LA FOLLE JOURNEE DE VARSOVIE

A student initiative resulted in the formation of a big band in the Karol Szymanowski State Music School Complex in Warsaw in May of 2007. The band consists of students of the junior high school and secondary school, as well as of graduates of the school. The first concert took place in June of 2007 at a concert organised by the authorities of the district of Żoliborz in Warsaw. Following the success of that first performance, the authorities of the school enabled Professor Piotro Kostrzewa to work regularly with the ensemble. Since then, the Szymanowski Big Band has participated in many artistic endeavours, such as in the annual summer concerts at the Olympic Cente in Warsaw (2008, 2009).

In March 2009, at studio S1 of the Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw, theensemble recorded its forst album, titled First Session. In January 2010 the big band organised a concert featuring Danuta Błażejczyk and in May 2010 with students of the Fryderyk Chopin Music University. In April 2010 the band took part in recording three parts of the Name that Tune TV show for Programme 1 of Polish Television. In November 2010 the Szymanowski Big Band received the GRAND PRIX at the Opportunity for the Young International Competition in Riga (Latvia). In December 2010 the band recorded material for its second album in the Centre of Culture in Grodzisk Mazowiecki. The album came out in May 2011 on the CD ACCORD label, becoming the first in the label’s YOUNG TALENTS CD ACCORD series.

Danuta Błażejczyk and Piotr Polk were invited as guests artists to record on the album. In January 2011 actor and singer Piotr Polk invited the Szymanowski Big Band to perform in special concerts at the Syrena Theatre in Warsaw intended to promote the singer’s latest album Mój film. In May of 2011 the band was invited by the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra to play in the orchestra’s new facilities during the Night of the Museums event. In June 2011 the band played a concert promoting the album “100% SWING” at the ART BEM Centre of Culture in the district of Bemowo, with Danuta Błażejczyk and Piotr Polk performing as guests.