| Guests are coming! Barbara Bilszta-Niewrzoł - director of the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra - is bringing a group of young talented musicians to take part in the Kosciuszko celebrations - A Day of Fun at Kosciuszko Run on Saturday 12th February. Along with Barbara, Wojciech Niewrzoł, a conductor of the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra is coming as well as prof. Lidia Filus, the Kosciuszko Foundation (Chicago) representative. Truly, the Kosciuszko celebrations are gaining an international dimention. We are very happy and proud to have these guests from Chicago.
Barbara Bilszta-Niewrzol is the founder and executive director of the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra. She received her music education and master degree in viola performance from the Academy of Music in Wroclaw. As a student, in 1987 she was asked to teach at both the Academy of Music and at the Music Conservatory in Wroclaw. Soon after she began her performance career playing with the State Symphony Orchestra.
In 1988 and 1990 she was the winner of the Gioventu Musicale Italiana Stipend and was therefore offered a contract with the Italian Symphony Orchestra (ISO). For the next eight years she stayed with the ISO constantly touring both Europe and the U.S. She performed at recognized places such as New York's Carnegie Hall. As a member of several chamber ensembles in both Switzerland and Italy she collaborated with CD-producing labels (EMI, Sony, and Ricordi) and national television stations (TV RAI, Rete 4, Canale 5).
Throughout her stay in Italy she taught at the renowned "Scuola di Musica di Milano." In 1996 she moved to the Chicago-land area, where she still performs as a freelancer with multiple orchestras. In 1997 she founded the "Polish American Symphony Orchestra" (PASO) later to become the "Paderewski Symphony Orchestra" (PaSO). As the executive director of PaSO, she promoted talented Chicago-land children in the concert series entitled "The Four Seasons." She sponsored and organized many of Chicago-land's cultural events: workshops, competitions, operettas, classical, pop and jazz music concerts. Among the most renown are “The Haunted Manor”, “Songs of Freedom”, and “PaSO Around the World”.
Awards
Barbara & Wojtek with W. Kilar |
2000 Medal "in recognition of constant efforts in promoting Polish Culture on foreign soil." Ministry of Culture of the Polish Commonwealth
2000State of Illinois the Outstanding Public Servant Award for "brining Polish music to Illinois.
2002 Cook County Treasurer Certificate of Excellence for outstanding dedication and lasting contributions to the Polish Community,
2007 Silver Gloria Artis form Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Republic of Poland,
2007 CITIBANK "Charima" for Outstanding Leadership.Awards
Paderewski Symphony Orchestra - photogaleries. Click here
Scroll down & listen to mp3 recordings, incl. famous "Krzesany" by Wojciech Kilar!
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