If you like music and feel you have vocal potential, while dreaming of a stage career, you can take your first steps in the workshops of the Bolesławiec Cultural Centre–International Ceramics Centre. At BOK-MCC, you can also try your hand on stage. The workshops provide all the conditions for residents of Bolesławiec to develop their musical interests and passions, as well as learn professional singing in various musical genres and styles.
Song Studio
The Song Studio, run by Agata Pińczuk-Burdzy since 2011, offers classes for people who like music or dream of a stage career. The instructor creates all the conditions necessary for students to learn professional singing. Agata Pińczuk-Burdzy sang with Spirituals Singers Band, formed in 1978 in Wrocław under the direction of composer and arranger Włodzimierz Szomański. The magazine “Jazz Forum” recognised Spirituals Singers Band as the best Polish vocal jazz group. In 2000, the artists also received the “Prometheus 2000” Artistic Award of the Polish Stage.
Song Studio classes take place in the BOK-MCC conference room on Monday and Friday afternoons.
The Vocal Workshop Develops Skills and Builds Stage Confidence
For people aged 12 and over who enjoy singing, Barbara Lendzian’s workshop is an excellent choice. The instructor co-created, among other events, the National “Crystal Note” Song Contest in Lidzbark Warmiński. The contest’s Grand Prix gives singers the opportunity to appear on the popular programme “Chance for Success”. Barbara has worked with composer and arranger Artur Grudziński, actress and singer Miłka Małecka, and vocal coach Marek Stawiński. During her professional career, she also met Elżbieta Zapendowska.
“We perform at most city events, but we also accept invitations,” says Barbara Lendzian. “We gave a very moving concert in December at a nursing home. The residents welcomed us warmly and with great kindness.”
During vocal workshop classes, young people hone their skills. They learn song interpretation and voice projection and become comfortable with the microphone. During performances, singers learn how to present themselves on stage. Each student has their own repertoire, which they choose and work on. “We have our own songs, which we present depending on the type of performance,” says Lendzian. “At larger outdoor events, these are more lively songs; at intimate events, we offer atmospheric, calmer pieces,” she explains.
Barbara Lendzian’s vocal workshop classes take place in the BOK-MCC conference room on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.
The Poeticon Ensemble “Turns Music Upside Down”
Anyone who loves singing and wants to create their own arrangements of well-known songs will find a place in the Poeticon ensemble, a group led by Anna Frąckiewicz, an instructor who has trained vocal ensembles for over 30 years. The ensemble has been creating and performing at BOK-MCC continuously for seven years. Concert programmes are prepared during classes under the supervision of the group’s mentor, Ani Frąckiewicz. Poeticon regularly performs at all significant city and regional events.
“We have given more than 70 concerts over seven years,” says instructor Anna Frąckiewicz. “What makes us happiest is the opportunity to create our own arrangements. We call it turning music upside down. One of our more interesting projects was creating blues arrangements of Julian Tuwim’s poems. A blues version of ‘The Locomotive’ was shocking, but in a very positive way,” the instructor adds.
Poeticon’s most recent major performance took place at the beginning of April this year at BOK-MCC. The ensemble prepared its own arrangements of songs by Polish poets, including Jonasza Kofty and Agnieszka Osiecka, as well as performers from the Polish music scene, including Kasia Kowalska, Beata Kozidrak and Michał Bajor. The ensemble’s classes take place in the BOK-MCC music workshop every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.
(commissioned information)