CHOIR OF CARDINAL STEFAN WYSZYŃSKI’S UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1968. During  40 years of its existence, many concerts have been given not only in Poland, but also in almost all of the European countries. It is a winner of numerous prizes and  distinctions, among others: 1985, All-Polish Choir Contest Legnica Cantat – the best debut; 1986, All-Polish Choir Contest Legnica Cantat –Award of Minister of National Education and Special Prize for Conductor; 1987, Choir Festival in Kraśnik – Grand Prix; 1987, Academia Cantat in Wrocław – 4th Prize; 1987, the Blessed Friar Albert Award; 1988, All-Polish Festival of Polish Choral Song in Katowice – 1st Prize, Golden Medal, Special Prize and Conductor’s Prize; 1990, All-Polish Festival of Religious Songs in Rumia – 2nd Prize; 1992, All- Polish Choir Contest ‘Legnica Cantat’ – award for the best performance of the religious composition; 1998, two First Prizes in the International Choir Contest “Music World” in  Fivizzano in Italy; 1998, Award of Chancellor of Baltic High School of Humanities  “Echo of the  Baltic Sea”  for preaching the Polish contemporary sacral music; 1999, The Golden Distinction of Saint Augustin Lyceum; 2001, 1st Prize and  Mazovia Voivode’s Pot in the Mazovia Festival of Academic Choirs in Warsaw, 3rd Prize in 52° Concorso Polifonico Internazionale “Guido d’Arezzo” 2004 in Arezzo (Italy). The Choir gave numerous concerts during the festivals in Poland as well as abroad: International Choral Song Festival in Międzyzdroje, Jornades Internacionals de Cant Coral a Barcelona (Spain), Rencontres Musicales et Chorales Internationales de Mirepoix et de L’Ariege w Mirepoix (France), Deutscher Katholikentag Dresden (Germany) , International Festival of Sacral Music  “Gaude Mater” w Częstochowa, International Festival “Wratislavia Cantans” in Wrocław, Laboratory of the Contemporary Music in Białystok, Organ Music Conversatorium in Legnica, Spring Festival of Music in Chisinau (Moldova), Festival “Journees Mozart Lausanne” in Lousanne (Switzerland), Polish Season in Strasbourg 2004 (France). The ensemble is the author of numerous first performances  and premieres of Polish composers’ works. The Choir cooperates with eminent Polish and foreign artists and ensembles – among others Sinfonia Varsovia, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfónica del Vallés, Deutsches Kammerorchester from Berlin. The most essential events were: performance of Folk Songs by Andrzej Panufnik under the baton of Maestro Jan Krenz on invitation of National Philharmonic to commemorate its 100 years existence, performance of Passion by S. Gubaiduliny in the National Philharmonic to dignify the completion of International Festival of Contemporary Music “Warsaw Autumn” 2004 as well as the performance together with the Symphonic Orchestra and Choir of National Philharmonic of VIII Symphony by G. Mahlera under the directory of A. Wit. In 2006, together with the Symphonic Orchestra and Choir of National Philharmonic , The Choir of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński presented The Balthazar’s Feast by William Walton. The ensemble takes pride in numerous  radio and TV recordings (Poland, France, Germany, Italy, Vatican) as well as twenty CD’s.  The conductor and artistic director of the Choir is rev. Kazimierz Szymonik, second conductor – Michał Sławecki. Alicja Ogrodzińska and Magdalena Jóźwińska, together with Ewelina Rzezińska are responsible for the vocal training of choristers’ voices.
 

REV. KAZIMIERZ SZYMONIK

Rev. Prof. Ph. D. Kazimierz Szymonik (born 1942), conductor and artistic director of the Choir of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński’s University. He studied theology from 1960 to 1966 in Częstochowa Theological Seminary in Cracow, music at the Academy of Catholic Theology in Warsaw – Musicology Section – (1971-76) and at the I. J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań (1978-81) in S. Stuligrosz’s class. He continued his studies at the K. Lipiński Music Academy in Wrocław under S. Krukowski and at the Institut Catholique in Paris where he specialized in Gregorian Chant performance. He is a Professor at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, where he has been holding the post of Pro-rector for Education and Didactics since 2005. He also teaches at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University. He sits on several artistic councils and the juries of many choir music competitions and festivals, he is also very active in the field of pedagogy, participating as a lecturer in seminars, post-graduate studies, (Postgraduate Voice Emission Course, Postgraduate Choir Directing Course at the Bydgoszcz Music Academy) and other forms of Gregorian chant training .
He has won many awards and certificates of merit. He was awarded the Ecumenical Commander Cross with a Star of the Order of St. Bridget in 1996, received  the President of Częstochowa's award, the Award of the Chancellor of the Baltic College of Humanities “Echo of the  Baltic Sea” in 1998, and the St. Augustine Lyceum Gold Medal. Kazimierz Szymonik became a Honorary Citizen of the City of Rocamadour (France). He received the title of Professor from the President of the Republic of Poland in 2000. In 2002 he received the Polonia Restituta Knight's Cross. Together with the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University Choir he has recorded over a dozen CD’s, and made many foreign tours to the greatest part of European countries. He has performed many times for the Holy Father Pope John Paul II at St. Clements Hall at the Vatican and Castel Gandolfo. He has won many prizes at national and international competitions.