Professor Ryszard Zimak
In 1971 he graduated with honours from the State Higher School of Music, Department of Music Education. He studied Choir Conducting under Professor Józef Bok, at the same time he developed his violin playing skills under Professor Zenon Brzewski.
After graduation he was connected with his parent university as an academic teacher. First he worked freelance hours, after a year he started working full time. He went through all stages of academic promotions. In 1997 he obtained the post of Assistant Professor, and in 1983 he became a full-time Associate Professor. In 1992, as a result of a procedure carried out at the I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań, the title of Professor in Music was conferred on him by President of Poland Lech Wałęsa. Currently, as Full Professor in Music, he has run the class of choir conducting, vocal ensembles, and he has given lectures in methodics of conducting vocal ensembles.
His alumni are successful choir conductors who win numerous prizes at competitions in Poland and abroad. They are also academic teachers, holding responsible university functions.
In the period of 1989–1993 he was Vice-Dean and Dean of the Department of Music Education, then, between 1993 and 1999 he was Vice-Rector for Research and Teaching Affairs. In the period of 1999–2005 he held the function of Rector of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw for two terms of office. In that time, as President of the Conference of Rectors of Artistic Universities he participated in the work of the Presidium of the Conference of Rectors of Artistic Universities. He twice headed the Chair of Choir Conducting, currently he is Dean of the Department of Choir Conducting, Music Education, Church Music, Rhythmics and Dance. In 2011 the Polish State Accreditation Committee awarded the Department with an ‘outstanding’ grade.
Between 1973 and 1974 he was Assistant Conductor, and then (1977–1983) Conductor of the National Philharmonic Choir. Since 1983 he has constantly cooperated with the Warsaw Chamber Opera as a conductor and choir manager. For over two decades he was Artistic Manager of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music Mixed Choir. He founded the FCAM Chamber Choir – which won the prestigious 1st Prize at the BBC and Deutschlandfunk broadcasting stations called Let the people sing (1987). The ensemble resumed its activity under the name Chopin Vocal Consort, having many valuable concert achievements in Poland and abroad on its score card.
As a conductor he specializes in performing great oratorio works by J.S. Bach, G.F. Händel, W.A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, as well as G. Verdi, I. Stravinsky, K. Szymanowski, C. Orff, and others.
As part of his activity as a conductor he prefers performing forgotten Polish a capella compositions and vocal and instrumental pieces. With soloists and orchestras, and with the Warsaw Chamber Opera Choir he founded in 1983, he prepared and conducted many unknown works by J. Elsner, W. Dankowski, S.F. Lechleitner, D. Stachowicz, J. Staromiejski, J. Kozłowski and others. He was also the first performer of works by the 20th century composers such as T. Paciorkiewicz, W. Rudziński, A. Szaliński and S. Moryto.
As a choirmaster he cooperated with many conductors, preparing the ensembles he conducted for performances and recordings under the baton of outstanding figures of the world of music, such as: Leonard Bernstein, Riccardo Chaily, Henryk Czyż, Jacek Kaspszyk, Kazimierz Kord, Bogusław Madey, Stanisław Wisłocki, Marc Minkowski, Ennio Morricone, and others.
He has given concerts in many European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy), as well as South Korea, Taiwan and USA. Many times he performed symphony and oratorio programmes on stages of almost all philharmonics in Poland. He is invited to be a jury member or chairman at conducting competitions and choir festivals. On his score card he has CD, radio and television recordings.
From July 2005 to January 2007 he held the function of Director of the National Fryderyk Chopin Institute. He was elected for a second term of office at the Central Committee for Degrees and Titles, representing Music Arts in the artistic discipline of conducting.
In 2002 he was decorated with the Commander’s Cross of the Rebirth of Poland for his artistic activity at the Warsaw Chamber Opera. In 2005 he was honoured with the Order of Merit for Polish Culture and the individual award of the Minister of Culture and Arts. He was also decorated with the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Warsaw Chamber Opera Choir the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski, at the motion of Director Stefan Sutkowski, doctor honoris causa, honoured Professor Ryszard Zimak with the Special Award.
In 2008 he was given the Medal of Merit – for his services to Keimyung University (South Korea), and in the Jubilee Year of the 200th anniversary of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music His Magnificence Rector, Professor Stanisław Moryto, honoured him with the Medal for Merit to the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music.
He is a laureate of the Medal for Merit to the Warsaw Archdiocese and the 64th Włodzimierz Pietrzak Artistic Award for many years of teaching work, promotion of sacred music and first performances of oratorio pieces by Polish composers.
During the University Day on 22nd February 2012 he was decorated with the National Education Medal.
