Zbigniew Bargielski

Zbigniew Bargielski (born January 21, 1937, in Łomża) is a full professor at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, where he served as head of the Department of Music Theory and Composition from 2002 to 2020. He concurrently taught composition at the Academy of Music in Kraków from 2005 to 2014.

His academic background includes:

• Law studies at Maria Skłodowska-Curie University in Lublin (1954–1957)
• Composition studies under Piotr Perkowski, Tadeusz Szeligowski, and Bolesław Szabelski at music academies in Warsaw and Katowice (graduated 1964)
• Studies under Nadia Boulanger in Paris (1966/67) as a French government scholar
• Percussion studies at Graz Hochschule für Musik (1971/72)
• Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst scholarship in Darmstadt (1986)

A pioneering figure in contemporary classical music, Bargielski's creative work spans orchestral, chamber, and vocal genres, characterized by innovative structures and international influences from his decades in Austria (1967–2002). His compositions like 'Parades' and 'Trigonalia' reflect a distinctive synthesis of Polish tradition and avant-garde experimentation.

His major honors include:

• UNESCO recognitions for String Quartet No. 1 'Alpejski' (1981) and 'Trigonalia' (1995)
• Polish state decorations: 'Zasłużony dla kultury polskiej' (1990), 'Polonia Restituta' Officer's Cross (1995), and 'Gloria Artis' Gold Medal (2011)
• International awards: Anton-Benya-Preis (2000), Złotą Sową (2008)
• Multiple Polish Composers' Union prizes across five decades

As an educator, Bargielski mentored generations through his departmental leadership and composition classes, while his scholarly impact extends to jury roles at international competitions and publicist writings in journals like 'Kultura' (1965–1978). His institutional legacy includes shaping the 'Warsaw Autumn' festival repertoire and contributing to Poland's centennial '100 na 100' music project (2018).