prof. dr hab. Jolanta Szybalska-Matczak

She graduated from the Faculty of Music Education at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław in the conducting class of Prof. Zofia Urbanyi-Krasnodębska, as well as the Postgraduate Choral Conducting Studies in Bydgoszcz. Since 1991 she has been a faculty member at her alma mater, where she trains students, among others, in the field of choral conducting. From the same year she was associated with the “Feichtinum” Choir, serving successively as assistant (1991–1995), second conductor (1995–2005), and artistic director (2005–2014). A major milestone in her professional career was the founding in October 2000 of the Vocal Ensemble Senza Rigore, which now operates at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław under the name Chamber Choir Senza Rigore. With this ensemble she participates in prestigious music festivals and national and international choral competitions, winning top prizes and distinctions.

From 2008 to 2012 she served as Vice-Dean, and from 2012 to 2020 as Dean of the Faculty of Music Education, Choral Studies, and Church Music of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. She is currently Chair of the Discipline Council for Musical Arts and Head of the Department of Choral Conducting.

Between 2009 and 2011 she carried out artistic projects with the vocal ensemble Voice Factory, realizing the program Chopin a cappella, successfully presented in Poland and abroad. The ensemble’s work is documented in the albums Voice Factory sings Chopin a cappella and Fabryka kolęd (Christmas Carol Factory), the TVP2 dance and music production Chopin 4, as well as the Polish Radio Program II broadcast Drogi kariery.

As a lecturer she has cooperated with the Conductor Training Program for Polish Diaspora Choirs in Koszalin and with the Summer Academy at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. She has been continuously involved with the Choral Academy – National Program for the Development of School Choirs Singing Poland, and has also led workshops for singers and conductors within the framework of the Polish National Youth Choir. She is regularly invited to serve on the juries of national and international choral competitions.

In 2014 her wide-ranging professional activity was recognized by the President of the Republic of Poland with the title of Professor of Musical Arts.

She is the recipient of, among others, Rector’s Awards of the Academy of Music in Wrocław, the Silver Badge Meritorious for the City of Rybnik, the Honorary Badge Meritorious for Polish Culture, the Bronze Cross of Merit, the Silver Cross of Merit, as well as individual prizes for Best Conductor at choral competitions.