Pro Arte

PRO ARTE Choir

Choir presentation

The PRO ARTE Chamber Choir was founded in 2000 with the aim of celebrating the Bach Year, combined with performing choral works by the famous composer. The choir then began its regular activity in 2002 under the direction of Anna Drogowska. In 2015, artistic direction was taken over by two choir conductors, Monika Wilkiewicz and Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak.

The choir has performed in concerts in Inowrocław as well as in many cities in Poland, such as Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Gniezno, Kruszwica and Kraków. In 2017, the choir took part in the international festival “Toscania Music Festiwal” in Montecatini Terme, Italy, and in 2022 in Budapest.

Awards & distinctions

In 2019, the choir received two Gold Diplomas in the categories “sacred music” and “pop music” and a Silver Diploma in the category “folk music” at the 9th International Choral Competition and Festival “Canco Mediterrania” in Lloret de Mar, Spain.

The choir’s latest international success is two Gold Diplomas in two categories: sacred music and folk, at the international festival “Chorus Inside Croatia” in Rovinj, Croatia.

The group’s repertoire includes a cappella music, religious, folk and patriotic songs by 20th- and 21st-century composers, as well as vocal and instrumental works, including Gloria by A. Vivaldi, Requiem by G. Fauré, Missa brevis by J. Szopiński, Rotary Cantata by J. B. Lewandowski, and Quoniam in me speravit by Józef Elsner.

THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Monika Wilkiewicz and Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak.

Monika Wilkiewiczconductor, teacher, music facilitator, founder and president of the PRIMO VOICE Foundation.

A graduate of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz (degree with honours in the conducting class of Professor Zbigniew Bruna). In 2005–2012, she served as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Conducting, Jazz and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. Since 2016, she has been Head of the Department of Choral Studies and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz.

She has been involved in choral music since 1995, conducting the following ensembles: the men’s choir “Hasło” in Bydgoszcz (1995–1998, 2002–2004), the women’s chamber choir of the M. B. Ostrobramska parish in Bydgoszcz (1995–2010), the boys’ choir of the M. B. Ostrobramska parish in Bydgoszcz (1995–2010), and the men’s choir of the St. Wawrzyńca parish in Nakło (1996–1998), the mixed choir “Soli Deo” in Nakło (2004–2005), the 1st- and 2nd-level PSM choirs in Inowrocław (2014–present), and the PRO ARTE Chamber Choir in Inowrocław (2015–present). In 2004–2010, she also collaborated with the Chamber Choir of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, with which she received the Grand Prix – Main Prize and the Conductor’s Prize for the best choir at the National Choir Tournament “Legnica Cantat” 2006.

Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak (conductor, Associate Professor at the Department of Choral Music and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz).

She earned a PhD in musical arts with habilitation in the artistic field of conducting. She graduated with distinction from the Faculty of Music Education at the F. Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz (1998), where she studied under Prof. Janusz Stanecki in conducting and completed postgraduate studies in choral conducting (2000). She won 1st place in the 2nd University Conducting Competition (1997) and received two scholarships from the Ministry of Culture.

Since 1998, she has worked at the Faculty of Conducting, Jazz Music and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. She teaches conducting and score reading and serves as an academic thesis advisor. In December 2015, together with Monika Wilkiewicz, she began cooperation with the PRO ARTE Chamber Choir of Inowrocław.

 

Awards & distinctions

Monika Wilkiewicz is the founder and conductor of the PRIMO I High School choir in Bydgoszcz (since 1996). With this school ensemble, she has given concerts in Poland and abroad, taken part in national and international competitions, winning dozens of prestigious awards (including the Grand Prix three times and first place thirty-seven times) and many special prizes. Her performances of choral compositions have repeatedly received special awards for best interpretation, as well as the award for best conductor.

Despite her ongoing work as a choir conductor, she delivers lectures and workshops for conductors. She has served as a juror at choir competitions, leads national scientific conferences, and is the author of publications on music, including: “Choral repertoire and its use in the teaching process in the subject of conducting.” With the PRIMO and PRO ARTE choirs, she has also given world premieres of choral compositions by Marcin Kopczyński and Łukasz Urbaniak—five international premieres and the same number of Polish compositions.

In 2003, she received the Silver Badge of Honour of PZCHIO and the Bronze Cross of Merit. She has repeatedly received the Rector’s Individual Award – 3rd degree (2005, 2006, 2008, 2012) and 2nd degree (2011, 2020). She received the Mayor of Bydgoszcz Award three times (2010, 2013, 2022), the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Superintendent of Education Award (2014), and the CEA Award, 2nd degree, for her special contribution to the development of arts education (2023). In addition, she received the Silver Medal for Long Service (2014), the Bronze Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis (2021), and the honorary badge “Meritorious for Polish Culture” (2023).

Since September 2009, Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak has conducted the Symphony Orchestra of the J. Zarębski National Music School of 1st and 2nd levels in Inowrocław. With this orchestra, she premiered works by Aleksandra Brejza (Dźwiękogimnastyka dla mamy, taty i brzdąca co bryka and Die Schumannreise).

In 2011, in collaboration with the Symphony Orchestra and the Choir of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, she recorded a performance of Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.

She is a member of the jury of regional and national choral competitions. She also collaborates with choirs participating in the Choir Academy – Singing Poland programme in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Since January 2019, she has been the regional coordinator of the programme.

 

 

Direction: Monika Wilkiewicz and Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak.

Poland

Inowrocław

listen

Would you like to participate with your choir in our festivals? Go on tour in Europe? Submit your application!

Pro Arte

PRO ARTE Choir

Choir presentation

The PRO ARTE Chamber Choir was founded in 2000 with the aim of celebrating the Bach Year, combined with performing choral works by the famous composer. The choir then began its regular activity in 2002 under the direction of Anna Drogowska. In 2015, artistic direction was taken over by two choir conductors, Monika Wilkiewicz and Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak.

The choir has performed in concerts in Inowrocław as well as in many cities in Poland, such as Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Gniezno, Kruszwica and Kraków. In 2017, the choir took part in the international festival “Toscania Music Festiwal” in Montecatini Terme, Italy, and in 2022 in Budapest.

Awards & distinctions

In 2019, the choir received two Gold Diplomas in the categories “sacred music” and “pop music” and a Silver Diploma in the category “folk music” at the 9th International Choral Competition and Festival “Canco Mediterrania” in Lloret de Mar, Spain.

The choir’s latest international success is two Gold Diplomas in two categories: sacred music and folk, at the international festival “Chorus Inside Croatia” in Rovinj, Croatia.

The group’s repertoire includes a cappella music, religious, folk and patriotic songs by 20th- and 21st-century composers, as well as vocal and instrumental works, including Gloria by A. Vivaldi, Requiem by G. Fauré, Missa brevis by J. Szopiński, Rotary Cantata by J. B. Lewandowski, and Quoniam in me speravit by Józef Elsner.

THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Monika Wilkiewicz and Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak.

Monika Wilkiewiczconductor, teacher, music facilitator, founder and president of the PRIMO VOICE Foundation.

A graduate of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz (degree with honours in the conducting class of Professor Zbigniew Bruna). In 2005–2012, she served as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Conducting, Jazz and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. Since 2016, she has been Head of the Department of Choral Studies and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz.

She has been involved in choral music since 1995, conducting the following ensembles: the men’s choir “Hasło” in Bydgoszcz (1995–1998, 2002–2004), the women’s chamber choir of the M. B. Ostrobramska parish in Bydgoszcz (1995–2010), the boys’ choir of the M. B. Ostrobramska parish in Bydgoszcz (1995–2010), and the men’s choir of the St. Wawrzyńca parish in Nakło (1996–1998), the mixed choir “Soli Deo” in Nakło (2004–2005), the 1st- and 2nd-level PSM choirs in Inowrocław (2014–present), and the PRO ARTE Chamber Choir in Inowrocław (2015–present). In 2004–2010, she also collaborated with the Chamber Choir of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, with which she received the Grand Prix – Main Prize and the Conductor’s Prize for the best choir at the National Choir Tournament “Legnica Cantat” 2006.

Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak (conductor, Associate Professor at the Department of Choral Music and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz).

She earned a PhD in musical arts with habilitation in the artistic field of conducting. She graduated with distinction from the Faculty of Music Education at the F. Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz (1998), where she studied under Prof. Janusz Stanecki in conducting and completed postgraduate studies in choral conducting (2000). She won 1st place in the 2nd University Conducting Competition (1997) and received two scholarships from the Ministry of Culture.

Since 1998, she has worked at the Faculty of Conducting, Jazz Music and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. She teaches conducting and score reading and serves as an academic thesis advisor. In December 2015, together with Monika Wilkiewicz, she began cooperation with the PRO ARTE Chamber Choir of Inowrocław.

 

Awards & distinctions

Monika Wilkiewicz is the founder and conductor of the PRIMO I High School choir in Bydgoszcz (since 1996). With this school ensemble, she has given concerts in Poland and abroad, taken part in national and international competitions, winning dozens of prestigious awards (including the Grand Prix three times and first place thirty-seven times) and many special prizes. Her performances of choral compositions have repeatedly received special awards for best interpretation, as well as the award for best conductor.

Despite her ongoing work as a choir conductor, she delivers lectures and workshops for conductors. She has served as a juror at choir competitions, leads national scientific conferences, and is the author of publications on music, including: “Choral repertoire and its use in the teaching process in the subject of conducting.” With the PRIMO and PRO ARTE choirs, she has also given world premieres of choral compositions by Marcin Kopczyński and Łukasz Urbaniak—five international premieres and the same number of Polish compositions.

In 2003, she received the Silver Badge of Honour of PZCHIO and the Bronze Cross of Merit. She has repeatedly received the Rector’s Individual Award – 3rd degree (2005, 2006, 2008, 2012) and 2nd degree (2011, 2020). She received the Mayor of Bydgoszcz Award three times (2010, 2013, 2022), the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Superintendent of Education Award (2014), and the CEA Award, 2nd degree, for her special contribution to the development of arts education (2023). In addition, she received the Silver Medal for Long Service (2014), the Bronze Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis (2021), and the honorary badge “Meritorious for Polish Culture” (2023).

Since September 2009, Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak has conducted the Symphony Orchestra of the J. Zarębski National Music School of 1st and 2nd levels in Inowrocław. With this orchestra, she premiered works by Aleksandra Brejza (Dźwiękogimnastyka dla mamy, taty i brzdąca co bryka and Die Schumannreise).

In 2011, in collaboration with the Symphony Orchestra and the Choir of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, she recorded a performance of Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.

She is a member of the jury of regional and national choral competitions. She also collaborates with choirs participating in the Choir Academy – Singing Poland programme in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Since January 2019, she has been the regional coordinator of the programme.

 

 

Direction: Monika Wilkiewicz and Grażyna Wolter-Kaźmierczak.

Poland

Inowrocław

listen

listen

Would you like to participate with your choir in our festivals? Go on tour in Europe? Submit your application!