The beginning of new academic year 2016/17 was marked with ceremonies granting the title of doctor honoris causa to Teresa Żylis-Gara, Mieczysław Tomaszewski and Krzysztof Penderecki.

The title of doctor honoris causa is the highest academic degree applied by universities to honour distinguished persons who have especially contributed to the progress of a certain field or science. This year, the title was received by soprano and teacher Teresa Żylis-Gara (granted by the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź), musicologist and researcher Mieczysław Tomaszewski (granted by the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław) and composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki (granted by the Catholic University of Lublin).