The Choir of the Maritime University of Szczecin conducted by Sylwia Fabiańczyk-Makuch, PhD, has now existed for 16 years.

The ensemble quickly became a showcase of the city and the region, spreading the maritime tradition in the country and abroad. The group of nearly a hundred of people can be proud of hundreds of concerts, international tours, dozens of major prizes won at prestigious choir festivals in Poland and abroad, six CDs, numerous premieres of contemporary music.

Only throughout the last 7 years the choir has received over 55 main awards, including 10 Grands Prix, 25 Gold Medals at the most prestigious Polish and international festivals and choral contests. The choir has also been recognized by several cultural institutions in Poland. It had an opportunity to perform in over 15 countries (Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Macedonia, Lithuania, Malta, Ireland, Ecuador, Russia, Canada, Japan or Taiwan). The choir performed numerous world premieres of works written by recognized Polish composers, including Marek Jasiński, Janusz Stalmierski, Marek Raczyński, Bartosz Kowalski, Marek Czerniewicz, Jacek Sykulski and Piotr Broda. The ensemble is often invited to cooperate with the most outstanding Polish and international artists, performers, bands and composers. Among them are: Andrea Bocelli, Krzysztof Penderecki, Krzesimir Dębski, Henri Seroka, Michael McGlynn, Fernando Gil Estrada, Włodek Pawlik, Zbigniew Wodecki, Andrzej Smolik, Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz, Kayah, Trebunie-Tutki, Kroke, Mikromusic.

The choir recorded six CD albums: Pozdrowione bądźcie morza (Hail to the Seas), Gra fal (The Play of the Waves), Pod okapem śniegu (Under the Snow Cover), Ave Maris Stella, Regina Poloniae, Sub Tuum Praesidium and realized seven music videos.

The ensemble likes to experiment, especially when it comes to combining the classical choral sounds with numerous musical trends and styles. For several years the choir is the organizer of the artistic project entitled Common Sounds which attracts numerous listeners form different backgrounds. Previous editions were inspired by avant pop, ethnic music, a cabaret, jazz or Latin rhythms.

The Choir’s repertoire is versatile, ranging from the choral classics to the original arrangements of the most popular contemporary songs and pieces. Talented, young singers are constantly struggling to demythologize the stereotypical image of the choir. They try to adopt a subtle and ‘witty’ choreography and thus make the listener smile once in a while.

The choir’s main goal is to achieve a unified, coherent sound, often surpassing the choral tradition. The mission is to show that music has no borders; that unity and coherence on stage is the most important phenomenon which transfers harmony and passion.

Staff:

Preparatory choir – Adam Baran, Katarzyna Kubińska, Piotr Krzyżanowski
Voice emission – Izabela Rudnicka

instructors:
Agata Kowalska
Magdalena Kawczyńska
Adam Baran
Piotr Krzyżanowski

Piotr Krzyżanowski – accompaniment

Sylwia Fabiańczyk-Makuch – conductor, voice emission