Dr. Edyta Chlebowska is an Assistant Professor at the Cyprian Norwid Research Center, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Specializing in the visual art and literary legacy of Cyprian Norwid, she explores intersections between Polish Romanticism, art history, and cultural studies. Her work extends to album art analysis and interdisciplinary connections with music (e.g., Pink Floyd, Czesław Niemen). Her research focuses on Norwid's self-portraits, eschatological themes in his drawings, and comparative studies with 19th-century Warsaw painting. She reconstructs lost artworks, documents private collections (e.g., Konstancja Górska, Victor Gomulicki), and examines Norwid's reception in Florence and Odessa. Key projects include translating Studia Norwidiana and critical editing of Norwid's complete works. As editor-in-chief of multiple On Cyprian Norwid. Studies and Essays volumes and organizer of conferences like Niemen Non Stop and Colloquia Norwidiana , she bridges academic rigor with public engagement. Her publications span peer-reviewed books, journal articles, and popular science pieces, emphasizing Norwid's unpublished works and symbolic programs.
Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in BydgoszczPoland
Jacek Greszta is a Professor and current Dean of the Faculty of Vocal Performance and Acting at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, serving the 2020-2024 term. He has taught at the institution since 2006 and was awarded the title of Professor of Art in April 2021 after obtaining his postdoctoral degree in musical arts (vocal studies) in 2016. His academic background includes: Studies at the Academy of Music in Warsaw (Faculty of Vocal Studies and Acting, 1986) under A. Dankowska Transfer to the Academy of Music in Poznań (1989) under M. Moździerz, graduating in 1993 Professor Greszta's research centers on operatic vocal performance and Polish musical heritage. As an internationally recognized bass, he has performed 30+ roles across Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Moniuszko repertoire in 15+ countries, with scholarly focus on vocal technique preservation and national opera traditions. His academic work bridges performance practice with pedagogy, emphasizing Moniuszko's contributions to Slavic opera. Key recognitions include: Golden Orpheus award for the DVD recording of Paderewski's Manru (2013) Two honors from the Marshal of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship for artistic excellence Administratively, he served as Head of the Vocal Studies Department before his deanship, overseeing curriculum development and faculty coordination. His collaborations span major Polish philharmonics and opera houses, including long-term engagements with Silesian Opera (Bytom) and Opera Nova (Bydgoszcz), where he premiered anniversary productions.
Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in GdańskPoland
Professor Marcin Ciszewski is a distinguished faculty member at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, where he serves at the Faculty of Vocal and Acting. A graduate of the same institution with distinction in 1999, he has established himself as one of Poland's leading countertenors and vocal pedagogues. His educational background includes studies under Professor Piotr Kusiewicz and additional training with renowned instructors including Kinga Chełmińska, Ryszard Minkiewicz, Kai Wessel, Gerhard Kahry, and Dariusz Paradowski. Graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music in Gdańsk (1999) Habilitated doctor of musical arts (2019) Professor at the Faculty of Vocal and Acting Professor Ciszewski specializes in early music performance and is recognized as one of the first Polish countertenors who made significant contributions to the development of vocal art in the authenticity movement in Poland. His research focuses on the history and physiology of countertenor voices, and he regularly conducts lectures and voice training for professional and academic groups. His artistic output spans several hundred concerts across Poland and Europe, featuring collaborations with renowned ensembles, orchestras, and conductors. He has given over a dozen world premieres of both early and contemporary works, including compositions specifically written for him by modern composers. His recordings include extensive work for Polish Radio and Television, the French music television channel Mezzo, and Radio Classique. Notable Achievements Member of the European artists' association Spedidam based in Paris Nominated for the "Fryderyk" music award in the Early Music category Honored with international titles "Outstanding Teacher" and "Excellent Vocal Teacher" Since 2006, Professor Ciszewski has maintained a successful artistic partnership with organist Ewa Bąk, performing at over one hundred national and international organ festivals. Their collaborations have resulted in numerous CD, radio, and television recordings, including world premieres of works by Polish composers such as Marian Sawa and Jacek Urbaniak.
Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in ŁódźPoland
Professor Sławomir Kaczorowski, Ph.D., has been a faculty member at the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź since 1981, where he teaches composition and served as Head of the Department of Composition from 2011 to 2021. He previously held significant leadership roles including Vice-Rector for Artistic and Teaching Affairs (1999-2005) and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Composition, Music Theory, Music Education and Rhythmics (1996-1999). His educational background includes diplomas in music theory (1981) and composition under Professor Bronisław Kazimierz Przybylski (1981) from the State Higher School of Music in Łódź. Awarded the title of professor by the President of Poland in 2002, he remains an active academic leader currently serving as chairman of the Art Section of the Polish Accreditation Commission. Kaczorowski specializes in contemporary composition with emphasis on instrumental works, chamber music, and choral compositions. His research interests manifest in diverse output featuring piano, accordion, and mixed ensembles, with notable focus on tango-inspired forms and liturgical reinterpretations. He pioneered the MUSICA MODERNA sessions promoting new music through biannual concerts and lectures. Analysis of his 15 most recent compositions reveals consistent exploration of Polish contemporary classical traditions with strong emphasis on instrumental timbre, cross-genre fusion (particularly tango elements), and innovative approaches to sacred music forms. His works demonstrate technical mastery across diverse ensembles from solo piano to full orchestral settings. Silver Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis (2021) Numerous national composition competition awards Jury membership at international competitions including the T. Baird Young Composers' Competition (Warsaw 2018) and National Association of Composers USA competitions (2017-2018) Professor Kaczorowski has mentored award-winning composers including Grzegorz Duchnowski and Tomasz Szczepanik. His institutional leadership includes directing the Grażyna Bacewicz International Composition Competition (2012, 2015, 2019) and serving as president of the Łódź Branch of the Polish Composers' Union until 2022. He maintains active artistic engagement through premieres across Europe, China, and the United States. His creative work is organized through departmental initiatives including the Department of Composition's performance series and collaboration with the Artur Rubinstein Łódź Philharmonic. Current activities focus on expanding Polish contemporary music's international presence through competitions and cross-border artistic exchanges.
Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in GdańskPoland
Sylwia Janiak-Kobylińska is a Polish conductor, educator, and artistic leader currently serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Conducting, Composition, and Music Theory at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk. She is President of the SAJ Foundation Supporting Young Artists, founder of the Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra of the Youth, and an active participant in international music competitions and festivals. Her work spans symphonic and opera conducting, artistic direction of multidisciplinary projects, and pedagogical leadership. Her research interests focus on Orchestral Conducting Contemporary Music Interpretation Artistic Education for Youth Symphonic and Opera Collaboration Cultural Management in Music Interdisciplinary Art Projects Her recent artistic projects, such as the inUnity. Contemporary Music from Gdańsk album and the Homage to Szymborska concert series, highlight collaborations between classical and jazz composers, youth orchestras, and interdisciplinary teams. These works emphasize themes of unity, cultural heritage, and innovation in music education. Scientific awards and recognitions include Meritorious for Polish Culture badge (2023) Antoni Wit Award at the G. Fitelberg Conducting Competition Multiple Rector’s Awards at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk Pomeranian Artistic Award in 'Artistic Hope' category As an educator, she leads orchestral workshops, mentors students across multiple faculties, and pioneered the 4C’s in Music Art program (Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication). Her leadership in the SAJ Foundation and Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra of the Youth has fostered over 1000 young musicians since 2011.
Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in ŁódźPoland
Ewa Kowalska-Zając is a Professor of Musical Arts at the Academy of Music in Łódź, where she has been employed since 1989. She served as Dean of the Faculty of Composition, Music Theory, Conducting, Rhythmics, and Music Education from 2008 to 2016 and has been Head of the Department of Music Theory since 2018. A graduate of the Academy of Music in Łódź, her work focuses on avant-garde composition, string quartets, and the intersection of music and visual art. Education: Diploma in Music Theory and Composition from the Academy of Music in Łódź. Her research explores the evolution of Polish composers' approaches to genres like the string quartet, sacred music, and sonorism, with a particular emphasis on avant-garde experimentation and intermedia tendencies. She has authored several books, including Seeing Music. Notation of the Polish Contemporary Score (2019), and over 50 biographical entries in collective monographs. Her publications analyze themes such as musical archetypes, postmodern reinterpretations of traditional forms, and the impact of intermedia practices in 20th-century scores. Notable works include studies on Olivier Messiaen, Paweł Klecki, and Bogusław Schaeffer. Scientific Awards Silver Cross of Merit (2002) Gold Cross of Merit (2022) Kowalska-Zając is a member of the Polish Composers' Union and the Polish Music Society, contributing extensively to musicological discourse through her academic leadership and editorial work.
Dr. hab. Eugenia Rozlach is a Professor at the Department of Vocal Studies, Faculty of Vocal and Acting, Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. A renowned opera singer, she specializes in Rossini’s music and 19th–20th-century Polish vocal lyrics, with a career spanning performances at the Warsaw Chamber Opera and international theaters (Paris, Madrid, Montpellier). Her recent roles include the Nanny in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin , Stara Buryjowska in Janacek’s Jenufa , and Mrs. Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff . Graduate: Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music, Warsaw Rozlach actively contributes to academic research on Polish vocal music, conducting workshops like On the Wings of Songs and organizing conferences such as the International Scientific Conference Polish Song . She has premiered contemporary works, including Marta Ptaszyńska’s Sonnets to Orpheus and Aleksandra Garbal’s opera Polonica rustica . Her chamber music collaborations include performances with pianists Tatiana Szebanowa, Maciej Paderewski, and Jerzy Godziszewski. Scientific Awards: Silver Cross of Merit (2005) Second-degree Rector’s award (2009) Rozlach has led masterclasses at the Chopin-Górecki Festival and the Keimyung-Fryderyk Chopin University of Music program (South Korea). She contributed to the UMFC research committee’s commemorative edition of Ignacy Jan Paderewski’s manuscripts and serves on the editorial team of Musica Intellectualis .
Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in GdańskPoland
Dr hab. Andrzej Wojciechowski is an Associate Professor at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk , affiliated with the Department II – Instrumental . As a certified violinist and postdoctoral scholar, he specializes in Polish violin music, chamber ensembles, and 20th-century compositions. Graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music in Gdańsk (1998), studying under Prof. Krystyna Jurecka Collaborates with orchestras like the Polish Baltic Philharmonic and Sopot Chamber Philharmonic Co-created concert projects with artists such as Jan Stanienda and Krzysztof Penderecki His research interests span Polish musicology, violin pedagogy, and interdisciplinary artistic education. He has edited publications with "Eufonium" and promoted Polish music through recordings like Violin Works by Roman Maciejewski (2011) and The Work of Gdańsk Composers (2015). His scientific awards include: Medal of the National Education Commission (2009) Individual Award for contributions to artistic education (2012) Honorary Medal 'For Merit to Polish Culture' (2014, 2015) Rector's Award, 3rd degree (2014, 2016) Wojciechowski has taught over 50 graduates, many of whom have won music competitions, and leads the Academic Chamber Orchestra as concertmaster and conductor. His work bridges performance, education, and preservation of Polish musical heritage.
Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in BydgoszczPoland
Rafał Blechacz (born 1985) is a Teaching Professor at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, renowned for his piano artistry and pedagogical contributions. After winning the 2005 International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, he established an international performance career while maintaining his academic position. His educational background includes: Arthur Rubinstein State Music School in Bydgoszcz (under Professor Jacek Polański) Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz (graduated 2007, under Professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń) Blechacz specializes in piano performance with deep expertise in classical repertoire, particularly Chopin's compositions. His artistic approach merges technical mastery with interpretive depth, influencing both concert practice and piano education. His distinguished awards include: Grand Prix and all special awards at the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw (2005) Fryderyk statuette Premio Internazionale Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Siena, 2010) Gilmore 2014 Award Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2015) No information is available regarding academic advising or research grants. His professional collaborations include partnerships with major orchestras and violinist Bomsori Kim since 2016, resulting in Deutsche Grammophon recordings.
Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in BydgoszczPoland
Prof. Katarzyna Nowak-Stańczyk serves as Professor of Musical Arts and Head of the Acting and Stage Movement Department at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz's Faculty of Vocal and Acting, where she has taught since 2003 after earning her postdoctoral degree in 2005 and receiving the professor title in 2012. Her educational background includes graduating with distinction from the Academy of Music in Łódź in 1989 under Jadwiga Pietraszkiewicz. Professional highlights span 700+ opera performances across major Polish theaters and 2,000+ concert songs in works by Verdi, Mozart, Puccini, and Chopin. Her artistic research focuses on Vocal Performance and Opera interpretation, evidenced by her mastery of 30+ soprano roles including Verdi's La Traviata and Mozart's Don Giovanni, alongside concert repertoire ranging from Bach's Magnificat to Górecki's 'Copernican' Symphony. Her major awards include: Special Award at the Ada Sari Vocal Competition (1987) Finalist at the International Vocal Competition in Pretoria (1990) Special Award at the 1st International Moniuszko Competition (1992) She has recorded for SABC Johannesburg, Polish Radio Channel 2, and Polish Television while maintaining dual careers as a performer (Opera Nova soloist since 2003) and educator (previously at Zduńska Wola State School of Music).
Piotr Muschalik is a Professor and Head of the Photography Studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice. A graduate of the Academy's Kraków branch (1993), he specializes in creative and documentary photography, focusing on Silesian cultural heritage. His work explores experimental techniques blending classic photography with modern graphic forms, often addressing existential themes. He has authored multiple Silesia-themed photo albums, collaborated on major films, and exhibited internationally. Muschalik’s research emphasizes photography’s role as a dynamic visual medium, with projects showcased at institutions like the Silesian Porcelain Factory and Beijing 1+1 Art Centre. His educational contributions include curriculum development in 3D form modeling and digital design, alongside student collaborations with porcelain manufacturers. Muschalik actively participates in UNESCO’s Katowice City of Music program through multimedia projects like the CallTrane spectacle (2016).
Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in GdańskPoland
Anna Mikolon is a Professor at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, where she serves as Head of the Inter-Faculty Department of Accompaniment since 2022. She also works as a pianist-repetiteur in the Faculty of Vocal and Acting and as a piano teacher and accompanist at the Complex of Music Schools in Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz. PhD in Musical Arts (2018) Doctoral studies at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk Graduated from Grażyna Bacewicz State Primary School of Music and Fryderyk Chopin State Secondary School of Music Her research focuses on Vocal Music , Chamber Music , and Music Pedagogy , with notable monographs on the interpretation of Shostakovich's works and the role of imagination in pianist education. Recent publications explore Ukrainian influences in Noskowski's piano music and social impacts of children's songs. Anna's artistic career spans 1,300+ concerts across Europe, including collaborations with the Baltic Opera and participation in festivals like Gdańsk Music Summer. She has received the Cultural Scholarship of the City of Gdańsk and multiple competition awards as an accompanist. Her scientific awards include: First Prize, Early Music Competition (Łódź) First Prize, Solfeggio Competition (Łódź) Cultural Scholarship of the City of Gdańsk (2017) She has contributed to numerous student awards through her accompaniment and teaching, and her work integrates interdisciplinary influences from theatre, literature, and visual arts into musical interpretation.
Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in GdańskPoland
Professor Beata Wróblewska is a distinguished conductor, composer, and pedagogue at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, where she serves as Professor in the Faculty of Choral Conducting, Church Music, Artistic Education, Rhythmics and Jazz. Appointed professor in 2019, she has been employed since 2013 and currently holds the position of Deputy Director of the Institute of Choral and Oratorio-Cantata Conducting and Head of the Composition, Arrangement, and Music Education Studio since 2016. Her academic journey includes studies in Music Education and Choral Conducting (1989), Music Theory (1994), and Composition (1995) at the Academy, followed by Doctor of Musical Arts from the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań (2001) and a postdoctoral degree in conducting (2013). Professor Wróblewska's research focuses on Polish and world a cappella choral music and vocal-instrumental music, with particular emphasis on cross-cultural collaborations. Her creative work demonstrates a unique synthesis of Polish choral traditions with international influences, especially evident in her compositions that incorporate Chinese musical elements and UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage. She actively participates in doctoral and habilitation committees and serves on juries for national and international music competitions. Her recent compositions reveal a strong trend toward international collaboration, particularly between Polish and Chinese musical traditions. Works like 'Mu Guiying Takes Command of Troops' (2019) and the 'Damit sie alle eins sind/May all be one' project demonstrate her commitment to using music as a vehicle for cultural exchange and peace promotion. Her compositions often integrate traditional instruments from different cultures and draw inspiration from UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Gold Badge of Honor from the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras (2014) Diploma of Recognition from Puebla, Mexico (2019) Gold Medal for Long Service (2021) Scholarship from Sopot City Council for promoting Polish choral music in Israel (2022) Multiple Rector's Awards from both Pomeranian University in Słupsk and Academy of Music in Gdańsk Professor Wróblewska maintains an active conducting career with the Festival Choir of the Sopot Academy of Applied Sciences, Mundus Cantat, with which she has won numerous international awards. She also serves on doctoral committees and as a jury member for music competitions worldwide, contributing significantly to the development of emerging musical talent. Her international collaborations span performances in Italy, Vatican, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Sweden, Spain, Romania, Northern Ireland, Greece, Lithuania, Mexico, Israel, Canada, and China.
Dr. hab. Agata Seweryn, holding the title of Professor at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), serves in the Department of Enlightenment Literature, Romanticism and Art Criticism within the Institute of Literary Studies at the Faculty of Humanities. Her academic career spans decades of dedicated scholarship focused on Polish literary traditions from the Enlightenment through Romanticism, with particular emphasis on the intersections between literature and music. Professor Seweryn's research interests form a cohesive interdisciplinary framework examining Polish Enlightenment literature, Romanticism, literary criticism, and the complex relationship between music and literature. Her work demonstrates particular expertise in Norwid studies and Chopin's cultural reception, revealing how musical elements permeate literary works and vice versa. She has made significant contributions to understanding how Polish Romantic poets engaged with musical forms and how composers interpreted literary works. Her scholarly output reveals consistent thematic threads connecting musicology with literary analysis, particularly in examining how Polish Romantic writers incorporated musical structures into their poetry and prose. This interdisciplinary approach has yielded important insights into figures like Norwid and Chopin, while also exploring broader questions about artistic synthesis in 19th-century Polish culture. Medal of the National Education Commission Rector's Award, 1st degree Individual Award, 3rd degree Professor Seweryn actively supervises doctoral and master's theses while participating in numerous research projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Science, including the National Program for the Development of Humanities. She serves on juries for national literature and language olympiads and contributes to academic discourse through conference organization, including co-hosting the nationwide conference '(Po)między: borderlands, crossroads, undefined places.' Her service extends to editorial roles for scholarly publications and review work for academic journals. Her academic activities include regular lectures for secondary schools across Poland and specialized courses on voice production and spoken language culture at the Seminary of Friars Minor Capuchin in Lublin, demonstrating her commitment to both scholarly research and practical language education.
Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in GdańskPoland
Piotr Staniszewski is an Assistant Professor at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, where he has been employed since October 2024. Previously, he taught French horn at the Academy of Art in Szczecin from 2017 to 2022, where he was appointed professor in 2020. He maintains an active performance career as a member of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra in Gdańsk since 1993, performing internationally in Vatican City, Germany, Sweden, Russia, China, and USA. He also collaborates with the Polish Chamber Philharmonic in Sopot and has performed over 130 solo recitals and chamber concerts. Staniszewski's primary research interests encompass 19th-century Italian opera and the life and work of Gioacchino Rossini. His scholarly work includes six publications on piano music prepared as part of the International Piano Music Academic Sessions in Gdańsk. He has authored more than a dozen published arrangements or transcriptions for horn and chamber ensembles. His most recent publication, in October 2024, appeared in 'The Horn Call,' the quarterly journal of the International Horn Society in the USA, focusing on CD Lorenz. His artistic output includes three significant recordings: 'Sacred Music for Horn and Organ' (2000) with organist Ewa Mazurek-Krasodomska; 'Concert Songs of Romanticism' (2008) with soprano Aleksandra Kucharska-Szefler and pianist Bożena Szull-Talar; and 'Horn Fantasy' (2019), featuring the world's first recording of works for horn and piano by Carl Daniel Lorenz (1816-1866). Bronze Badge of the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras (1996) Award of the Mayor of Gdynia (2004, 2021) Diploma of the Minister of Culture (2004) Badge of Merit for Polish Culture (2009) Individual Award of the Director of the Center for Artistic Education (2016) Medal of the Commission of National Education (2019) Cultural Scholarship of the City of Gdańsk (2002, 2009) Staniszewski combines his academic work with extensive teaching experience, having instructed French horn and chamber ensemble classes at the Primary and Secondary Music School in Gdynia since 1993 and at the Complex of State Music Schools in Koszalin. His students have won over 230 awards in regional, national, and international competitions. He serves on juries for music competitions and as a consultant for the Center for Artistic Education in Warsaw since 2021. His music journalism for 'Ruch Muzyczny' includes 85 reports on major musical events in the Gdańsk region and international opera performances.
