BArbara Bilszta - General Director of the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra and Academy of Music of Chicago (USA) – the only professional orchestra outside of Poland dedicated to promoting Polish music.
She completed her studies at the Instrumental Department (viola) of the Academy of Music in Wrocław. Participation in the 1988 artistic workshops of Gioventu Musicale Italiana in Bergamo (Italy) led to scholarships and contracts with several orchestras and ensembles in Italy, including the Orchestra Stabile di Bergamo (known as the Italian Symphony Orchestra), Ensemble Musica Rara, Gruppo Concertistico di Lugano, and I Solisti di Filharmonica Italiana. She takes part in festivals, goes on numerous tours across Europe and the USA, and participates in recording programs for TV RAI and Canale 5, as well as albums for SONY, DECCA, and Ricordi.
In 1996, she moved to the USA, where she assumed the role of artistic director of The Naperville Chamber Orchestra. She collaborates with the New Philharmonic Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Opera, and the Orbert Davies Jazz Orchestra. In 1997, she founded the Polish-American Symphony Orchestra, a non-profit cultural organization, which later became the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra (PaSO). The organization has two primary goals: to maintain a connection with the vibrant Polish musical culture for the million-strong Polish community in Chicago and to promote Polish culture in the USA. She undertakes extensive training, postgraduate studies at the University of Warsaw, and a year-long "Mentorship Program of American Arts Alliance."
From 1997 to 2014, she organized and presented over 200 symphonic concerts and around 60 chamber concerts in Chicago, reaching an audience of over 210,000 people. Particularly notable concerts were held at the Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, one of the most renowned concert halls in America, which seats 2,500 people. The first concert, titled "Concert of Peace," featuring the music of Penderecki, Górecki, and Szymanowski, took place in 1997. This venue also hosted music by Wojciech Kilar, attended by the composer himself, in a concert titled "Kilar: Element and Prayer"; it hosted Chopin concerts, the Paderewski Gala, and anniversary concerts. For the premiere of the opera "The Haunted Manor" by Stanisław Moniuszko, she chose one of the largest and most modern American theaters - Rosemont Theatre. The performances, involving 270 artists from Poland and the USA, were watched by nearly 8,000 viewers over two days! This event was honored with a proclamation by the US Congress, initiated by Congressman Rahm Emanuel.
Barbara Bilszta continuously campaigns for the education and upbringing of children and youth, and she is the author of radio programs, hundreds of press articles, and organizer of workshops, lectures, meetings, and conferences. Over 27,000 students from 35 Polish Saturday Schools participated in the concerts she organized for young audiences. In 2000, she founded the Academy of Music, where approximately 140 students are continuously educated. The institution is distinguished by its high level of teaching, with students receiving top scores in external auditions, winning competitions, and scholarships. The concerts of the PaSO Academy have become a permanent fixture in the city's cultural calendar. The program "Music of Polish Kings" was awarded the title "Best of the Best" in surveys of American audiences.
For her efforts, Barbara Bilszta has received numerous diplomas and honors from both Polish and American institutions, including the Silver Medal "Gloria Artis."
|
Awards
Chicago Society PNA
In recognition of generations of service and dedication to Polonia
American Council for Polish Culture
Cultural Achivement Award
Polish American Congres
AWARD
for
Dedication, inspiration in presenting the Beauy of Music to the Community
Award from Stowarzyszenia Dziennikarzy Polskich w Ameryce za dzialalnosc artystyczna na rzecz Poloni
ZLOTA TARCZA
od
Zrzeszenia Nauczycieli Polskich w Ameryce
The Polish Museum of America
the Polish Spirit Award
Copernican Award
Silver Gloria Artis form Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Republic of Poland,
The Polish American Medical Society honors Barbara Bilszta for her leadership and her efforts in promoting Polish music in the United States, 2016.
Congress of the United States - record release of premier of "Haunted Manor" to the chronicles of the U.S. Congress at the request of Congressman Rahm Emanuel
Cook County Treasurer Certificate of Excellence for outstanding dedication and lasting contributions to the Polish Community, Maria Papas
Educator of the Year
Barbara Bilszta
from the Council of Educators in Polonia
Copernican Award form Copernicus Foundation
for contribution and promotion of Polish culture
CITIBANK "Charisma" for Outstanding Leadership.
Gold Medal and an honorary member of Armia Krajowa
Nagroda Dziedzictwa Polskiego w Ameryce
|
Paderewski Symphony Orchestra
5400 N. Lawler Ave
Chicago IL 60630
773 467 9000
paso.office@gmail.com
MP3 - LIVE
G. Rossini - Uverture - La Gazza Ladra - cond. W. Niewrzol
H. Wieniawski- Concert d-minor, violin - M. Patyra, cond W. Niewrzol
W. Kilar - Waltz " Ziemia Obiecana" - PaSO,
W. Kilar- Exodus, cond W. Niewrzol (frg 2)
W. Kilar - Krzesany - FINALE, PaSO
W.Kilar - Exodus cond W. Niewrzol (frg1)
G. Gershwin - Raphsody in Blue piano - W. Malicki, cond W. Niewrzol
Addinsel - Warsaw Concerto, piano W. Malicki
G. Verdi - Aria from "Don Carlos" bas - baryton Daniel Borowski -
G. Puccini - aria from "La boheme" Ewa Malas Godlewska
A.Dvorzak - Rusalka - E. Malas Godlewska, cond W. Niewrzol
W. Korcz - Aniele Strozu Moj,D. Osinska
W. Korcz - Aniele mych pradziadow - E. Uryga
W. Korcz - Dotknal nas - A. Majewska
W. Korcz - Piosenka spoznionych - E. Uryga, Z. Wodecki
W. Korcz -Spirytuals - M. Balata
W. Kilar - Pan Wolodyjowski
K Komeda - Szara kolenda PaSO
Thanks to the support of the Polish-American and American communities, the organization has grown from a small chamber ensemble to a large cultural organization with permanent staff, strong team of volunteers, its own Choir and an Academy of Music for children and youth. PaSO has organized events involving over 300 artists, and performances in Chicago’s most illustrious concert halls – including the Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, the Rosemont Theatre, Harris Theatre and Millennium Park. The audience it reaches has grown from barely 400 in 1996, to over 14,000 in its record 2009-2010 season. During these years the orchestra has performed 246 symphony and chamber music concerts for over 240,000 listeners. Its average season consists of 6 programs featuring different kinds of music: from chamber to big symphony orchestra and opera, from early to contemporary pieces, including Polish, American and World music. In 2010 PaSO become the Orchestra in residence at the Copernicus Center. Thanks to partnership with the Copernicus Foundation, PaSO presented a number of complex, multimedia projects (e.o. Pan Tadeusz, Carnival in Venice, Dancing Chopin) and developed new forms: Theatre of Song, Family Festival “A Sunday in a World of Art”. Apart of its own concert seazon Paderewski Symphony Orchestra participate in many community events: “The Magic of Christmas” Festival, TOP Festival, Majόwka and others.
|
|
