She came to Bolesławiec in the spring of 1946 from the area around Prnjavor.
As in many other Polish families living in Yugoslavia until the end of World War II, Polish musical culture was also cultivated in her family, with singing and music-making enjoyed by all. This was probably the source of Zosia’s passion for music and singing.
In Bolesławiec, alongside attending primary and secondary school, Zosia learned to play the accordion and mandolin. She later completed a three-year course for instructors of amateur artistic groups, and subsequently received a master’s degree from the Higher School of Pedagogy in Zielona Góra. Her master’s degree was, in a sense, the crowning achievement of Zofia Michalska’s considerable work in education, particularly in promoting musical culture among children and young people, because Zofia had begun working as an instructor much earlier. Her first success was the establishment of a mandolin ensemble of several dozen members at PKS. Experts highly praised the ensemble’s playing and standard, and Wanda Patorowa, the then director of the Youth Cultural Centre, offered Zofia Michalska a position as an instructor at that significant and respected interschool institution in the town.
The Youth Cultural Centre became a very important chapter in Zofia’s life. She worked there for as many as 23 years, teaching children to sing and play instruments and successfully leading ensembles. The “Vibrato” ensemble, famous not only in Bolesławiec, was active for 12 years and won accolades, including at the Scout Festival in Kielce, where Zofia also received first prize for composing a song about the homeland. “Vibrato” was also applauded on the other side of the Nysa Łużycka, in the Television Tournament of Towns, at provincial reviews and at all the town’s major events. The band of the MDK Song and Dance Ensemble, the “Michałki” street band, electric guitar ensembles and vocal groups were also part of Zofia’s life and work. All of this took place at the MDK.
Another significant chapter in Zofia Michalska’s professional life was her work at the Teacher Training College. There, she “brought into being” the instrumental ensemble “Subito”, which, like “Vibrato”, brought considerable prestige to its instructor, the school and the town. She also led vocal and guitar groups. When the newly established State Music School was looking for specialists in 1983, Zofia Michalska could not refuse the responsibility of teaching rhythmics and ear training. She continues to teach these classes to this day, despite having retired.
When presenting her with an award and diploma on the tenth anniversary of the PSM’s existence, Deputy Minister of Culture and Art Michał Jagiełło wrote to Zofia Michalska: “...you are the living history of this school...” True! Zofia Michalska is also the “living history” of our town’s culture, because over the past 30 years there has not been a major cultural event in our town without her involvement. Zofia Michalska’s activity and effectiveness as an instructor are further confirmed by three ministerial awards, the Medal of the National Education Commission, the Honorary Badge “Meritorious for Bolesławiec”, distinctions and awards from the Education Office, and countless honours from her workplaces.
In January of this year, Zofia suffered an unexpected blow: she lost her husband in tragic circumstances. In writing this modest biographical note, I would also like to express my heartfelt sympathy, as well as my highest regard for her strength of spirit, diligence and modesty. (Zofia Michalska’s modesty is truly exceptional: she accepts praise and compliments with a blush on her face.) Apparently, Zofia is forming a mandolin ensemble at the music school. We wish her success and are convinced that this ensemble will carry on the traditions of “Vibrato” and “Subito” with dignity.