participants will experience individual instruction with world renown teachers. (To read the brochure click here).

Currently in its eleventh year, the Chopin — Górecki Music Festival has evoked the interest of serious musicians world-wide who are excited by the unique opportunity of experiencing first-hand Chopin’s unforgettable homeland.

Participants will be surrounded by the same inspiration that captured the hearts and souls of great Polish composers from Chopin to Górecki. We will visit the birthplace and house of Fryderyk Chopin and experience the rich, Polish folk tradition.

Three concerts (July 19, 29, 31) will be held during the Festival.

Tuition: for the Chopin-Górecki Music Festival which includes all accommodations, lessons and trips is 710 Euro.

Accommodation: participants are housed in shared double rooms (breakfast included) with a bathroom in Dziekanka - students hostel, situated in the centre of Warsaw, a walking distance to the University of Music and the beautiful Old Town.

Lessons: at the University’s building. Every participant will get four lessons (one hour each) and the best participants will perform in a public concert at the end of the Festival. Due to a limited number of applications accepted, early registration is recommended.

Preliminary schedule

Deadline for application is May, 31, 2010 (download)

Send your application form fully completed to:
The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music
International Relations and Promotion Office
2, Okólnik str., 00–368 Warsaw, Poland
Tel./fax: +48–22 827 83 10
e-mail: neugebauer@chopin.edu.pl or info@chopin.edu.pl

Registration fee of 160 Euro should be paid to:
Fundacja Uniwersytetu Muzycznego
Bank: PKO BP Plac Powstańców Warszawy 4, Warszawa PL
Account number: PL 37 1020 1013 0000 0102 0021 0062
Swift code: BP KOPLPW
Please add: From Chopin to Górecki

16 March 2010

At the FCUM, the Jubilee year 2010, marking the 200th anniversary of the University’s founding and the 200th birth anniversary of its patron Fryderyk Chopin, has been filled with a range of exceptional events.

The University has in the past hosted visits by presidents and prime ministers, but now for the first time in history it has received members of a royal family: on 16 March 2010, FCUM received a visit by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Prior to the concert, HM Rector Professor Stanisław Moryto addressed a word of welcome to the Distinguished Guests:

Your Royal Highnesses,
Excellences,
Prime Minister,
Ministers,
Distinguished Guests,

The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music is greatly honoured to welcome Their Royal Highnesses — The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. The importance of this visit is magnified by the fact that the heir to the British throne, and his wife, represent a country that boasts a tremendous contribution to the development of our civilisation, as well as a rich national tradition and outstanding cultural achievement. We consider this opportunity to welcome them here to be an enormous distinction.

The University I have the honour of representing is one of the oldest music schools in the world. Several of its alumni throughout the years have made music hi-story, and their creative footprint may, till this day, be found in countries across the globe. Their most important work, however, is their contribution to the development of the Polish music and national culture. To these artists, we bow in respect. Moreover, it is worth emphasising that throughout the University’s existence, and regardless of our country’s geopolitical situation, the classes in our school has always been taught in the Polish language.

The ongoing academic year marks two anniversaries. Firstly, the 200th birth anniversary of Fryderyk Chopin, the University’s genius alumnus and patron. Secondly, the 200th anniversary of the University’s founding. We are honoured by the fact that the President of Poland, Professor Lech Kaczyński, has accepted honorary patronage over both these jubilees. We cannot, however, focus all our energy on celebrations and must remember that our principal task is to teach. Thus, our main effort re-mains invested in didactics.

In presenting our University to Their Royal Highnesses we aim to present those we are most proud of: namely, our students. They have prepared a special programme for tonight — a programme quite understandably dominated by the works of Fryderyk Chopin. On 16 November 1848, less than a year before his death, Fryderyk Chopin gave his last public performance. The composer had been invited by Lord Dudley Stuart, head of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, to play during a reception organised in London for the veterans of the November Uprising. The exact programme of that performance is not known; it is, however, almost certain that it included the two first etudes from Opus 25. One of these etudes, namely, the Etude in A-flat major no. 1, will also be performed tonight during the special concert in honour of Their Royal Highnesses — The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. The programme also includes pieces by Henryk Wieniawski and Stanisław Moniuszko.

And now, I would like to invite our Distinguished Guests to enjoy our students’ performance. I do hope that the music you hear tonight will leave the best of impressions in your hearts.

The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music considers Their Royal Highnesses’ visit, and the fact that the remaining guests — invited by HM Rector and the British Ambassador in Poland — included several outstanding representatives of the cultural, political and economic circles, to be not only a great distinction, but also a confirmation of the University’s international renown.

This prestigious position was, undoubtedly, emphasised by the night’s special musical event, which opened with the British and Polish national anthems, performed by Piotr Wilczyński.

Concert programme:

• Henryk Wieniawski — Polonaise in D major Op. 4
  Kamila Wąsik – violin
  Karolina Nadolska – piano
• Fryderyk Chopin — Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise in E-flat major Op. 22
  Joanna Różewska – piano
• Fryderyk Chopin — Etude in A-flat major Op. 25 no. 1, Nocturne in C-sharp minor Op. posth.
  Krzysztof Trzaskowski – piano
• Fryderyk Chopin — The Maiden’s Wish Op. 74 no. 1, My Beloved Op. 74 no. 8, Lithuanian Song Op. 74 no. 16
• Stanisław Moniuszko — Recitative and aria If by the Morning Sun from the 2nd act of the Halka opera
  Justyna Samborska – sopran
o
  Robert Morawski – piano

By special request and invitation of the British Embassy addressed directly to the performers, dancers Anna Wróbel and Michał Rostek presented a waltz choreographed by Maciej Zakliczyński. The performance was set to Fryderyk Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat major Op. 9 no. 2, played by Paweł Pawlik. The dance was a somewhat surprising addition to the classical concert programme prepared by FCUM for the evening. It was well received by the Audience and the Distinguished Guests.

As attested by the press reviews and the Guests’ comments published after the concert, the public was highly impressed with the performances and delighted by the artists’ talent, skill and mastery. Immediately following the concert Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla spontaneously congratulated the performers, in a surprising and extremely kind gesture not foreseen in the visit protocol.

Click here for a photo report of the visit.

12 February 2010, 11.00 am
K. Szymanowski Auditorium

For several years it was commonly maintained that Fryderyk Chopin died from laryngeal and pulmonary tuberculosis. Recently, however, a hypothesis was advanced that the real cause of the composer’s death was cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These hypotheses were discussed, for the first time ever, during a debate organised by FCUM and attended by the leading experts on pulmonary medicine. The participants presented the latest medical developments in their field and shared thoughts on whether the great composer could have lived longer than his 39 years to create even more masterpieces had he had access to today’s diagnostic solutions.

Debate participants included Prof. Wojciech Cichy, co-author (with Prof. Sławomir Witt) of the cystic fibrosis hypothesis; Janusz Meder MD, president of the Polish Oncology Union and Tadeusz Zielonka MD, head of the Warsaw-Otwock Region of the Polish Respiratory Society.

The debate was opened by Katarzyna Szymańska-Stułka PhD, who spoke on Fryderyk Chopin as an artist struggling with his disease. The official proceedings were followed by a piano recital by Sławomir Wilk, participant of the XVth International Chopin Piano Competition.

The debate audience included invitees from the world of culture and medicine.

22–24 February 2010
K. Szymanowski Auditorium

Conference program (PDF)

Two centuries of fascination

Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849) – Two centuries of fascination is the title of the conference organised from 22 to 24 February 2010 by the Chair of Theory of Music at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. The program was conceptualised by Professor Wojciech Nowik, head of the Chair of Theory of Music.

The conference attendees were outstanding researchers in the field of the great composer’s heritage as well as eminent artists from both Poland and abroad.

The object of debate was Chopin’s body of work which, in the words of Mieczysław Tomaszewski’s opening paper, is being “read anew at the beginning of the millennium”. The conference participants analised and interpreted with great insight the body of work that has incessantly fascinated generation after generation of music lovers.

The presentations were grouped thematically. The first group included topics strictly related to the Chopin’s musical text and included interesting papers by: Jan Ekier (In search of the relationship between Chopin’s “Litte Jew” and his opussed Mazurkas), Janina Tatarska (Fryderyk Chopin’s Studies. The idea of diversity in unity), Wojciech Nowik (Chopin’s noctural poetica) and Katarzyna Szymańska-Stułka (Chopin’s “espaces imaginaries” — imaginary music space). International speakers in this thematic group included Paul Badura-Skoda (Vienna) exploring the perennial mystery of Chopin’s rubato; Harmuth Kinzler (Osnabrück) analysed Chopin’s transposed and repeated musical structures, while Yves Henry (Paris) spoke of Chopin’s work in the light of the sound aesthetics of 1840 Pleyel pianos.

Another theme was Chopin and his work against his historical backdrop, the composer’s contemporary atmosphere and creative inspirations. Presentations were given, among others, by Helmut Loos (Leipzig; Schumann and Chopin — once again), Jan Stęszewski (The symbolic meaning of Chopin’s musical expression vis-à-vis romantic aesthetics and folklorism) and Bohdan Pociej (A peculiar Polish phenomenon. Some comments on the “national element” in Chopin’s music and personality).

The papers focusing on the Chopin piano tradition were presented Lidia Kozubek, Maria Szraiber and Jan Kadłubiski. Foreign presenters (Luba Kijanowska — Lvov; Elena Markowa — Odessa; Olga Dadionowa — Minsk) also gave speeches on this theme, contributing many interesting thoughts on Chopin’s influence and the reception of his works outside Poland.

The conference proceedings were rounded up by a group of papers presenting Chopin’s music as a source of creative inspiration in our times. Anna Nowak spoke on how Chopin’s mazurkas were received in the 20th century, while Maciej Ziółkowski focussed on Chopin-related inspirations in the piano works of Kazimierz Serocki.

The presentations were accompanied by artistic workshops led by world-class teachers specialising in Chopinistics: Paul Badura-Skoda (In search of the true Chopin sound with special emphasis on pedalling), Urszula Kryger and Katarzyna Jankowska-Borzykowska (Fryderyk Chopin. “Songs” — National Edition. Comparative analysis).

The scientific debate was enriched by an exhibition on Fryderyk Chopin entitled Fryderyk Chopin. From manuscript to publisher and performer, conceptualised and prepared by Zofia Olszewska-Bajera.

The conference guests took part in a tour of Warsaw In Chopin’s footsteps which provided them with an opportunity to visit several historical spots related to the composer’s life in the Polish capital.

The conference was crowned with a symphonic performance (part of the ongoing cycle entitled Fryderyk Chopin’s Complete Works) of such pieces as Variations in B major Op. 2 on the theme of Là ci darem la mano from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Fantasy in A major Op. 13, Rondo a là Krakowiak Op. 14 and Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise in E-flat major Op. 22. The programme was performed by such outstanding pianists as Ewa Pobłocka, Elżbieta Karaś-Krasztel and Andrzej Stefański, accompanied by the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk.

The enormous interest garnered by both the conference and the accompanying event confirmed that Fryderyk Chopin and his body of work remain a constant source of artistic and scientific inspiration, while the lively discussion that rounded up the proceedings proved once again the incessant need to read our great composer’s work anew.

Małgorzata Waszak