MDK GROUPS
The beginnings of children making music together at MDK are associated with the names of Zygmunt Tadeusz and Marian Skowroński. In 1954–55, these instructors taught children to play the mandolin, guitar and accordion.
In 1957, two music clubs merged to form a larger ensemble consisting mainly of plucked-string instruments (mandolins and guitars).
At the beginning of the 1960s, alongside mandolins and guitars, the accordion became a popular instrument. Alojzy Skóra and later Stanisław Kozioł were the accordion instructors.
From 1965 to 1983, the MDK music studio was headed by Zofia Michalska, MA. From then on, her name would appear on many pages of the MDK chronicles alongside groups such as the vocal and instrumental ensemble ERZETY (the first girls’ vocal and instrumental group; there were several similar ensembles), VIBRATO, MICHAŁKI and others.
The VIBRATO ensemble (mandolins, guitars, double bass, accordions and other supporting instruments) operated at MDK for nearly 15 years, bringing the institution—and the city—many honours. It performed at almost all city celebrations and won prizes and distinctions, including first place in the “Barwy Przyjaźni” Review, first place at the School Youth Culture Festival in Kielce, an appearance on the Television Tournament of Cities Bolesławiec–Sanok, performances in Germany and more.
The MICHAŁKI Youth Courtyard Band operated for three years. One of the mundane reasons for its overly short existence was the lack of repertoire, especially suitable lyrics, since Zofia Michalska could manage the musical side. Eleven young people played and sang in the group.
Another ensemble known in Bolesławiec and beyond its borders, with a long history, is MAŁY BOLESŁAWIEC, which cultivates folk traditions and national dances. The ensemble, then called BOLESŁAWIEC, was established in the 1960s by its founder Wanda Patora. Later, it was supervised by Maria Teresa Banaszek, MA, who developed regional and national dance arrangements. The instrumental groups were led by Zdzisław Karpowicz, MA, and the choir by Bernard Cichorzewski, MA. In 1976, following a reorganisation, the ensemble moved to the Bolesławiec Cultural Centre, where its artistic supervision was provided by Cecylia Patora, MA.
At the beginning of the 1980s, on the initiative of, among others, Anna Rutkowska, MA, Zofia Michalska, Grażyna Strarzyńska, MA, Anna Słabiak and Janina Narbut, the Youth Cultural Centre revived the MAŁY BOLESŁAWIEC song and dance ensemble. MAŁY BOLESŁAWIEC continues to operate successfully to this day.
From 1972 to 1974, a children’s choir called UNISONO operated at MDK. The choir was founded by Bernard Cichorzewski, MA, and accompanied by Zdzisław Karpowicz, MA.
With its ambitious repertoire and high standard of performance, the choir also won major prizes and distinctions at reviews and festivals in Kielce, Wrocław, Warsaw and Germany. In addition to the UNISONO choir, Bernard Cichorzewski also led smaller vocal ensembles at MDK: ARIOSO and KOTKI. These groups operated for several years, with KOTKI lasting somewhat longer and later also being led by Albin Wilczura, MA.
We have mentioned the better-known MDK groups, but several other ambitious ensembles active both in the institution’s early years and later—and still active today—must not be overlooked. Now adults, the former young members of the group remember ANDROMEDA—the dance ensemble led by Barbara Cecylia Patora—with great fondness, as well as Anna Rutkowska’s folk ensemble.
In September 1977, the WESOŁE NUTKI ensemble emerged from a recorder group. It performed a highly ambitious repertoire, which won awards at reviews and included, among other works, Verdi’s “Triumphal March” from AIDA and an excerpt from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” The ensemble operated for nearly eight years, and its successes were due to Janina Narbut, MA.
There was also a vocal ensemble led by Dorota Pińczuk, MA; the PRZYGODA scouting ensemble (Anna Rutkowska, Zofia Michalska and ZHP instructors); the ELI ensemble (Elżbieta Michalska-Popek); and the SKRZATY ensemble (Janina Narbut and Anna Słabiak).
The activities of the Ballroom Dance Club (Bernard Lewandowski, MA) and the recently highly successful MDK Theatre (Ewa Zbroja and Marek Biegasiewicz) deserve a separate article.