Weronika Włodarczyk, a student of the diploma year (master's degree) in the solo singing class of Dr Sylwia Burnicka-Kalischewska, made her debut at the famous Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. This success was possible thanks to participation in the Los Angeles Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition 2024, in which a student of the Vocal Department of the Academy of Arts in Szczecin won the first prize.

The mezzo-soprano prepared for this competition, among others: the lively song "I am and I am crying" from "Three Fragments from Jan Kasprowicz's Poems" Op. 5 by Karol Szymanowski and Edgar Elgar's work "Where the corals lie" from the series "Sea Pictures" Op. 37. The interpretation of "Where the corals lie" turned out to be so convincing that the jury chose Elgar's song to be presented by Weronika Włodarczyk at the winners' concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in California in the USA.

During the competition preparations, Weronika was supported on the piano by Agnieszka Barańska and during the performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Weronika was accompanied by Lianchua Chi on the piano.

Words of thanks are due to the Rotary Club Kołobrzeg, the Grupa Kołobrzeg Artists' Association and the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Marshal's Office for their invaluable support for Weronika Włodarczyk.

Sylwia Burnicka-Kalischewska