2. sept: Selje Kyrkje
The Prof. Jan Szyrocki Memorial
West Pomeranian University of Technology Choir in Szczecin
(former The Szczecin Technical University Choir)
The Szczecin Technical University Choir was founded in November 1952 by the then student, Jan Szyrocki (born 29.12.1931), who went on to become a professor. He acted as the artistic director and conductor until the day of his death on 9.4.2003. The choir met with growing regard and, within a short time of its founding, became one of the best academic choirs in Poland, gaining numerous awards at home and abroad.
The choir went on its first concert tour in 1959 and has since given concerts in more than 80 countries on four continents. It has been invited to the USA five times and has been applauded in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, India, Thailand, Israel, the Canary Islands, the Philippines and Cuba; as well as in the whole of Europe.
Since 1973 the choir has functioned as the Choral Association “Szczecin Technical University Choir” which includes: the main concert choir (80 members), “The Group of the Young” (50 - member preparatory group) and “Collegium Maiorum” (50 - member choir of graduates) and the children choir “Don-Diri-Don” (100 members).
The repertoire of the Szczecin Technical University Choir consists of both a cappella pieces and big vocal-instrumental forms. The choir performs music of various styles and epochs such as medieval, renaissance, Afro-American spirituals and folk songs of different nations. However, contemporary music is the most eagerly sung and also the one in which the group has had particular success. The choir is often invited to take part in premieres of pieces by such contemporary composers as Krzysztof Penderecki, Romuald Twardowski, Jan Wincenty Hawel, Andrzej Koszewski and Marek Jasinski.
From the beginning the choir has joined with the Szczecin Philharmonic in performances of oratorio-cantata matserpieces. In recent years it has given concerts together with the finest Polish orchestra “Sinfonia Varsovia” as well as with other philharmonic orchestras of Poland. The choir is also frequently invited by the Berlin Philharmonic as a co-performer of pieces by L. van Beethoven, G. Verdi, F. Mendelssohn and C. Orff. Moreover, the group has sung under the conductorship of Krzysztof Penderecki, Kazimierz Kord, Jerzy Semkow, Jacek Kasprzyk, Gary Bertini (Israel), Bernard Shaw (USA), Tomas Hilbish (USA) and Ludwig Guttler (Germany).
The most important events in the history of the choir are the performances with the Sinfonia Varsovia of “Missa Solemnis” by L. van Beethoven, conducted by Krzysztof Penderecki (June 1993, Szczecin) and “Carmina Burana”, by C. Orff, conducted by Jan Szyrocki (November 1994, National Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw). Another crucial event took place in April 1996 when the choir, together with the choir and orchestra of the National Theatre from Warsaw, conducted by Jerzy Semkow, performed the 2nd Symphony, “Resurrection” by G. Mahler in the National Theatre in Warsaw. Very important events took a place in December 2005 in Szczecin when the Choir with associatioin of other choirs and Szczecin Philharmoinic Orchestra performed in The Szczecin Shipyard “Nowa” for 5000 people, the “Polish Requiem” of Krzysztof Penderecki. The concert in memory of the strikes in 1970 in Szczecin under the conductorship of the composer himself. The concert was recorded on DVD.
The choir represented Poland during the International Choral Festival in Valencia, Spain, organised to celebrate the 500th anniversary of discovery of America as well as during the main events of the Polish Day at the International EXPO '98 exhibition in Lisabone. In May 2000 the group took part in the celebrations of the 80th birthday of the Pope John Paul II. The concert was an international premiere of “The Angels' Mass” by Ch. W. Heimermann. The piece was composed especially for that occasion. For many years the choir has taken part in special New Year concerts organised in the Berlin Philharmonic with the “9th Symphony” by L.van Beethoven.
The seeson 2002/2003 was year long celebrations of the 50th jubilee of the Szczecin Technical University Choir. In April 2003, the founder, conductor and artistic director of the choir, Jan Szyrocki, died following a severe illness. Unfortunately this meant the main celebrations of the 50th jubilee of the choir in June 2003 took place without the professor.
Since the year 2003 the Choir take a name of his founder prof. Jan Szyrocki.
For the upcoming years the role of conductor and artistic director was performed by Dr. R. Zieliński from the University of South Florida, USA (2003-2005). With the artist the group was on significant tour in USA in February and March 2005. In the years 2005-2006 the role was taken over by Dr. R. I. Drozd from Slupsk.
In the year 2006 Szymon Wyrzykowski, the professor’s reliable student, was appointed to the post of artistic manager and conductor.
The seeson 2007/2008 was year of the 55th jubilee of the Szczecin Technical University Choir. In October 2007 the choir won the first prise in two categories on International Choir Competition in Trnava – Slovakia. In November 2007 all three choirs of the University (the children choir “Don-Diri-Don”, the adults choir “Collegium Maiorum” and the Jan Szyrocki Memory Choir) celebrate his 55th anniversary on fiew concerts with the final on two concerts. The first one “Missa pro Pace” by Wojciech Kilar with Szczecin Philharomonic Orchestra and the second one was the big a cappella concert in Szczecin.
The choir promotes Szczecin Technical University, the city and the region by appearances at important cultural events. For many years Polish TV and Radio have been recording and broadcasting the choir's performances and following its progress. Numerous performances of pieces by Polish and international composers have also been recorded and broadcast by a number of foreign radio stations. In addition the choir has recorded several CDs, long playing records and cassettes. For its activity in the field of culture, the choir has received many awards, distinctions and medals from both national and regional authorities.
The Choir under the baton of new conductor again successful in choral competitions. It is possible to mention among last progress the first place in two categories in October 2007 on International Choral Festival in Trnava in Slovakia. However, Choir has received in 2008 year in significant competitions in Poland twice Grand Prix: in Octtober 2008 in Rybnik on International Rybnik`s Choir`s Autumn and in November 2008 on Polish Choir Contest in Szamotuly. In addition, the Choir`s conductor Szymon Wyrzykowski in both competitions, received the award for “the best conductor”.
By the reason of change of name of the University with start 2009 year the Choir change the name to The Prof. Jan Szyrocki Memorial West Pomeranian University of Technology Choir in Szczecin
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