European University Association

ul. Dekerta 2
3 5-959 Rzeszów
tel. +48 17 872 28 01

     The rich musical traditions of south-eastern Poland along with its well-developed primary and secondary musical education as well as the educational needs of Rzeszów led to establishing a department at WSP (Pedagogical University), which would allow future teachers of music to receive proper education.

     Musical Education at the Pedagogical University in Rzeszów was established in 1985 as a result of an agreement between the University and the Academy of Music in Kraków, the latter providing the pedagogical staff necessary for starting the department. The fact that Lubomirski Palace was destined to become the base of the department created a great opportunity to display the teachers' and students' artistic output in antique interiors. It is important to notice that both teachers and students of the department have given concerts in many cities of Poland (Rzeszów, Kraków, Warsaw, Łódź, Poznań Krosno, Przemyśl) as well as abroad (Austria, Germany, Ukrainę, Spain, Portugal).

     A rapid development of the research and teaching staff allowed the transformation of the Department of Music Education into the Institute of Music in April 2000, and since 1st October 2001 the Institute has become the research and teaching unit of the newly established University of Rzeszów. Growing interest in studies at this department led to the start of day-time MA and BA courses as well as part time MA, BA and postgraduate courses, the latter being on 'Teaching music within the subject of Arts.'

     The organizational structure of the Institute of Music is the result of the conducted research and artistic activity. The Institute conducts research in the following fields,

1. Musical Culture of Ethnic Borderland (supervised by Prof. Leszek Mazepa),
2. Choir Conducting (supervised by Prof. Marta Wierzbieniec),
3. Piano Play (supervised by Janusz Skowron),
4. Musicianship (supervised by Prof. Leszek Suszycki),
5. Theoretical Subjects and Methodology of Musical Education (supervised by Andrzej Jakubowski)

     In the Institute of Music there are 3 Professors, 3 Readers, 25 lecturers and senior lecturers, 10 assistants and 2 accompanists. Professor Jerzy Tosik-Warszawiak has also worked at the Institute since lst October 2002.

     Thanks to the enormous activity of academic teachers employed at the Institute its artistic, research and teaching accomplishments have become a permanent part of the musical landscape of Rzeszów. The artistic activity includes concerts (about 200 a year) given both in Poland and abroad, In 1997 to 2002 concerts were given in the USA, Canada, Austria, France, Spain, Israel, Switzerland, Norway, Peru, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Hungary and Ukrainę. Artistic performances for the academic society of Rzeszów consist of musical meetings in the hall of Lubomirski Palace as well as outdoor concerts which were first organized in June 2000 as a part of 'the Days of Rzeszów' celebration.

     One of the most important forms of activity in the Institute of Music is the Choir. It was first conducted by Prof. Jerzy Kurcz and for the last several years it has been conducted by Prof. Marta Wierzbieniec. The Choir has been performing for seventeen years and it actively cooperates with the orchestra of Rzeszów Philharmonics. Together they have prepared and performed several oratorio and cantata compositions, e.g., Hamasie by K. Szymanowski, Requiem by G. Faure, Messiah oratorio by G. F. Haendl, Requiem by W. A. Mozart. There is also the Chamber Choir at the Institute. It was founded by M. Wierzbieniec. The Chamber Choir has been awarded at many competitions (e.g., in Olsztyn, Legnica, Myślenice, Bańska Bystrzyca, Oskarshamn, Prague). The Choir has given numerous concerts both in Poland and abroad (Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukrainę) thereby publicizing the academic society of Rzeszów to a larger audience. The Chamber Choir has been conducted by Bożena Stasiowska-Chrobak since 1999.

     Students of the Institute also have an opportunity to present their musical skills and abilities by participating in concerts of instrumental groups. Such groups are very diverse - from old music trios, small classical groups to pop music groups. The instrumental groups are supervised by Marzena Lubowiecka and they give traditional New Year's concerts.

     Research work of the Institute of Music is focused mainly on the issues of borderland culture, ethnomusicology and music performance and teaching. The Institute organizes international conferences such as Musica Galiciana. The workers of the Institute have published many articles and books.

     The Institute of Music cooperates with universities abroad (Lvov, Drohobycz, Kiev, Brema, Yienna, Salzburg) as well as with the Polish Academies of Music (Kraków, Warsaw, Poznań, Wrocław, Łódź, A. Malawski Philharmonics in Rzeszów) and with the Rzeszów Musical Society, the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras (Rzeszów department) and the Polish Community Association.

     At present, over 200 young people study art education in the field of Music Arts. The programme of study consists of general and specific musical subjects. The programme prepares students to work as teachers of music at schools and as propagators of culture at culture centres and other educational and cultural institutions.

     Until now 117 people have graduated from the department of Music education. A survey was carried out and it showed that most graduates work in their profession. They teach music at schools, conduct choirs and vocal and instrumental groups of different kind. In their work as music instructors they organize concerts and above all they make the Polish young generation sensitive to culture and arts.

     The department is situated in the historic building at 2 Dekerta Street where classes and lectures take place. There are 15 rooms for this purpose - 4 lecture halls, 5 classrooms and 6 rooms for individual classes.

     The Institute of Music has got a library with approximately 6.000 books, 1.000 magazines and a special collection of records, tapes and notes (approximately 5.600). Many guidebooks, handbooks and notes are available to help conduct classes. In a room next to the library there is audio equipment for listening to music. The library has a vast collection of music on CDs - from the Middle Age compositions to contemporary music.

     The laboratory for musical education methodology is equipped with keyboards, flutes, tables and other necessary materials. The students can borrow musical instruments and equipment from the store (e.g., flutes, guitars, accordions).

     The participation of the Institute, its teachers and students' performances (the Choir, soloists, instrumental groups) at many University events as well as at national and international events, has allowed it to publicize its artistic output and promote the University of Rzeszów. Several people have won prestigious awards, e.g., Prof, Leszek Mazepa, Prof. Leszek Suszycki, Prof. Marta Wierzbieniec, Antoni Guran, M. Lubowiecka, O. Popowicz.

     The Institute conducts the following courses,
day-time study - MA course ( specialization in school music; conducting vocal, instrumental and dancing groups); BA course,
extramural study - MA and BA courses,
postgraduate study - 'Teaching music within the subject of Arts', conducting vocal, instrumental and dancing groups

     BA studies have been organized in response to the needs of musically gifted young people of Podkarpacie who could not start their music education due to many reasons, e.g., finanacial problems, their place of residence and others.

     A new offer of the Institute of Music covers specializations in

1. conducting vocal, instrumental and dancing groups
2. school music.

     In trying to meet the desire of the teachers of general education school in the acquisition of qualifications the Institute of Music has started postgraduate studies in 'Teaching music within the subject of Arts.'

     The Chamber Choir

     The Chamber Choir was founded in 1988 by Marta Zoszak-Wierzbieniec in the Institute of Music. Students and graduates from the former Music Education department (now art education in the field of Music Arts) form the membership of the Choir. During its 14-year- old activity the Chamber Choir has participated in many Polish competitions: National Choir Competition 'Legnica Cantat' (1991 and 1998) - a prize in the category of academic choirs.

     The Choir won the Choral Festival in Myślenice "Hej Kolęda" (1995), where M. Wierzbieniec also received the award for the best conductor of the festival. The Choir participated in international choral competitions in Sweden (Oskarshamn) and in the Czech Republic (Bańska Bystrzyca) where it won the second prize. Being conducted by B. Stasiowska-Chrobak it won the first prize in the competition in the Czech Republic (Prague). The Choir gave many concerts at festivals, mainly, chamber and organ music festivals. The most important performances of this sort are: Organ and Chamber Music Festivals in Sandomierz, Leżajsk, Radom, Rzeszów and Koksijde (Belgium). In 1988-2001 the Choir gave concerts abroad (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Belarus, Slovakia, Switzerland, Swiss and Ukrainę). The Chamber Choir also takes part in many different research conferences and symposiums organized by the University of Rzeszów. The Choir has been conducted by Bożena Stasiowska-Chrobak since 1999.