The Fryderyk Chopin Society
Local Branch in Wrocław

The branch carries out activities which are in line with the Society’s statutory aims.

ul. Piłsudskiego 19
50-044 Wrocław
tel. 71/3678120 (president Wojciech Dzieduszycki)
tel. 7894231, tel./fax 3522448, 0602487167 (vice-president Mirosław Gąsieniec)

Board:
Mirosław Gąsieniec – president
Paweł Zawadzki – vice-president
Irena Iwaszczyszyn – secretary
Andrzej Kempa – treasurer
Roman Płatek, Ryszard Sławczyński – members of the Board

Membership: 25

The Wrocław Branch, formed 14 years ago at the initiative of Bogna Kuskowska and Wojciech Dzieduszycki, has been active locally since. Its areas of activity include the promotion of Chopin’s music, research into the composer’s ties with Wrocław and the organisation of concerts, including those marking the anniversaries of Chopin’s birth and death. Among the musicians who have appeared in these concerts are Marek Drewnowski, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Neal Larabee, Piotr Paleczny, the Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra, the Leopoldinum orchestra and members of the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra. Since 1998, in early November each year, the Wrocław Branch has held Chopin Forums. The event was initiated by Bogna Kuskowska; its artistic director, until 2003, was Jan Popis. Since then Mirosław Gąsieniec has been in charge of artistic direction and organisational matters. The Forum’s objective is to promote young musicians who have distinguished themselves in competitions – Josif Sergey, Ksenia Blintovskaya, Jaromyr Bozenko, Philip Guisiano, Alberto Nose, Naomi Iwase, Marian Sobula, Piotr Szychowski (the last two live in Wrocław) and many others. The Wrocław Branch co-operates with Wrocław and Lower Silesia cultural institutions and associations, music festivals and with the Karol Lipiński Music Academy in Wrocław. The most significant undertakings include the erection of a Fryderyk Chopin statue and the creation of a new concert agenda in Wrocław. Inspired by Prof. Maria Zduniak, the Branch initiated celebrations marking Chopin’s four visits to Wrocław and, primarily, the anniversary of his concert in the Lower Silesian capital. Organisational work started in 1999 and the ceremonious unveiling of the Chopin statue in the city’s South Park took place on 5 September 2004. It was an important event in Wrocław’s cultural life. A nearly 3-metre-high bronze sculpture representing a seated, intently listening composer rests on a black marble pedestal. The monument was designed by Prof. Jan Kucz.