CWOJDZIŃSKI, Andrzej (*1928)

Composer. Cwojdziński was born on 25^th January 1928 in Jaworzno. In the years 1947-1953, he studied composition and conducting at the State Higher School of Music in Kraków. He worked as a conductor and artistic director at the Philharmonics in Kraków, Łódź, Lublin and Koszalin. He has served many times as artistic director of the Polish Piano Festival in Słupsk, the Kołobrzeg Cello Evenings, the World Polonia Choir Festival in Koszalin, and the Koszalin Organ Concerts. While still studying, he began his teaching work, first at the State Higher School of Drama in Kraków, and then at the Catholic University of Lublin. From 1991 to 1999, he was a professor at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk and at the Higher Teacher Education School in Słupsk. He has received numerous awards and honours for his contribution to Polish culture, including a Ministry of Culture and Art Award, 2^nd degree (1977), the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1983), the ’Pro ecclesia et pontifice medal’, and the Fr. Bolesław Domański award for outstanding creative achievement (1988). He is also a member of the Polish Composers’ Union. The rich compositional oeuvre of Andrzej Cwojdziński includes both chamber and symphonic instrumental pieces, and vocal and vocal-instrumental works (the latter mainly religious works). Educational pieces, too, take a significant place in the composer’s creative output. Many of these are readily performed at children’s and youth competitions. Cwojdziński began his collaboration with EUTERPE Publishing House in 2007.