PARTICIPANTS UNIVERSITAS CANTAT 2017

The Eugeniusz Piasecki University School of Physical Education Choir “Polihymnia”, Poland
Conductor: Tomasz Dzięcioł, Ph.D.

The Eugeniusz Piasecki University School of Physical Education Choir “Polihymnia”, Poland
 http://www.polihymnia.art.pl/

The Poznan Choir "Polihymnia" was founded in 1983 by the then Prorector of the Academy of Music in Poznan, professor Janusz Dzieciol. Abundant concert activity, both home and abroad, has brought the choir a number of prizes in festivals and competitions:
- 4th International Choir Festival and Competition "Canco Mediterrania", Lloret de Mar - Barcelona, 2014
- 4th International Festival of Choral Marian Song Czestochowa 2010
- International Festival of Religious Music in Olomouc 2008
- All-Poland Competition of Passion Songs Bydgoszcz 2007
- Legnica Cantat 1986, 2001
- International Festival of Religious Song Rumia 2001
- France - Marseille (1987, 1997)
- Israel - Netanya (1996)
- Greece - Athens (1994)
- Germany - Lindenholzhauzen (1993)
- Spain - Cantonigros (1989,1992)
- Italy - Riva del Garda (1990)

The ensemble has performed in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Russia, Hungary and Lithuania, receiving flattering reviews from the concerts. The choir's repertory comprises almost 300 pieces from various epochs, ranging from medieval to contemporary compositions. In cooperation with the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra , the Student's Chamber Orchestra of Poznan and Sinfonietta of Bydgoszcz, the choir performed such pieces as: W.A. Mozart's "Requiem", "Missa brevis D-dur", L. van Beethoven's "IX Symfonie", G.G. Gorczycki's "Completorium", F. Haendel's "Samson", W. Kilar's "Victoria", O. Nicolai's "Missa D-dur", F. Nowowiejski's "Quo Vadis", C. Orff's "Carmina Burana", I. Stravinsky's "The Symphony of Psalms", K. Szymanowski's "Veni Creator".

"Polihymnia" is one of the leading choral ensembles in Poland. The ensemble assists the students of musical art in their study of conducting and performs in diploma concerts in the Academy of Music. In 30 years of its existence the ensemble's artistic management rested in the hands of professor Janusz Dzieciol and dr Tomasz Dzieciol, who is the present conductor of the choir.

As of February 18, 2015 the Choir will act under the auspices of the Eugeniusz Piasecki Physical Education Academy in Poznan.

Tomasz Dzięcioł 

Born in 1976 in Poznan, in the city of remarkably rich tradition of music, choral in particular, this is where he has been developing his musical knowledge and skills. Upon completion of piano courses in the elementary and secondary school of music, he continued his education in the Faculty of Choral Conducting, Music Education and Church Music in the Academy of Music of the City of Poznan, in the class of professor Janusz Dzieciol. He graduated with distinction in 2000, winning the first prize of the 8th All-Poland Competition of Choral Conductors in Poznan in the same year. Since 1998 he has worked with choirs of Poznań: the Corpus Christi Parish Choir, the Poznan Choir “Polihymnia”, Stanislaw Moniuszko Choir Nova (until 2006). Between 2006-2009 he worked as an assistant to professor Stefan Stuligrosz and the 2nd conductor of The Poznan Nightingales Choir. His choirs have performed both home and abroad. He has won prizes in numerous choral competitions in Poland and abroad (among others in Legnica, Rumia, Wejherowo, Bydgoszcz, Czestochowa, Olomouc). The choral repertoire of Tomasz Dzieciol comprises almost 230 compositions from across a wide range of epochs. Mr Dzięcioł continues his academic and didactic work, as an assistant professor in the I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznan. In 2005 he completed his doctoral studies in musical arts and in January 2013 he habilitated in musical arts in the artistic discipline of conducting.

Poznan University of Physical Education, Poland