University of Music in Katowice

University of Music in Katowice
Akademia Muzyczna im. Karola Szymanowskiego w Katowicach
Established	1929
Rector	Professor Tomasz Miczka
Location	Katowice, Poland (EU)
Website	http://www.am.katowice.pl

University of Music in Katowice (The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice) is one of the leading musical schools in Poland. It is located in Katowice, Silesia. Some of its most notable graduate include Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Wojciech Kilar, Krystian Zimerman, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Andrzej Jasiński, Tadeusz Żmudziński, Marcin Dylla.

Programs

The Academy offers full-time as well as part-time BA, MA and D.A. studies at two departments: Composition, Interpretation, Education and Jazz Department and Vocal-Instrumental Department. The organizational structure of the school consists of 12 Divisions: Composition, Conducting and Music Theory Division, Music Education Division, Choral Conducting Division, Piano Division, String Instruments Division, Organ and Harpsichord Division, Wind, Brass and Percussion Instruments Division, Chamber Music Division, Accordion Division, Guitar and Harp Division, Vocal Division, Composition and Music Arrangement Division and finally Jazz Instrumental and Vocal Division.

Didactic, artistic and research activity of the school is supported by academic and extra-departmental units such as the Library and Computer Music Studio. The system of education at the Academy is adjusted to European standards of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) which enables students to complete a part of their study program abroad as well as choose a number of elective courses in all specialties. The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music also offers an individual courses for foreign students.

Each year the Academy holds several artistic events such as concerts, master classes and conferences. The artistic activity of the school is also connected with the Karol Szymanowski Academic Symphony Orchestra. Its highly valued artistic level is a unique tool for the promotion of the Academy abroad. The source of pride for the school is also its chamber and mixed choir.

Notable alumni

Thanks to its highly qualified alumni who hold the positions in the most influential cultural institutions in the world, the Academy ranks among leading music academies in Poland. The list of outstanding graduates includes such names as Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Wojciech Kilar, Krystian Zimerman, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Andrzej Jasiński, Tadeusz Żmudziński, Marcin Dylla.

A more complete list of notable alumni:

• Composers: Michał Spisak, Wojciech Kilar, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Witold Szalonek, Józef Świder, Jan Wincenty Hawel, Edward Bogusławski, Eugeniusz Knapik, Aleksander Lasoń
• Orchestra directors: Karol Stryja, Zdzisław Szostak, Napoleon Siess, Renard Czajkowski, Jan Wincenty Hawel, Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk, Jan Wojtacha, Czesław Freund
• Piano: Tadeusz Żmudziński, Lidia Grychtołówna, Józef Stompel, Andrzej Jasiński, Kazimierz Morski, Wiesław Szlachta, Monika Sikorska-Wojtacha, Jerzy Sterczyński, Krystian Zimerman, Joanna Domańska, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Magdalena Lisak, Zbigniew Raubo, Anna Górecka, Wojciech Świtała, Beata Bilińska, Barbara Karaśkiewicz, Przemysław Lechowski, Szczepan Kończal.
• Chamber music: Maria Szwajger-Kułakowska, Urszula Stańczyk, Urszula Musialska, Marek Moś
• Organ: Irma Thenior-Janecka, Julian Gembalski
• Violin: Andrzej Grabiec, Aureli Błaszczok, Beata Warykiewicz-Siwy, Adam Taubitz, Adam Musialski, Kazimierz Skowronek, Szymon Krzeszowiec
• Viola: Bernard Polok, Paweł Głombik
• Oboe: Jerzy Kotyczka, Edward Mandera, Tomasz Miczka, Jakub Raczyński
• Saxophone: Maciej Sikała, Jakub Raczyński, Krzysztof Kapel
• Clarinet: Paweł Roczek, Andrzej Janicki
• Bassoon: Paweł Podleśka, Kazimierz Siudmak, Wiktor Osadzin
• Trombone: Roman Siwek, Jan Górny
• Horn: Józef Brejza, Alfred Kasprzok, Wiesław Grochowski
• Accordion: Marek Andrysek
• Guitar: Marek Nosal, Marcin Dylla, Beata Będkowska-Huang
• Vocal: Irena Lewińska, Jadwiga Romańska, Krystyna Szostek-Radkowa, Irena Torbus-Mierzwiak, Michalina Growiec, Stanisława Marciniak-Gowarzewska, Jolanta Wrożyna
• Jazz and pop performers: Andrzej Zubek, Krystyna Prońko, Stanisław Sojka, Lora Szafran, Wojciech Niedziela, Jacek Niedziela, Bernard Maseli, Jerzy Główczewski, Janusz Brych, Tomasz Szukalski, Patrycja Gola, Andrzej Daniewicz, Paweł Golec, Łukasz Golec, Ania Szarmach, Anna Serafińska, Anna Sochacka, Anna Stępniewska, Mieczysław Szcześniak, Kuba Badach, Grzegorz Jabłoński, Bartek Królik, Marcin Ułanowski, Gosia Stępień, Łukasz Sztaba, Michał Grott, Kasia Cerekwicka, Janusz Szrom Hania Stach
• Silesian String Quartet, including
  • Szymon Krzeszowiec, (violin I)
  • Arkadiusz Kubica, (violin II)
  • Łukasz Syrnicki, (viola)
  • Piotr Janosik, (cello)

Location

The Academy has its seat in a beautiful neo-Gothic building. The authorities of the Academy has initiated a project to build a new Concert Hall which is to meet the latest spatial and acoustic requirements. The building is to be also the seat of the largest Music Library in Poland.

International partnerships

The Academy of Music co-operates with University of Louisville - School of Music (USA), Zoltan Kodaly Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemét (Hungary) and Department of Musicology of Palacký University of Olomouc (Czech Republic) in terms of the exchange of students and faculty members. Institutions work on mutual projects and prepare concerts held both in Poland and abroad.

Bibliography

• Exlibris w zbiorach Biblioteki Państwowej Wyższej Szkoły Muzycznej w Katowicach. Musical ex libris book plates in the collection of the State Music College Library in Katowice. Exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Grzegorz Fitelberg and also the I International Conductor’s Competition in his name. Katowice 1979.

External links

• (English) Page University of Music in Katowice
• (Polish) Page University of Music in Katowice