Academy of Music in Kraków
Encyclopedia
The Academy of Music in Kraków (Akademia Muzyczna w Krakowie) is a conservatory
located in downtown Kraków
, Poland
.
, a concert pianist and former pupil of Frederic Chopin
. As the region of Lesser Poland
and Kraków was then a part acquired by the Austrian Empire
during the partitions of Poland
in the late 18th century, it was necessary to gain the consent of the Austrian government and meet its high requirements for conservatoires. However, the newly-opened school was inspected by Joseph Dachs and Johann Fuchs, both professors of the Vienna Conservatoire, and received their enthusiastic opinion. It enjoyed a period of great growth in the twenty years between the two wars under directors Wiktor Barabasz and Boleslaw Wallek-Walewski.
The professorial staff included such names as Zbigniew Drzewiecki
, Jan Gall
, Zdzisław Jachimecki, Egon Petri
and Severin Eisenberger
.
Closed during the Nazi occupation of 1939-1945, especially after Sonderaktion Krakau
in 1939, the conservatoire continued its activity underground and finally reopened on 1 September 1945, becoming the State Higher School of Music as of 1 February 1946 under its first rector, Prof. Zbigniew Drzewiecki
. In 1979 it gained the rank of an Academy of Music. On 1 October 2000 the Academy inaugurated its new premises at 41-43, St. Thomas Street.
The Academy is known as the alma mater
of the contemporary Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki
, who was also its Rector for 15 years.
The Academy is the only one in Poland to have two winners of the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw (Halina Czerny-Stefańska
and Adam Harasiewicz
) as well as a few further prizewinners among its alumni.
From postgraduate studies:
Non-graduates:
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
located in downtown Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
History
The Academy, until 1945 as a conservatory under the name Cracow Conservatory or Conservatory of the Music Society, was founded in 1888 by the eminent Polish composer Władysław Żeleński thanks to artistic connections and patronage of Princess Marcelina CzartoryskaMarcelina Czartoryska
Princess Marcelina Czartoryska née Radziwiłł was a prominent Polish aristocrat and pianist....
, a concert pianist and former pupil of Frederic Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
. As the region of Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
and Kraków was then a part acquired by the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
during the partitions of Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
in the late 18th century, it was necessary to gain the consent of the Austrian government and meet its high requirements for conservatoires. However, the newly-opened school was inspected by Joseph Dachs and Johann Fuchs, both professors of the Vienna Conservatoire, and received their enthusiastic opinion. It enjoyed a period of great growth in the twenty years between the two wars under directors Wiktor Barabasz and Boleslaw Wallek-Walewski.
The professorial staff included such names as Zbigniew Drzewiecki
Zbigniew Drzewiecki
Zbigniew Drzewiecki was a Polish pianist especially associated with the interpretation of Chopin's works, who was for most of his life a teacher of pianists. His pupils include several famous pianists of the 20th century, and his influence was therefore very pervasive.Drzewiecki was born in Warsaw...
, Jan Gall
Jan Gall
Jan Karol Gall was a Polish vocal composer and music teacher.Gall was born in Warsaw, and studied under Franz Krenn in Vienna, Josef Rheinberger in Munich, and Francesco Lamperti in Milan...
, Zdzisław Jachimecki, Egon Petri
Egon Petri
Egon Petri was a classical pianist.-Biography:Petri's family was Dutch and he was born a Dutch citizen, but he was born in Hanover in Germany and was brought up in Dresden. His father was a professional violinist who taught his son that instrument. Petri played in the Dresden Court Orchestra and...
and Severin Eisenberger
Severin Eisenberger
Severin Eisenberger |Galicia]] - 1945, New York) was a Polish-born concert pianist and teacher.Eisenberger was a student of Heinrich Ehrlich in Berlin and Theodor Leschetizky in Vienna. He made his debut at the age of 10 in Krakow in a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto no.2 in B-flat...
.
Closed during the Nazi occupation of 1939-1945, especially after Sonderaktion Krakau
Sonderaktion Krakau
Sonderaktion Krakau was the codename for a German operation against professors and academics from the University of Kraków and other Kraków universities at the beginning of World War II....
in 1939, the conservatoire continued its activity underground and finally reopened on 1 September 1945, becoming the State Higher School of Music as of 1 February 1946 under its first rector, Prof. Zbigniew Drzewiecki
Zbigniew Drzewiecki
Zbigniew Drzewiecki was a Polish pianist especially associated with the interpretation of Chopin's works, who was for most of his life a teacher of pianists. His pupils include several famous pianists of the 20th century, and his influence was therefore very pervasive.Drzewiecki was born in Warsaw...
. In 1979 it gained the rank of an Academy of Music. On 1 October 2000 the Academy inaugurated its new premises at 41-43, St. Thomas Street.
The Academy is known as the alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
of the contemporary Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki
Krzysztof Penderecki
Krzysztof Penderecki , born November 23, 1933 in Dębica) is a Polish composer and conductor. His 1960 avant-garde Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima for string orchestra brought him to international attention, and this success was followed by acclaim for his choral St. Luke Passion. Both these...
, who was also its Rector for 15 years.
The Academy is the only one in Poland to have two winners of the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw (Halina Czerny-Stefańska
Halina Czerny-Stefanska
Halina Czerny-Stefańska was a Polish pianist.She studied piano under her father, Stanislaw Szwarcenberg-Czerny, as well as with Alfred Cortot at the École Normale de Musique in Paris, and later with Józef Turczyński and Zbigniew Drzewiecki in Warsaw...
and Adam Harasiewicz
Adam Harasiewicz
Adam Harasiewicz is a Polish classical concert pianist.He won the first prize at the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in 1955....
) as well as a few further prizewinners among its alumni.
Structure
Faculty of Musical Composition, Interpretation, Analysis and Education
- Institute of Composition, Conducting and Theory of Music
- Institute of Choral Music and Music Education
- Institute of Church Music
- Department of Composition
- Departmend of Conducting
- Department of Theory and Analysis
- Department of Theory and Aural Training
- Department of Choral Music
- Department of Music Education
- Electroacoustic Music Studio
The Instrumental Faculty
- Piano Department
- Organ Department
- Wind Instruments, Percussion and Accordicon Department
- Harpsichord and Early Music Department
- Violin and Viola Department
- Cello and Double Bass Department
- Chamber Music Department
- Contemporary Music and Jazz Department
People associated with the Academy
Notable Alumni
The list does not include graduates who later became staff of the Academy.- Halina Czerny-StefańskaHalina Czerny-StefanskaHalina Czerny-Stefańska was a Polish pianist.She studied piano under her father, Stanislaw Szwarcenberg-Czerny, as well as with Alfred Cortot at the École Normale de Musique in Paris, and later with Józef Turczyński and Zbigniew Drzewiecki in Warsaw...
(pianist) - Adam HarasiewiczAdam HarasiewiczAdam Harasiewicz is a Polish classical concert pianist.He won the first prize at the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in 1955....
(pianist) - Kazimierz KordKazimierz KordKazimierz Kord is a Polish conductor. Between 1939 and 1945, he studied piano at the Leningrad Conservatory. He also studied at the Academy of Music in Kraków....
(conductor) - Adam KopycińskiAdam KopycinskiAdam Kopyciński was a Polish conductor and composer.During the Second World War, he was a prisoner in the German concentration camp Auschwitz....
(conductor) - Abel KorzeniowskiAbel KorzeniowskiAbel Korzeniowski is a Polish film and theatre scores composer.He had contact with music from early childhood: his mother Barbara plays cello and both his brothers Antoni and Andrzej are musicians. He graduated from the Academy of Music in Kraków majoring in cello and composer studies under the...
(film music composer) - Waldemar MaciszewskiWaldemar MaciszewskiWaldemar Maciszewski was a Polish pianist and composer.Macizewski was born in Warsaw in 1927. He trained under Zbigniew Drzewiecki at the underground Warsaw Conservatory throughout World War II and at the Cracow State Music Academy from 1945-48...
(pianist) - Władysława MarkiewiczównaWładysława MarkiewiczównaWładysława Markiewiczówna was a Polish pianist and renowned educator.She studied in the Conservatory of the Musical Society in Kraków in the piano class of Severin Eisenberger as well as in theory of music class of Zdzisław Jachimecki...
(pianist)
From postgraduate studies:
- Lidia Grychtołówna (pianist)
- Wojciech KilarWojciech KilarWojciech Kilar ; b. 17 July 1932 in Lwów, Poland) is a Polish classical and film music composer.-Biography:Wojciech Kilar is one of Poland’s esteemed composers. Born in 1932 in Lwów . His father was a gynecologist and his mother was a theater actress...
(composer)
Notable Staff
Academics before the World War II
- Zbigniew DrzewieckiZbigniew DrzewieckiZbigniew Drzewiecki was a Polish pianist especially associated with the interpretation of Chopin's works, who was for most of his life a teacher of pianists. His pupils include several famous pianists of the 20th century, and his influence was therefore very pervasive.Drzewiecki was born in Warsaw...
- Jan GallJan GallJan Karol Gall was a Polish vocal composer and music teacher.Gall was born in Warsaw, and studied under Franz Krenn in Vienna, Josef Rheinberger in Munich, and Francesco Lamperti in Milan...
- Zdzisław Jachimecki
- Egon PetriEgon PetriEgon Petri was a classical pianist.-Biography:Petri's family was Dutch and he was born a Dutch citizen, but he was born in Hanover in Germany and was brought up in Dresden. His father was a professional violinist who taught his son that instrument. Petri played in the Dresden Court Orchestra and...
- Severin EisenbergerSeverin EisenbergerSeverin Eisenberger |Galicia]] - 1945, New York) was a Polish-born concert pianist and teacher.Eisenberger was a student of Heinrich Ehrlich in Berlin and Theodor Leschetizky in Vienna. He made his debut at the age of 10 in Krakow in a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto no.2 in B-flat...
Academics after 1945
Also graduates of the Academy:- Kaja Danczowska (violinist)
- Krzysztof MeyerKrzysztof MeyerKrzysztof Meyer is a Polish composer, pianist and music scholar.-Biography:Meyer was born in Cracow. As a boy he played piano and organ. He began his composition study early – in 1954, with Stanisław Wiechowicz...
(composer) - Krzysztof PendereckiKrzysztof PendereckiKrzysztof Penderecki , born November 23, 1933 in Dębica) is a Polish composer and conductor. His 1960 avant-garde Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima for string orchestra brought him to international attention, and this success was followed by acclaim for his choral St. Luke Passion. Both these...
(composer) - Andrzej PikulAndrzej PikulAndrzej Pikul is a Polish pianist.Pikul graduated from the Academy of Music in Kraków, where he studied under Tadeusz Żmudziński, and from the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna in the piano class of Paul Badura-Skoda...
(pianist) - Paweł PrzytockiPaweł PrzytockiPaweł Przytocki , is a Polish conductor of classical music.-Education:Przytocki studied at the Academy of Music in Kraków, graduating with distinction from the Faculty of Conducting under Professor Jerzy Katlewicz in 1985...
(conductor) - Bogusław Schaeffer (composer)
- Stanisław Skrowaczewski (conductor)
- Regina SmendziankaRegina SmendziankaRegina Smendzianka was a Polish pianist.Regina Smendzianka was born in Toruń, and began her public performances as a child of eight surprising the audience with her mature interpretation of the classical works...
(pianist)
Non-graduates:
- Stefan KisielewskiStefan KisielewskiStefan Kisielewski , nicknames Kisiel, Julia Hołyńska, Teodor Klon, Tomasz Staliński, was a Polish writer, publicist, composer and politician, and one of the members of Znak, one of the founders of the UPR, the polish libertarian and conservative political party.Kisielewski was born to a Polish...
(composer) - Bolesław Kon (pianist)
- Roman PalesterRoman PalesterRoman Palester was a Polish composer of classical music. Palester composed his most significant work during the 1960s, and in 1964 was the first Polish musician to be awarded the Alfred Jurzykowski Prize. His work was individual in style, and not noticeably Polish in character.Palester was born in...
(composer) - Katarzyna Popowa-ZydrońKatarzyna Popowa-ZydronKatarzyna Popowa-Zydroń is a Polish pianist of Bulgarian descent.She obtained an honourable mention at the 1975 Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition. Rafał Blechacz's teacher, Popowa-Zydroń is best known for her work as a pedagogue...
(pianist) - Ada SariAda SariAda Sari was a Polish opera singer, actress, and educator. One of the leading coloratura sopranos of her generation, she possessed a large, resonant voice with a clear timbre. Her career took her to the stages of the best opera houses and concert halls in Europe during the first half of the 20th...
(singer) - Eugenia UmińskaEugenia UminskaEugenia Umińska was a Polish violinist.Student of the Warsaw Conservatory. In the years 1932-1934 she was the concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Polish Radio in Warsaw. She took part in close to a hundred concerts before the start of World War II...
(violinist) - Bolesław Woytowicz (composer and pianist)
- Tadeusz ŻmudzińskiTadeusz ŻmudzińskiTadeusz Żmudziński was a Polish pianist and educator.In 1946 Żmudziński graduated with highest honours from the University of Music in Katowice, where he studied under Prof. Władysława Markiewiczówna. The following year he took lessons from Imre Ungar, Walter Gieseking and Alfred Cortot...
(pianist)