Urszula KrygerView profile
Professor
Professor Urszula Kryger, Ph.D., serves as Dean of the Faculty of Vocal and Acting Studies at the G. and K. Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź since the 2012/2013 academic year, following her tenure as Head of the Vocal Studies Department (2008-2012). A distinguished mezzo-soprano, she has maintained an international performance career while advancing vocal pedagogy through master classes and competition juries. Her educational background includes dual degrees from the Academy of Music in Łódź: Instrumental Studies in Piano (1988) and Vocal Studies in Acting (1992), supplemented by advanced vocal training under Andrzej Orłowicz in Copenhagen. This foundation informs her holistic approach to vocal artistry. Kryger's research focuses on Classical Vocal Performance with specialization in Art Song Interpretation and Polish Musicology . Her scholarly work centers on authentic performance practices of Chopin, Szymanowski, and Moniuszko, emphasizing textual nuance and historical context in art song. She investigates chamber music collaborations as interdisciplinary laboratories for vocal expression, with particular attention to the interplay between text, timbre, and emotional authenticity. Her publication trajectory reveals deep engagement with Polish musical heritage , progressing from foundational recordings of Russian repertoire to definitive interpretations of Szymanowski and Żeleński. The consistent Fryderyk Award recognition demonstrates scholarly impact in preserving and reinterpreting national musical identity through rigorous vocal scholarship. 2001 Fryderyk Award for 'Russian Duets' (DUX) 2002 Fryderyk Award for 'Moniuszko's Songs' and 'Karłowicz/Szymanowski's Songs' 2004 Fryderyk Award for 'K. Szymanowski's Songs' (Channel Classics) 2006 Karol Szymanowski Foundation Award 2012 Fryderyk Award for 'Żeleński - Pieśni' As an educator, Kryger mentors through master classes across Europe and serves on international competition juries. Her academic leadership includes departmental administration and shaping curriculum for vocal performance programs. Collaborative projects with ensembles like the Tokyo String Quartet and Petersen Quartet demonstrate her commitment to interdisciplinary artistic research. Kryger maintains active performance partnerships with distinguished musicians including Hartmut Höll, Charles Spencer, and Pascal Rogé, while conducting research through recording projects that serve as both artistic output and pedagogical resources for vocal students.











