The Prof. Józef Świder Festival is a celebration of choral music, a reflection on the heritage of Silesian composers and a dialogue between generations. The jubilee 10th edition was organised by the University of Silesia in Katowice — the Faculty of Arts and Educational Science and the Institute of Music in Cieszyn — together with the Music Without Borders Foundation. The festival director is Prof. Izabella Zielecka-Panek.
Programme
- 27 June — the 5th National Academic and Artistic Conference “Silesian composers and their music”, and in the evening a sign-language concert: Seeing Voices Choir and the Silesian Chamber Choir Ad libitum at Dom Narodowy.
- 28 June — auditions of the 10th Józef Świder International Choral Competition: choirs from Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 14 performances and 9 categories; choirs singing at historic spots of Cieszyn; and the gala concert at the Church of Jesus with the results and a performance by The Philippine Madrigal Singers, the National Choir of the Philippines.
- 29 June — The Philippine Madrigal Singers in Katowice.
Accompanying concerts were also held in Wodzisław Śląski and Jastrzębie-Zdrój.
Music across borders
The festival shows that choral music can be inclusive, modern and thrilling — regardless of language, age or background. That is why we co-organise it.
