news

Wojciech Chałupka's Concerto for accordion and orchestra will be performed for the first time at the Music School Complex Concert Hall in Białystok on the 9^th of February 9, 2024 at 7 p.m. Recognized accordionist Klaudiusz Baran will perform, to whom the composer dedicated this work. The artist will be accompanied by the orchestra of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic, conducted by Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk.

Chałupka's work presents various faces of the accordion and its wide possibilities. The three-part composition is full of contrasts, starting with the majestic and energetic first movement, through the melodious and delicate second, to the lively finale: classic form and innovative sounds!

During the concert, we will also hear Fuga y Misterio by Astor Piazzolla, an orchestral suite from the musical Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Porgy and Bess - A symphonic Picture by George Gershwin - a collection of the most famous songs from the opera Porgy and Bess, arranged by Robert Russell Bennett.

Ticket information: https://www.oifp.eu/repertuar/koncert-na-zakonczenie-karnawalu 

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC

Piano in a masterful way! Gabriela Montero - Venezuelan pianist and composer, winner of the third prize at the 13^th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in 1995, will perform as a soloist in Katowice on the 9^th of February, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. She will be accompanied by the NOSPR conducted by Marin Alsop.

The first to be presented will be Allegro de Voiron, a neoclassical gem for orchestra by Michal Spisak. This will be followed by the Venezuelan artist's performance of her Concerto No. 1, "Latino" dedicated to Montero's homeland. The second part of the concert will be filled with Richard Strauss' Life of a Hero. The NOSPR invites you on a journey: from France, to Venezuela, to the secret realms where the time of heroes takes place.

Ticket information: https://nospr.org.pl/pl/kalendarz/nospr-alsop-montero 

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC

During the 19^th International Piano Forum "Bieszczady without Borders" on February 3-9, 2024 in Sanok, masters and young pianists will play 20 top-class instruments. This year's theme will be "Time in Music".

The programme includes symphonic concerts and recitals, a comedy show performed by Ireneusz Krosny, an exhibition of works by Barbara Porczyńska, the 13^th Master School of Piano Pedagogy and the 15^th International Piano Competition "Young Virtuoso". Performances include, among others, Elena Margolina-Hait, Alexander Gadijev, Anahit Nersesyan, Ekaterina Drzewiecka, the Anna Geniušienė and Lukas Geniušas duo, as well as the Lviv Chamber Orchestra "Akademia" conducted by Igor Pylatyuk and the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dr. Michał Szymanowski.

Website of the project: https://interpiano.pl/ 

Dear Mrs. Małgorzata,

due to your resignation from the position of Director - Editor-in-Chief of Programme 2 of the Polish Radio, submitted in dramatic circumstances, we would like to thank you for many years of cooperation with the Polish Composers' Union. It took various turns, but we are convinced that ultimately it brought positive results for Polish music and musical life in Poland and for the entire Polish culture. We wish you all the best in your further work in the field of music and culture, and we hope for many more musical meetings.

Prof. Leon Markiewicz, a long-time member of the Musicologists' Section of the Polish Composers' Union (since 1964), passed away on the 4^th of February at the age of 95. The funeral ceremony will take place on Saturday, 10^th of February, at 12:00 p.m. in the Cemetery Chapel in the Francuska Street in Katowice.

Leon Markiewicz was associated with the State Higher School of Music in Katowice (then the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music) since 1955. He held the following positions at the academy: in 1968-70 - head of the Department of Music Theory, in 1972-76 - head of the Department of Problems of Music Education, as well as pro-rector in 1975 and rector in 1979-81. In 1981-04 he was head of the Department of Music Education. Also associated with the Higher School of Pedagogy in Częstochowa, in 1978-91 he was head of the Department of Music Education, and from 1985 - director of the Institute of Artistic Education.

In 1966-76 he served as Vice-Chairman of the SPAM Main Board. From 1975, he was also vice-chairman of the General Board of the Music Education Association (Polish section of ISME). For many years he was a member and then an expert on music theory at the Council for Higher Artistic Education.
He was honored for his activities with many awards and decorations. He received, among others: Gold Badge of SPAM (1970); Award of the Minister of Culture and Art, second degree (1975, 1982), first degree (1980, 1988); Gold Badge of the Polish Section of ISME (1979); Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1979); Team Award of the Prime Minister (1985); Team Award of the Minister of Culture and Art, first degree (1987); Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1997).

May he rest in peace!

Requiescat in Pace.

Ceremonia pogrzebowa odbędzie się w sobotę, 10 lutego, o godz. 12.00 w Kaplicy Cmentarnej przy ul. Francuskiej w Katowicach.