prof. dr hab. Tadeusz Pszonka

A graduate of the Vocal and Acting Department of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. He graduated from the Józef Chełmoński State Secondary School of Fine Arts in Nałęczów, where he passed his high school leaving exam.

He was a soloist at the State Opera in Wrocław, the Grand Theatre-National Opera in Warsaw,

the Roma Musical Theatre in Warsaw, and the Vienna Chamber Opera. He has won awards at vocal competitions. He has performed at such theatres as the Grand Theatre in Łódź, the Musical Theatre in Łódź, the Musical Theatre in Wrocław, and the Opera at the Castle in Szczecin. He has appeared on such renowned stages as the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, the Munich Philharmonic, the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Vienna Hofburg, Tonhalle in Zurich, Kurhaus in Wiesbaden, the Philharmonic Hall in Bern, the National Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw, and others. He has also performed in Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Belgium, the former Czechoslovakia, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Russia. He has collaborated with many conductors from Poland and other countries.

He has made archival recordings for Polish Television, Polish Radio, Austrian Television ORFF, and recordings in Austria (Wiener Konzerthaus), France (W. A. Mozart's Requiem, Requiem by H. Berlioz), in Poland (Opera Arias and Songs, Liturgia Domestica Op. 79 by A. T. Gretchaninov), and in Germany (Die Grosse Johann Strauss Gala).

He was artistic director of the Karkonosze Music Festival in Karpacz (2004, 2005, 2006) and the Szprotawskie Divertimenta Vocal Festival and Workshops in Szprotawa (2013, 2014). He is the artistic director of the Jan Kiepura International Vocal Competition in Krynica-Zdrój (2013-2019), organizational director of the Halina Halska-Fijałkowska International Vocal Competition in Wrocław and the Vienna Music Festival in Szczawno-Zdrój (since 2018) and artistic director of the National Vocal Competition in Mława. Since 2019, he has held the position of artistic director of the Jan Kiepura Festival in Krynica-Zdrój, an event whose last eight-day edition featured 29 concerts and performances with the participation of 460 artists. The final concert of the festival was broadcast on TVP3 nationwide, TVP Kultura, and TVP Polonia. Tadeusz Pszonka is also the initiator of the Wrocław edition of the most prestigious international vocal competition in the world, namely The International Singing Competition For Young Opera Singers – Belvedere, which gives young, talented musicians from different regions of the globe the opportunity to present themselves, thereby promoting Wrocław, Lower Silesia and Poland (2016/South Africa, 2017/Russia, 2018/Latvia, 2019/Austria, 2020/Latvia).

He conducts vocal courses and workshops, scientific seminars, among others in Wrocław and Krakow (Krakow Chamber Opera). He sits on numerous vocal competition committees in Poland and abroad.

He has participated in international programs (including Norway 2017/University of Trondheim). He has received three scholarships from the Austrian Government at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna (1996/97, 1997/98) and at the Universitet für Musik in Vienna (1998/99).

Since 1992, he has been a researcher at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. On February 27, 1999, he received his doctorate in vocal arts, and then on July 5, 2004, his postdoctoral degree at the Academy of Music in Łódź. On February 17, 2015, he was awarded the title of professor of art by the President of the Republic of Poland. In addition, he completed postgraduate studies at the WSB University in Wrocław at the Faculty of Corporate Finance Management and participated in opera studies in Bolzano (Italy).. In 2017, he was honored by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, with a silver medal for long service, and he also received a gold badge from the Society of Friends of Wrocław for his activities for the development of the city of Wrocław. In September 2018, he was awarded the prestigious prize, a commemorative medal “Merito de Wratislavia – Distinguished Service to Wrocław” presented on stage at the Wrocław Opera.

Tadeusz Pszonka has organized 30 vocal competitions, 150 concerts and performances, has served on 24 competition juries in Poland and abroad, and has conducted 47 vocal courses and workshops. He is a member of several associations, including: the Polish Stage Artists' Association, Wrocław Branch (Member of the Board of the Wrocław Branch), the Polish Association of Singing Teachers in Wrocław, the Jan Kiepura Cultural Society in Krynica-Zdrój, and the Halina Halska-Fijałkowska Vocal Music Lovers' Society in Wrocław (Vice-President). He collaborated with the Austrian Janineum Foundation, which supports artists and scientific circles in Central and Eastern Europe, supported, among others, the late Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Franz König, and Archbishop Józef Życiński.

He supports charitable activities by donating his paintings and participating in concerts in Wrocław and Lower Silesia.

AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS, MEDALS

1. Silver Medal for Long Service

Honored by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda in 2017. Presented in the Oratorium Marianum Hall of the University of Wrocław.

2. Gold Badge for activities for the development of the city of Wrocław

Badge awarded by the Wrocław Lovers Society on May 20, 2017, on the stage of the Wrocław Opera. The award was presented by Mr. Zbigniew Magdziarz, president of the Wrocław Lovers Society.

3. Medal “Merito de Wratislavia - Distinguished Service to Wrocław”

Honored with a medal by the Mayor of Wrocław, Rafał Dutkiewicz, on September 30, 2018, on the stage of the Wrocław Opera. The award was presented by the Director of the Culture Department of the City of Wrocław, Mr. Jerzy Pietraszek. The medal is one of the most prestigious awards.

4. Diploma of Recognition for the H. Halska-Fijałkowska Vocal Music Lovers' Society in Wrocław (Vice-President Prof. Tadeusz Pszonka) for their work for the benefit of Wrocław culture

Diploma awarded by the Wrocław Enthusiasts' Society on October 25, 2019. The diploma was presented at the Wrocław City Hall, in the Office of the Mayor of Wrocław. The award was presented by the Mayor of Wrocław, Jacek Sutryk, and the President of the Wrocław Society, Zbigniew Magdziarz.

5. Special Distinction of the Association of Polish Stage Artists ZASP - Association

Distinction for outstanding achievements in vocal and acting arts on musical theater stages, for her overall artistic and pedagogical work, as well as for strengthening the authority of the ZASP association with her presence.

Awarded on May 20, 2020, on the occasion of Singer's Day by the Board of the Music Theater Section of the Polish Stage Artists Association.