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EN Concert co-financed by Kamieński County
Artists:
Józef Serafin – organ
Urszula Nowakowska – harp
Sylwia Kubiak-Dobrowolska – flute
Biographical notes:
Józef Serafin graduated with distinction from the PWSM in Kraków, in the organ class of prof. B.Rutkowski and prof. J.Jargoń, and from the Hochschule fuer Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, in the class of prof. A. Heiller. He is a laureate of first prizes, among others, at the national organ competition in Warsaw (1967) and the international organ competition in Nuremberg (1972). He has given concerts in almost all European countries, as well as in the USA, Canada, Japan and Kazakhstan. He is the artistic director of the international organ and chamber music festivals in Kamień Pomorski and Leżajsk, and the international festival of young organists "Juniores Priores" in Sejny. He was a juror at many international organ competitions (including Prague, Nuremberg, Paris-Chartres, Mainz, Gdańsk). Professor of the organ classes at the University of Music and Performance in Warsaw (honorary professor of this university since 2018) and the Academy of Music in Kraków. In 2016 he received the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" medal from Pope Francis.
Urszula Nowakowska is a graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warszawa in the harp class of Professor Urszula Mazurek. As a soloist, she made her debut with the performance of J. Ch. Bach's Concerto in D major at the Warszawa National Philharmonic. She was a member of the European Festival Orchestra, performing with the YES ensemble. She accompanied many famous Polish and foreign soloists, and also appeared in television programs. Currently, the artist performs solo, is involved in chamber ensembles, orchestras, collaborates with choirs, presenting classical and popular music, premieres of works by Polish composers and film music. She plays at various types of ceremonies, is also a harp teacher and an active member of the Harfa Dzieciom Association. (Source: Agencja Koncertowa Luxart).
Sylwia Kubiak-Dobrowolska graduated with distinction from the UMFC in Warszawa in the flute class of Prof. Elżbieta Gajewska-Gadzina. During her studies, she perfected her skills at courses with such celebrities as: Jean-Pierre Rampal, Miriam Nastasi and Peter-Lukas Graf. She won distinctions and awards at competitions in Poland and abroad, took part in the Young Talents Concerts, performed as a soloist of the Jeunesses Musicales Orchestra conducted by Robert Satanowski, and was the first flutist of the Warsaw Autumn Spring Orchestra conducted by Jerzy Maksymiuk and Jacek Kaspszyk. After a brilliant performance at the master class, she received a personal invitation from maestro Jean Pierre Rampal to the International Flute Competition in Paris, where she represented Poland. In the twenty-year history of this prestigious competition, a Polish flutist was invited for the second time. For over a dozen years she has been performing and co-creating pop music, performing with famous jazz musicians: Tomasz Szukalski, Michał Urbaniak, Jarosław Śmietana. With her talent she also supports excellent painters such as: Stanisław Baj, Antoni Wróblewski, Maria Anto, playing at exhibitions and painting plein-airs. She has also collaborated with the fashion world. With Adam Sztaba she prepared and performed music for the Arkadius show. Fascinated by Argentine tango, she began working on the dance and music project "Tango z Carmen", performing music inspired by Argentine tango. She collaborated with the "Malina Kowalewski Band", performing pop and dance music in Poland and abroad. Playing in a female band promoting the album "Sexi flexi" by Natalia Kukulska, she appeared in the program "Dancing with the Stars". In 2012 she received the "Diploma of Recognition for Achievements in the Field of Culture" from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, and in 2017 she was awarded the "Meritorious for Polish Culture" distinction. (Source: Municipal Cultural Center in Sulejówek).
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