The Doctoral School of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław (SD AMKL) was established in 2019 by virtue of Ordinance No. 15/2019 of the Rector of AMKL dated 24 May 2019 on the establishment of the Doctoral School, amended by Ordinance No. 28/2019 of 26 June 2019.
The position of Rector’s Plenipotentiary for the Doctoral School and its Director was held by Prof. dr hab. Marta Kierska-Witczak, until 31 August 2024; since 1 September 2024, this role has been performed by Dr. hab. Tomasz Kienik, Prof. AMKL.

The first recruitment for the three-year Doctoral School took place in September 2019 with a limit of two places. The SD constitutes a continuation and evolution of the former third-cycle doctoral studies previously conducted at the Faculty of Instrumental Studies and the Faculty of Vocal Studies.
The essence of the AMKL Doctoral School lies in structured education combining artistic, research, and didactic activity, based on the institution’s academic potential and rich infrastructure.

The mission of the Doctoral School is founded upon the Mission and Strategy of the Academy, formulated in Resolution No. 67/2019 of the AMKL Senate and expressed in the statement:

“The mission of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław is to serve society and art by contributing to the development of artistic concepts and scholarly research in the field of music, as well as by ensuring the highest quality of education for musicians who, drawing upon the richness of global musical achievements and respecting the values of native culture, will be able to achieve the fullest development of their potential as artists, leaders, and citizens of their country and the world.”

Like the Academy itself, the Doctoral School seeks to shape the future of musical art not only through the implementation of modern educational programmes but also by training doctoral students to pursue, promote, and disseminate art and culture.

The SD declares its commitment to raising educational and artistic standards, remaining open to new stylistic orientations and the creative aspirations of the young generation of musicians. The emphasis on attracting outstanding teachers and artists fosters a creative and stimulating environment. Doctoral candidates find here a space for artistic, scholarly, and organizational development, gaining competencies that enable them to become leaders of the musical community.

The School’s strategy encompasses the maintenance of high educational quality in accordance with Poland’s Level 8 Qualifications Framework, continued artistic and scholarly development, flexibility of programmes, and advancement in infrastructure, digitization, and internationalization. It also involves the implementation of new teaching methods and the creation of a coherent institutional identity in collaboration with the cultural sector.
Within the Academy’s strategic framework, the School upholds key principles such as building and promoting the academic community, supporting the development of the artistic environment, addressing individual needs of doctoral candidates, and implementing the idea of lifelong learning. The School’s activity reflects an active policy of educating the most talented young artists and scholars, respecting their individuality, avoiding schematic approaches, and promoting the highest standards of quality and originality in both art and science.

Medium- and Long-Term Objectives

The mid- and long-term plans of the Doctoral School include:
– organization of the 14th National Doctoral Conference (2025/26);
– continued engagement with current artistic and research problems;
– maintaining and further raising the quality of doctoral dissertations;
– deepening the methodological awareness of doctoral candidates while preserving the high artistic value of their work;
– promoting and disseminating the artistic and research achievements of students;
– expanding international cooperation.

Educational Mission

The main goal of the Doctoral School is to provide education at the highest artistic and scholarly level, enabling doctoral students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and social competencies necessary to obtain the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts.
The SD closely cooperates with the Council for the Discipline of Musical Arts (RDSM) and the Vice-Rector for Artistic and Scholarly Affairs. Their supervisory, advisory, and regulatory roles significantly influence the School’s functioning. The Director and doctoral students are supported by a three-member Doctoral Education Committee, appointed by the RDSM (Resolutions 11/2023 and 11/2025).

Distinctive Features

Among other doctoral schools, AMKL’s Doctoral School is distinguished by its intimate character (currently only six doctoral students), its emphasis on the master–apprentice relationship, the possibility of undertaking interdisciplinary topics, and a flexible curriculum and study plan.
Its profile is shaped by a selective and qualitative recruitment process designed to attract the most talented candidates with broad intellectual and artistic horizons.

A notable advantage of the School is its clearly structured division into four main areas of specialization:
– performance,
– conducting,
– composition,
– music theory,
each supported by appropriately profiled curricula.

Further strengths include standardized administrative and documentation procedures, active support for doctoral candidates in professional and personal development, promotion of young scholars and artists, and multidimensional self-improvement initiatives.
Great importance is attached to maintaining the highest educational quality while respecting individual artistic sensitivity, independence, and research interests.
Currently, efforts are underway to include the School’s Director in the Agreement of Doctoral Schools of Wrocław Universities. He is also active among the Directors of Doctoral Schools of Polish Music Academies, which enables the exchange of experience, best practices, and effective solutions developed by other academic centers.

Selected Achievements of Doctoral Candidates

1. Dr. K. Rau Tobaro – an innovative, award-winning dissertation VR: Technological, Musical, and Psychological Issues, created in collaboration with the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław.

2. Dr. T. Marut – dissertation The Piano Works of Lowell Liebermann, distinguished by the Doctoral School; representative of Poland at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition (2021) and laureate of the 4th Prize at the National Chopin Competition (2020).

3. Mgr R. Fotuima – collaboration with the National Academy of Music in Kyiv and successful completion of his doctoral studies during wartime; author of a dissertation on Polish and Ukrainian saxophone literature of the 20th and 21st centuries.

4. Mgr O. Juzali-Deprati – notable compositional achievements, including performances at the “Warsaw Autumn” Festival and numerous awards.

5. Mgr I. Wojciechowski – 1st Prize in the Young Talent Award 2022 at the Kraków Film Music Festival; work performed at the Scoring4Skolimowski Gala (ICE Kraków).

6. Mgr M. Bień – 1st Prize at the Moscow International Music Competition (2021, duo category) and at “Music Without Limits” (Lithuania, 2020, duo).

7. K. Podorska (Year II) – laureate of the 1st Prize at the International Karol Lipiński Violin Competition, violinist of the Leopoldinum Orchestra, and recipient of the “Young Poland” Scholarship Programme.