X International Professor Józef Świder Music Festival in Cieszyn

In 2025, the International Professor Józef Świder Music Festival in Cieszyn celebrates its anniversary. Its 10th edition will take place from June 27 to 29. The event is organized by the Faculty of Arts and Educational Science of the University of Silesia in Katowice, the Institute of Musical Arts in Cieszyn, and the “Music Without Borders” Foundation. The program includes a scientific-artistic conference, a choral competition, and accompanying concerts in many towns of Silesia. Admission to most events is free!

The festival will begin with the scientific part, namely the 5th National Scientific and Artistic Conference “Silesian composers and their music” in the Chamber Hall of the University of Silesia in Cieszyn. The conference will feature 9 speakers representing several important institutions: the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, the Lublin Philharmonic, the Silesian Association of Choirs and Orchestras, and the University of Silesia in Katowice. A Scientific Committee has been appointed, which includes prominent representatives of the world of music and science.

On June 27 at 7:30 PM, the Cieszyn Cultural Centre will host a unique musical encounter of two choirs – a one-of-a-kind concert of choral music in sign language. Performing will be the Seeing Voices Choir, conducted by Anna Wojtas-Rduch – a choir “singing” in Polish Sign Language – and the Silesian Chamber Choir "Ad libitum", conducted by Izabella Zielecka-Panek, a traditionally singing choir. Guest performers will include the “Academy at Karolcia’s” Music Ensemble and pianist Aleksandra Hałat.

The competition auditions of the 10th Józef Świder International Choral Competition will take place at the Cieszyn Cultural Centre “Dom Narodowy” on Saturday, June 28, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Choirs from many parts of Poland, as well as from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will perform 14 choral presentations in 9 categories. The ensembles will compete for the Grand Prize – the Rector’s Cup of the University of Silesia and for special awards funded by the honorary patrons of the Festival: the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Starost of Cieszyn County, and the Mayor of Cieszyn, including:

• for the best performance of a contemporary music piece
• for the most interesting interpretation of a sacred work
• for the best performance of a work by Józef Świder
• for the most interesting performance of a piece by a composer associated with Upper Silesia or Cieszyn Silesia
• for the most interesting interpretation of a folk-inspired piece
• for the best performance of a piece in Polish – a special award funded by the Silesian Association of Choirs and Orchestras in Katowice

On June 28 at 6:30 PM, the Laureates’ Concert will take place at the Jesus Church in Cieszyn – during which the jury’s verdict will be announced. The Cieszyn Silesian Chamber Ensemble, conducted by Aleksandra Paszek-Trefon, will perform together with combined choirs traditional Cieszyn songs: Płyniesz Olzo and Ojcowski dom. A special highlight of the evening will be the performance of the festival star – The Philippine Madrigal Singers, conducted by Mark Anthony A. Carpio.

Festival choirs will also perform on June 28 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM in the historic interiors of Cieszyn: the Three Brothers’ Well, the Rotunda of St. Nicholas, the Piast Tower, and the Market Square.

For the second time during the Festival, the Philippine Madrigal Singers will perform on June 29 at 5:00 PM at the concert hall of Katowice City of Gardens (admission charged).

Four accompanying concerts are also planned:
Diploma conducting concert “Sacra et profana – from the depths of the sacred to the joy of the profane” (June 26, 6:45 PM, Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary in Cieszyn), “Hałat Duo – music for violin and piano” (June 28, 5:00 PM, Concert Hall of the Dietrichstein Palace in Wodzisław Śląski), Concert of the Slovak choir Saria Silvis and the Silesian Youth String Orchestra (June 29, 12:00 PM, Concert Hall of the Józef Świder Primary and Secondary Music School, Cieszyn),
Memorial concert dedicated to Andrzej Śnioszek – grandson of Prof. Józef Świder (June 29, 4:00 PM, Cafe Museum, Cieszyn),

The concert will feature music by: J. Świder, A. Lasoń, A. Robak, M. Granat, P. Jańczak, M. Raczyński, T. Telakowski, J. Krutul, and M. Gałęski.

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC

Festival website: https://www.facebook.com/JozefSwiderInternationalFestival