ethnomusicologist, expert in instrumentology, educator; b. 17th December 1941 in Mazańcowice. In 1961-66 he studied at the Higher School of Music in Poznań. He obtained his PhD degree in 1979 from the University of Wrocław for a thesis on musical instruments of Beskid Śląski and Żywiecki written under professor A. Dygacz, while his habilitation thesis was devoted to ceramic musical instruments used in Poland (Katowice 1989). He has also written other publications on ethnomusicology, e.g. the book Ludowe instrumenty muzyczne polskiego obszaru karpackiego (Folk Musical Instruments of the Polish Carpathian Area). From 1974 he taught conducting, methodology of music education, and Polish musical folklore at the Silesian University's campus in Cieszyn. For 12 years between 1974 and 1986 he was a wind orchestra conductor. Currently, he directs the choirs of Český Těšín and Darkov, Czech Republic.
Alojzy Kopoczek has received a range of awards for his academic and community work, most notably from the Minister of Science and Higher Education and rector of the Silesian University (six awards). He has also received the Golden Distinction for Merit to the Silesian University.