ANNUAL CONCERT OF MUSIC DEPARTMENT: ARTISTRY DELIGHTS AUDIENCE

The long-prepared (and also long-awaited) annual concert of the Department of Music of Jan Dlugosz University entitled "Art at the University – University of the Philharmonic" (24 January 2025) was a huge success. 

Before the first sounds reached the gathered spectators, the Rector of Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, prof. Janusz Kapuśniak was asked for an introduction.

- I am very pleased to be with you and to have the pleasure of opening the concert of the Department of Music – said prof. Janusz Kapuśniak. – I grew up in Bytom. I attended concerts at the Silesian Opera, but at that time I never thought that I would ever be in the Philharmonic so often... This month I am here for the fourth time. And January is not over yet and I know that I will be here again! This testifies, above all, to the multitude of events and the dynamics of life that goes on around us. I am extremely happy that I have the honour to open such an important event with the participation of excellent musicians, noble guests and a wonderful audience. 

The dignified event was dedicated to Professor Jerzy Bralczyk, who came to the concert after the lecture "On the Limits of the Language" (in the Auditorium Maximum of JDU)!  

- I am very moved, because for the first time a concert of this rank is dedicated to me – said Prof. Jerzy Bralczyk. – I am all the more pleased because culture has a huge impact on the creation of language. To a large extent, music is also part of this process...!

The details related to the preparation of the concert were announced by prof. Barbara Karaśkiewicz, head of the Department of Music of JDU. 

- I would particularly like to emphasize the important role played in the entire process of creating the concept of this event by His Magnificence prof. Janusz Kapuśniak, who with great understanding supported our activities at the decisive stage. If it were not for this help, resulting from the awareness that art needs support in order to achieve the intended quality - this concert would simply not have taken place. It was a great initiative: to invite all the people awarded by the Rector of Jan Dlugosz University - employees of the University - to this important project for our academic community. I think that in addition to real experiences related to the perception of Art, thanks to such meetings we experience even more awareness that together we cannot only do more - but also more beautifully: think, feel, act, inspire, educate, experience, plan - encouraged prof. Barbara Karaśkiewicz.

Prof. Barbara Karaśkiewicz also congratulated prof. Bogusław Przywora (Vice-Rector for Research of JDU) on the inauguration of the series entitled "Lectures at Długosz's" (the first lecture took place with the participation of prof. Jerzy Bralczyk). 

The concert programme included 4 music premieres (the authors come from our University): Wojciech Chałupka - Concertino for accordion duo and string orchestra, Marek Kunicki - 5652 Edith - cantata for mezzo-soprano and orchestra with electronics and audiovisual means, Korneliusz Wiatr - WIND-AGE for orchestra and jazz quintet, Lesław Podolski - Gospel Impressions for mixed choir, soloists and symphony orchestra.

Briefly and subjectively describing the concert, it can be said that it became an extraordinary event, taking the audience into completely different, new, perhaps undiscovered dimensions of perception. Those who let themselves be carried away by the music, the displayed images and other accompanying sounds, had the opportunity to taste completely new, perhaps for the first time, emotions. For many, this experience will be associated for a long time with a journey to one's own "being". Certainly, no one remained indifferent to the presented programme and its performance, and that is what art is all about. After all, the worst thing for an artist is the ignorance of the audience. There was none after the concert "Art at the University – University at the Philharmonic"! Thunderous applause and passionate discussions after the end of the event (in the foyer and outside the Philharmonic) were the best confirmation of this. So we ask for more and look forward to the next artistic events with the participation of our colleagues!

Ensembles and institutions involved in the process of creating a wonderful event:
Concert host: Anna Stachura-Bogusławska
Author of the poster: Justyna Warwas
Composers - authors of four music world premieres:
Wojciech Chałupka
Marek Kunicki
Korneliusz Wiatr
Lesław Podolski
Creators of visualisations accompanying musical compositions - visual artists:
Christopher Myśko
Jadwiga Janowska
Katarzyna Zolich
Marek Kunicki

Soloists:
Amalgalis Duo: Ewa Grabowska-Lis (JDU in Czestochowa) – accordion, Daniel Lis (Academy of Music in Katowice) – accordion
Bernadetta Grabias (Academy of Music in Łódź) – mezzo-soprano
Ewa Rzetecka-Niewiadomska (Academy of Music in Łódź) – harpsichord
Marek Kunicki (JDU in Czestochowa) – live electronics
Korneliusz Wiatr – piano
Wojciech Królikowski – hammond, synthesizers
Sebastian Ruciński – electric guitars
Tomasz Kiepura – bass
Tomasz Machański – drums
Joanna Świniarska-Szebeszczyk (JDU in Czestochowa) – vocals
Karolina Mrugalska (JDU in Czestochowa) – vocals
Ludmiła Kosteretska – piano
Mixer (Mikołaj Mądrzyk)

Conductors:
Jerzy Swoboda
Marek Kudra

Ensembles:
Academic Choir of Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa – prepared by Marek Kudra, Ludmiła Kosteretska
Symphony Orchestra of the Bronisław Huberman Częstochowa Philharmonic in Częstochowa

Special thanks are also due to Director Adam Klock for his favour and interest. Thanks are also directed to the Impresario of the Częstochowa Philharmonic for great help in the organisation and efficient communication - as well as for everyday kindness in difficult situations, also for the photographs taken by Agnieszka Małasiewicz.

It is worth noting that the concert was prepared in cooperation with the staff of the Faculty of Science & Technology and the Faculty of Humanities.