Choir Pro Arte

Choir PRO ARTE

The Chamber Choir PRO ARTE was founded in 2000. The inspiration was the celebration of the Bach Year combined with the performance of the composer’s chorales. The choir started its regular activity in 2002 under the direction of Anna Drogowska. In 2015 the artistic supervision was taken over by dr hab. Monika Wilkiewicz and dr hab. Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak.

The choir gives concerts in Inowrocław as well as other places like Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Gniezno, Kruszwica and Kraków. In 2017 the choir participated in the International Festival    ‘Toscania Music Festiwal’ in Montecatini Therme in Italy and in 2022 in Budapest. In 2019, the choir was awarded two Gold Diplomas in the categories “sacred music” and “pop music” and a Silver Diploma in the “folk music” category during the 9th International Choral Competition and Festival “Canco Mediterrania” in Lloret de Mar, Spain. The choir’s latest international success are two Golden Diplomas in two categories: sacred and folk music during the international festival “Chorus Inside Croatia” in Rovinj in Croatia.

The repertoire of the group involves a’cappella music, religious, folk and patriotic songs of 20th and 21st century composers as well as vocal-instrumental pieces of music, among others Gloria by A. Vivaldi, Requiem by G. Faure, Missa brevis by J. Szopiński and Rotary Cantata by J. B. Lewandowski or Quoniam in me speravit by Józef Elsner.

Through its activities and participation in numerous events and projects in the town and the whole region, the choir promotes choral vocalics, providing listeners with pleasant experiences.

Dr. hab. Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak (PhD with habilitation), conductor, associated professor at the Choral Music and Music Education Department of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz.

Received a musical arts doctoral degree with habilitation in the artistic field of conducting. Graduated with distinction from the Faculty of Musical Education at F. Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz (1998), where she attended prof. Janusz Stanecki’s conducting course, and completed Choirmasters Postgraduate Studies (2000). She won 1^st place at the 2^nd Faculty Conducting Competition (1997) and received two scholarships of the Minister of Culture.

Since 1998 she has been working at the Faculty of Conducting, Jazz Music and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. She teaches conducting, score reading and is an academic works consultant. In December 2015, together with Monika Wilkiewicz, she began cooperation with the PRO ARTE Chamber Choir operating in Inowrocław.

Since September 2009 she has been conducting the Symphonic Orchestra of the J. Zarębski 1^st and 2^nd Level State Music School in Inowrocław. With this orchestra she performed for the first time ever the works of Aleksandra Brejza (Dźwiękogimnastyka dla mamy, taty i brzdąca co bryka and Die Schumannreise).

In 2011, in collaboration with Symphonic Orchestra and Choir of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, she recorded the performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.

She is a jury member of regional and national choir competitions. She also collaborates with choirs participating in the Choir Academy – Singing Poland program in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. From January 2019 he is the regional curator of the program.

prof. Ph.D. Monika Wilkiewicz – conductor, teacher, musical animator, founder and president of the PRIMO VOICE Foundation.

A graduate of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz (diploma with honors in the conducting class of Prof. Zbigniew Bruna). In the years 2005-2012, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Conducting, Jazz and Music Education of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. Since 2016, Head of the Department of Choral Studies and Music Education of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz.

He has been involved in choral music since 1995, leading the following groups: Men’s Choir “Hasło” in Bydgoszcz (1995-1998, 2002-2004), Women’s Chamber Choir of the parish of M. B. Ostrobramska in Bydgoszcz (1995-2010), Boys’ and Men’s Choir of the parish of St. Wawrzyńca in Nakło (1996-1998), Mixed Choir “Soli Deo” in Nakło (2004-2005), PSM Choirs of the 1st and 2nd degree in Inowrocław (2014-present), PRO ARTE Chamber Choir in Inowrocław. (2015-present). In the years 2004-2010, she also cooperated with the Chamber Choir of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, with which she received the Grand Prix – Main Prize and the Award for the Conductor of the best choir of the Tournament during the National Choir Tournament “Legnica Cantat” 2006.

He is the founder and conductor of the PRIMO I High School Choir in Bydgoszcz (1996-present). With this school band, she gave concerts in Poland and abroad, participated in national and international competitions, winning dozens of prestigious awards (including the Grand Prix three times and the first place thirty-seven times) and a number of special prizes. Her interpretations of choral compositions have been repeatedly awarded Special Awards for the best performance and also awarded the Award for the best conductor.

Despite his constant activity as a choirmaster, he conducts lectures and workshops for conductors, is a juror during choral competitions, heads national scientific conferences, and is the author of publications on music, including: “Choral repertoire and its use in the process of teaching the subject of conducting.” With the PRIMO and PRO ARTE choirs, he has also performed world premieres of choral compositions by Marcin Kopczyński and Łukasz Urbaniak – five times international and the same number of Polish ones.

In 2003, she was awarded the Silver Badge of Honor of PZCHiO and the Bronze Cross of Merit. She received the Rector’s Individual Award several times – 3rd degree (2005, 2006, 2008, 2012) and 2nd degree (2011, 2020). She was honored three times with the Award of the Mayor of Bydgoszcz (2010, 2013, 2022), the Award of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Education Superintendent (2014), and the 2nd degree CEA Award for special contribution to the development of artistic education (2023). Additionally, she was awarded the Silver Medal for long service (2014),   as well as the Bronze Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis (2021) and the Honorary Badge “Merit for Polish Culture” (2023).

LISTEN

DATE