By the decision of Prof. Piotr Gliński, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra, founded in 2007 on the initiative of Maestro Jerzy Semkow, will be given the name of this outstanding and respected Polish conductor.
Jerzy Semkow is considered one of the greatest conductors and music luminaries of the 20th and 21st century. For many years he participated as a conductor in the famous music festival in Aspen (Colorado), during which students and pedagogues of the most important American conservatories performed together. These valuable experiences inspired him to establish an orchestra in Poland and provide employment on professional terms to the most talented young university students. The Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra was appointed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage in October 2007 and inaugurated its activity in June that year. Maestro Semkow consistently supported the ensemble with his authority, devoting a lot of time and attention to its developement. In December 2008, he recorded with POSI its debut album with two symphonies by Schubert, and, the following year, a CD with Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. In 2010, the orchestra performed under Jerzy Semkow's baton in the UNESCO Auditorium in Paris.
Sinfonia Iuventus has been realizing the idea of Jerzy Semkow for 10 years by organizing numerous symphonic, chamber and opera concerts, making recordings with outstanding musicians, organizing workshops under the guidance of esteemed Polish and foreign artists. The ensemble invests in this way in the potential of young musicians, and also promotes the wealth of Polish and world musical heritage.