Karol Stryja
Encyclopedia
Karol Stryja was a Polish
conductor and teacher.
Stryja, son of a tailor
, was born in Cieszyn
and finished elementary school, gymnasium
and teachers' seminary there. Since 1934 he worked as a teacher and simultaneously studied at the University of Music in Katowice
. In 1939 he graduated from the Department of Pedagogy, in 1951 from the studies in conducting.
In 1937 he started his conducting career with the Echo choir in Łaziska Górne. Stryja later worked at the Silesian Philharmonic
in Katowice, where he became the art director and conductor in 1953. From 1968 to 1983 he was the art director of the Odense Symfoniorkester in Odense
, Denmark
. With the Silesian Philharmonic, Odense Symfoniorkester and other orchestras, Stryja toured many European countries, as well as the United States, Argentina, Israel, Japan and Cuba. He also conducted at various international music festivals. Stryja also taught conducting in Katowice.
In 1979 Stryja founded the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors in Katowice, in 1980 he founded the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition in Odense.
In 1984 he was given the academic title of professor. In March 1995 he was awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by the President Lech Wałęsa
. Stryja was also awarded the Bulgaria
n Order Of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius, 1st Class. Karol Stryja died on 31 January 1998 in Katowice and is interred at the Protestant Cemetery in Cieszyn.
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
conductor and teacher.
Stryja, son of a tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
, was born in Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
and finished elementary school, gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
and teachers' seminary there. Since 1934 he worked as a teacher and simultaneously studied at the University of Music in Katowice
University of Music in Katowice
University of Music in Katowice is one of the leading musical schools in Poland. It is located in Katowice, Silesia...
. In 1939 he graduated from the Department of Pedagogy, in 1951 from the studies in conducting.
In 1937 he started his conducting career with the Echo choir in Łaziska Górne. Stryja later worked at the Silesian Philharmonic
Silesian Philharmonic
The Filharmonia Śląska w Katowicach is a music institution in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. The Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice was founded in 1945. The first concert of the orchestra took place on 26 of May 1945. A mixed choir was added in 1973....
in Katowice, where he became the art director and conductor in 1953. From 1968 to 1983 he was the art director of the Odense Symfoniorkester in Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. With the Silesian Philharmonic, Odense Symfoniorkester and other orchestras, Stryja toured many European countries, as well as the United States, Argentina, Israel, Japan and Cuba. He also conducted at various international music festivals. Stryja also taught conducting in Katowice.
In 1979 Stryja founded the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors in Katowice, in 1980 he founded the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition in Odense.
In 1984 he was given the academic title of professor. In March 1995 he was awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by the President Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity , the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 95.Wałęsa was an electrician...
. Stryja was also awarded the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Order Of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius, 1st Class. Karol Stryja died on 31 January 1998 in Katowice and is interred at the Protestant Cemetery in Cieszyn.