The Wawel Cathedral Mixed Choir
This choir was created at the initiative of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, who suggested that Rev. Robert Tyrała created a mixed choir which would operate in line with the existing men’s choir. The idea of a new ensemble was to cultivate the musical traditions of Wawel Cathedral. Choir members are young people, mostly students of Cracow lyceums and musical high schools, and university students. The Wawel Cathedral Mixed Choir gave its first performance in Cracow on Sunday 26th November 2006 during the 2nd Days of Church Music of the Cracow Archdiocese. Since that time the choir has regularly accompanied the Sunday Mass held at the cathedral and gives concerts at the cathedral to bring about the revival of its musical traditions. In December 2006, the choir represented the Polish “Pueri Cantores” Federation at the festival of choirs from EU Member States which was held in Strasbourg. In May 2007 the choir preformed at the Silesia Film Festival in Katowice, sharing the stage with such renowned music groups as the symphonic orchestra of the Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice, the Kantorei Sankt Barbara Choir, and the Marian Choir in performing Abel Korzeniowski’s music to the film Metropolis. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 the choir inaugurated the International Organ Festival in Zakopane. The choristers also performed during the 20th International Decade of Organ, Choral and Chamber Music in Cieszyn. In September 2009 the choir took part in a spectacle Tryptyk Stanisławowy, which was presented twice at the Wawel Cathedral within the Festival “Słowacki 2009 – Dramaty Narodów”. In April 2010 the choir represented Poland during 50th International Festival of Sacred Music in Loretto. The Wawel Cathedral Mixed Choir together with “Psalmodia” Choir were responsible for musical setting of state funeral for Polish President Lech Kaczyński and his wife Maria in Wawel Cathedral. The choir is the laureate of numerous national and international competitions: 1st prize at 8th Caecilianum 2008 National Competition; Grand Prix at 6th National Contest of Church Choirs of Penitential and Passion Songs of Upper Silesian Metropolis ŻORY 2009; 1st place at 5th International Choral Competition Cantate Domino in Cracow in May 2010; 1st place at International Choral Competition in Cracow (sacred music category). The Wawel Cathedral Mixed Choir cooperates with the Opera in Cracow. The conductor and founder of the choir is Andrzej Korzeniowski, who works together with assistant conductor, Marcin Wasilewski-Kruk.
Andrzej Korzeniowski
He started his artistic career as a 8-year-old boy in the theatre of Opera in Cracow participating in plays Halka (Helen) and Cyganeria (La bohème). He was a member of Boys Choir of Philharmonic in Cracow. He graduated from Music Secondary School in Cracow, in the violin class of P. Tarcholik and in 2001 the Music Academy in Cracow in conducting class of Adam Korzeniowski. As a student he conducted an academic choir and orchestra during concerts commemorating II John Paul, organised by Polish Television. He attended master courses in symphonic conducting in Gdynia and Kraków with J. Salwarowski and G. Chmura. Since 1998 he has been managing the Cecilian Choir in Cracow and since 2001 he has been a conductor of Men’s Cathedral Choir of Wawel. In 2003 he conducted the premiere of J. Ciupiński’s Akrostych performed by the symphonic orchestra of Music Academy in Cracow, Cracow Chamber Choir and Boys Choir of Philharmonic in Cracow. He cooperated with the Symphony Orchestra of the Baltic Philharmonic and the Silesian Philharmonic, Beethoven Academy Orchestra, the Symphonic Orchestra of Gdańsk, “Fresco Sonare” Chamber Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Choir in Minsk, the Polish Radio Choir in Cracow, the Mariana Mixed Choir, Kantorei Sankt Barbara. Andrzej Korzeniowski performed both in Poland and abroad. He took part in over 800 concerts; he also recorded numerous film and theatre pieces. In 2006 he founded the Wawel Cathedral Mixed Choir.
