The oldest brass band in Bolesławiec is undoubtedly the military band. Its musical beginnings date back to the first postwar years in our city. A few years later, railway workers who played music joined this band, and soon afterward, at the threshold of the 1950s, Józef Dolecki brought a large, combined railway-and-Wizów band into the city streets. In 1965, Idzi Bzyl successfully attempted to establish a youth band at the Bolesławiecka Fabryka Fiolek i Ampułek “Polfa”, supported by Henryk Biały’s experience as a bandmaster.The band, composed mainly of students from the company school, operated for several years but had to cease its activities, as did three other bands: the railway, Wizów and Konrad bands. Quite simply, what were known as the lean years arrived in our reality—not only for culture.In 1976, in connection with the approaching 25th anniversary of the plant, it was decided to reactivate the band. Few members remained from the former youth band, but such “Polfa” instrumentalists and employees as Zdzisław Maniak, Kazimierz Białousz, Ryszard Jankiewicz and Zbigniew Kocoń, supported by good musicians from the garrison band (Stanisław Dubaj, Edward Krawczewski), formed a fairly strong core for the newly emerging band. As early as 1977, it was able to enhance “Polfa”’s anniversary celebrations, and somewhat later it brought back a new “Silver Fir” statuette from the Festival in Kielce.This very band, initially with the permission of the plant’s supportive directors and currently with the consent of the Management Board of the joint-stock company, has been playing continuously for 20 years.The Most FaithfulThe most faithful members and pillars of the band—most of them for more than 30 years—are: its founder and president, former trumpeter Idzi Bzyl. Idzi Bzyl’s unquestionable achievements include maintaining discipline, continuity and stability, the repertoire and careful preparation of performances, a well-equipped rehearsal space, obtaining funds, and concern for all other matters concerning the band and its members. Nor can Henryk Biały be denied his loyalty to the band and his accomplishments on its behalf; he was its longtime bandmaster, associated with it from its founding until the end of March 1995. From the very beginning, the following have played in the band and form its most experienced musical core: Zdzisław Maniak, Kazimierz Białousz, Kazimierz Lisiewicz, Mariusz Sęk, Ryszard Jankiewicz, Stanisław Burmas, Bogusław Błażejewski, Bronisław Szaja, Karol Burniak, Adam Janeczko, Stanisław Dubaj, Mikołaj Lekawski, Edward Krawczewski, Dariusz Górecki, Grzegorz Grabysa and Sławomir Matusiak.A musician loyal to the band and to music until the final days of his life was the nestor of Bolesławiec’s musicians—he had previously played in the railway and Wizów bands—and an excellent saxophonist, Zbigniew Czernigiewicz.A Lineup for Three BandsZawrotniak, Mariusz Zawrotniak, Ryszard Szkałuba, Jan Walski, Bogdan Iwanowski, Franciszek Zioła, Czesław Owczarek, Leon Pona, Adolf Pona, Leszek Kret, Grzegorz Biały, Ryszard Fraś, BogusławThe names of the musicians who have played in the band the longest have been listed. In addition, the following currently play in the band: Ewa Chojnacka, Leopold Droszczak, Franciszek Troszczyński, Tomasz Popiołek, Andrzej Pachom, Lucjan Burdzy, Krzysztof Boczarski, Łukasz Stanik, Witold Wolański, Piotr Pietruszka, Bronisław Górecki, Waldemar Fraś, Przemysław Cichorzewski and Tomasz Dudziak. Throughout the band’s more than twenty-year existence, over 100 people played in it in total. On the occasion of the anniversary, it is worth recalling their names. Perhaps some of them will return to the band and their colleagues? Here is the list of former players in “Polfa”: Zbigniew Kocoń, Marian Walaszczyk, Michał Wolszczak, Tadeusz Szewczyk, Jarosław Piekarz, Bogusław Baliński, Wiesław Kulpa, Marek Rojek, Zygmunt Kwiatkowski, Marek Jędrej, Andrzej Osipa, Grzegorz Maj, Mirosław Krawczewski, Bogdan Medyński, Marek Pietluch, Dariusz Kozioł, Zbigniew Miękinia, Piotr Turek, Bogusław Skupień, Ryszard Zarzycki, Leszek Kret, Bogusław Weiss, Wiesław Stefan, Donald Szoka, Mirosław Pawlikowski, Jan Woźny, Kazimierz Dąbrowa, Marcin Bachór, Zwonimir Lekawski, Artur Gal, Zbigniew Fuławka, Mirosław Mrozik, Roman Majewski, Franciszek Nawrocki, Dariusz Woś, Jan Szajwaj, Jerzy Fistek, Grzegorz Kut, Waldemar Lisiewicz, Edward Kulesza, Adam Kut, Henryk Demaj, Mariusz Jaworski, Maciej Strzygielski, Krzysztof Skoczyński, Zygmunt Kwiatkowski, Wiesław Wolkowicz, Paweł Niezgoda, Andrzej Becla, and the now-deceased Grzegorz Kasperowicz and Henryk Polanica.Girls in the BandThere was a wonderful period in the band’s history—confirmed by photographs from 1979—when charming drum majorettes marched at its head. There were quite a lot of girls in the band: Grażyna Kondas, Anna Ozga, Halina Kanikowska, Brygida Koniarczyk, Elżbieta Wiszniewska, Krystyna Lewandowska, Agata Michaluk, Ewa Grochala, Agata Mul, Halina Łaniocha and Danuta Solecka. It is a pity that the recruitment and training of girls were discontinued during the later phase of the band’s activities. The girls were a genuine adornment to it. This mistake can always be corrected. And, as an interesting aside: one of the former drum majorettes, Halina Kanikowska (née Kanikowska), became permanently connected with the band by marrying tenor player Grzegorz Gabrysa. Apparently, everything works in the marriage.Currently, the band has one “raisin” (or “raisin girl”?) representing the fair sex. That is Ewa Chojnacka, a truly courageous girl who plays tenor alone among the “boys”.Major Achievements1978 The band takes part in the School Youth Culture Festival in Kielce. Playing ambitiously, it wins second place in the brass-band category and brings home the “Silver Fir” statuette, as well as favorable press reviews.1979 At the trade-union, provincial review of company bands in Jelenia Góra, it receives a special distinction (cup and diploma).1984 At the provincial band review in Świeradów Zdrój, it receives a Special Award (cup and diploma).1986 At the provincial brass-band review in Wrocław, it wins first place (cup and diploma).1986 It appears in the televised Cities Tournament Bolesławiec–Sanok (4:2).1988 Taking part in the Band Festival in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, France, it wins second place and a Cup, among other things for the best performance of “La Marseillaise”.Concerts, Performances and TravelsDuring its more than twenty years of existence, the BFMM “Polfa” brass band gave approximately 400 concerts and performances in Bolesławiec, Wrocław, Jelenia Góra, Kielce, Świeradów Zdrój, abroad and in nearby towns.For years, it has cooperated with the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, playing during Corpus Christi processions, Midnight Masses and on other occasions. It provided musical accompaniment for many important municipal, provincial and regional ceremonies.It was often invited to Pirna in the former GDR. It also performed in the former Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz). It traveled to France four times for festivals and events: in 1988 to Riom-de-Rouergue, in 1990 to Mazamet, in 1991 to Riom-es-Montagne, and in 1996 to Sisteron near Grenoble.Band members Zdzisław Maniak, Edward Krawczewski, Leopold Droszczak and Stanisław Dubaj played for many years in the folk ensemble of the “Bolesławiec” Song and Dance Company.ed. Idzi Bzyl, Franciszek UścińskiSupport brass bands, as BFMM “Polfa” S.A. does! Instruments must not be left “idle”!