In 2025, the Polish Composers’ Union (ZKP) is celebrating its 100th anniversary and invites audiences to a special Centenary Festival, which will take place from November 3 to 15 at the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio, the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, and the Warsaw Philharmonic! The Jubilee Festival, co-organized by the National Institute of Music and Dance and Polish Radio Channel 2, will include concerts prepared by ZKP Branches from across Poland, the Youth Circle, a special concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic, and the Musicological Conference titled “Music, Memory, History.”
One hundred years ago, the Association of Polish Composers was founded, with Karol Szymanowski himself present at its birth. The Association continued its activities even during the war, supporting its members. In 1945, contrary to the hopes of the musical community for the continuation of its work, the Association was dissolved, and the authorities established a new organization – the Polish Composers’ Union, whose members included individuals from the original association. Today, the Union is one of the most important organizations in Polish musical life and holds a respected position in the European community of composers.
The exceptional Centenary Festival restores the pre-war and wartime traditions of this association of composers and musicologists, while also presenting a broad spectrum of Polish compositional creativity from the second half of the 20th and the 21st centuries.
During the festival, nine branches of the Polish Composers’ Union will present themselves. The final concert will bring them together at the Warsaw Philharmonic, which joins the ZKP centenary celebration with a symphonic concert featuring works by Karol Szymanowski, Witold Lutosławski, and Krzysztof Penderecki. On this day, ZKP will also celebrate together with Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne (PWM Edition), marking its 80th anniversary, a long-time close partner of many ZKP initiatives.
A symphonic concert will also be part of the Centenary Festival program at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, where, as part of the “Wednesdays at Okólnik” series, works by composers associated both with the university and the Polish Composers’ Union will be performed.
The festival is a unique opportunity to get to know the music of Polish composers working both in the country and abroad — and often, to meet the composers themselves. During the “Meetings with Composers” at the historic ZKP headquarters at 27 Old Town Market Square, guests will be able to engage in conversations about music, books, and joint initiatives.
The Youth Circle of the Polish Composers’ Union joins the celebration with an intriguing idea for an interactive virtual game, introducing the works of the youngest generation of Polish composers.
The Musicology Section invites audiences to the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music for the annual ZKP Musicological Conference, held under the theme “Music, Memory, History,” which will highlight what is important for scholarly reflection on the past, present, and future of musical culture.
“The Centenary Festival of the Polish Composers’ Union is not only the anniversary of our organization, but a grand celebration of Polish music. Please join us!”
— said Beata Bolesławska-Lewandowska, President of ZKP.
Most events are free of charge!
The project is co-organized by the National Institute of Music and Dance, and co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the Capital City of Warsaw.
Polish Radio Channel 2 is also a co-organizer of the event.
Partners: ZAiKS Authors’ Association, National Philharmonic, Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, Polish Music Publishing House (PWM Edition)
Media patrons: Polish Radio Channel 2, Presto Publishing, Waw4Free, Wolna Sobota, Nasze Miasto, POLMIC
Detailed programme: https://100latzkp.org.pl/wydarzenia.php
