INFORMATION

New Board of Directors of the Committee For Relief To Polish Children

On May 14-May 2023, a General Membership Meeting was held at the PKTWP Group I hall on Jolicoeur Street, where the Board of Directors and Committees presented reports on their activities for the past period. Elected to the new Board were :

Kiti Rudnicka - president
Krystyna Dreger - vice president and event manager
Maryla Niedzwiecka - treasurer
Zdzislawa Chrzan - secretary
Ewa Maciasz - delegate of the Work Team
Barbara Rogowska - delegate of the Work Team
Mariusz Tutaj - delegate of the Work Team

Congratulations to all the ladies and gentlemen !
Members of the Committee For Relief To Polish Children

Photo report from the 70th anniversary celebration of the Committee For Relief To Polish Children

The 70th Anniversary celebrations were honored with performances by three artists invited from Poland:

Roksana Maria Maciejczuk - Committee's scholarship recipient (mezzo-soprano)

Born in 2000 in Suwalki, Roksana Maria Maciejczuk is a graduate of the State Secondary Music School in Suwalki in the solo singing class of Marlena Borowska. She is currently a third-year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Vocal Performance and Acting at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, in the class of Professor Izabela Klosinska.

Roksana Maria Maciejczuk is the winner of 1st Place and the Special Prize of the Suwałki City Mayor for the Best Female Voice of the 1st Professor Halina Stonicka International Vocal Art Competition in Suwałki, 1st Prize at the 3rd Feliks Nowowiejski National Vocal Festival in Olsztyn, and 3rd Prize at the 1st Stanislaw Moniuszko National Vocal Competition in Gdansk. She was also awarded the Special Prize of the VII International Festival Ars Musica 2019, granted by the Festival Director for the high artistic level of vocal creations for an active participant.

In February 2022, she performed the alto part in K.Szymanowski's Stabat Mater under the musical direction of Alexander Humala. In April 2022, she made her debut on the Chamber Stage of the Grand Theater of the National Opera in Warsaw in student performances, creating the part of Zita Vecchi in the opera Gianni Schicchi and the part of the Prioress in Giacomo Puccini's opera Suor Angelica.

In January 2023, she made her debut in the part of the Third Lady in W.A.Mozart's opera The Magic Flute at the Sudecka Philharmonic in Walbrzych.

She has participated in many master classes, studying under outstanding professors such as Bogdan Makal, Andrzej Dobber, Izabela Klosinska, Sabina Martinaityte.

She has received several scholarships from the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship - for artistically talented students, a scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for 2020/2021, and from 2019 a scholarship from the Lisowski-Smykowski Foundation in Montreal.

Kamila Sacharzewska - Committee's scholarship recipient (piano)

Kamila Sacharzewska was born in 2001 in Suwałki. She started learning to play the piano at the age of 7 . In 2020 she graduated with honors from the State School of Music of the First and Second Degree in Suwałki where she studied under the direction of M.A. Anna Borkowska. She is currently a third-year student at the Instrumental Department of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the piano class of Prof. Janusz Olejniczak.

Kamila Sacharzewska is the winner of very many international and national piano competitions. Her recent achievements include: 2nd Prize at The 5th International Moscow Music Competition (2021), 1st Prize and Best Performance of a Chopin piece at the 1st International Piano Competition Musical Phenomena 2020', Grand Prix and Main Prize at the 14th Sonatina and Sonata International Youth Piano Competition, Corpus Cristi, Texas, USA (2020), and 1st Prize at the 19th Juliusz Zarębski International Music Competition in Łomianki near Warsaw (2019).

Previous achievements include:
- First Prize at the VIIth International Polish Grand Piano Music Competition dedicated to Frederic Chopin in Vilnius;
- First Prize and the "Musical Prodigy" Special Jury Award at the Riga International Competition for Young Pianists;
- First Prize and NIFCI Prize, Gyorgy Ferenczy Foundation Prize in Budapest at the 4th International Podkarpackie Chopin Competition for Children and Youth in Rzeszów;
- First Prize and Special Prize (recital performance in Paris) at the 17th Ile-de-France, Maisons-Laffitte International Platinum Competition in Paris;
- First Prize and Special Prize at the 47th International Planning Competition "Virtuosi per musica di piano forte" in Usti nad Laba, Czech Republic;
- First Prize at the International Piano Competition "Piano Talents" in Milan, Italy;
- First Prize at the 13th Peter Toperczer International Piano Competition in Kosice, Slovakia; First Prize and Special Prize of the Consul of the Republic of Poland in Navarre La Roja Angel Tellechea Goyen and the Pablo Sarasate Conservatory of Music in Pamplona at the 19th Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition for Children and Young People in Szafarnia;
- Grand Prix and First Prize at the 4th Witold Lutostawski International Piano Competition in Zambrów;
- Grand Prix and Special Prize at the 5th International Music Competition "Gradus ad Parnassum "in Kaunas;
- First Prize and Competition Director's Award at the 1st International Competition of Young Musicians "Paleski Ahlencyk" in Blalorus;
-Grand Prix at the 3rd International Competition "Olimpo Musicale" in Lithuania;
- 1st Prize and Special Prize for the best performance of a virtuoso piece at the International Competition-Festival "Terra Musica" named after M.K. Ciurlionis in Druskininkai, Lithuania.

Kamila Sacharzewska has participated in many master classes, studying under outstanding professors such as Wojciech Świtała, Andrzej Jasiriski, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron, Kevin Kenner, Tobias Koch, Dina Yoffe, Nikolai Demidenko, Petras Geniusas, Alexei Lubimov, Joanna Zawrynowicz-Just, Paweł Zawadzki, Grzegorz Kurzynski, Gintaras Janusevicius.

In addition, she has performed as a soloist with the Plock Symphony Orchestra and the Kaunas Symphony Orchestra as part of the XXIII International Festival of Young Musicians of the Kaunas Philharmonic, the Vilnius Chamber Orchestra in Vilnius and the Suwałki "Camerata dell Arte" Orchestra. She has repeatedly taken part in concerts in the series "Musical Quadranges" and "Saturday Recitals" in Żelazowa Wola, at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, at the Palace in the Royal Łazienki Park, at the Opole Philharmonic, at the Romantic Palace in Turzno, and at the palace in Rybna. She also performed recitals: at the International Piano Festival "Chopin in the Heart of Warsaw" and the "Stage of the Young" at the Palace of the Academy of Music in Lodz in 2022, at the Adam Harasiewicz Summer Academy of Piano Art in Rzeszow. In 2021, she took part in the 12th Jerzy Waldorff Festival in Radziejowice, the "Chopin en Vacances" Summer Festival and the H. Neuhaus Cleve International Summer Music Campus in Germany in 2022. In January 2019, she took part in the "Feuerwerk Einbeck" International Piano Academy, promoting talented young pianists from around the world, where she performed together in several concerts in Germany. As part of the competition awards, she also performed in Spain, France, Italy, Blatorusi, Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Kamila has received several scholarships from the Director of the Center for Artistic Education, the President of the City of Suwałki, the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, the National Fund for Children, a two-time scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage and a scholarship from the "Young Poland" program.

WIn 2019, she received a scholarship from the International Piano Academy "Feuewerk Einbeck" in Germany. In 2012-2020, she was a perennial participant in the National Children's Fund program. In 2013-2015 she was under the care of the Europen Union of Music Competitions for Youth (EMCY), based in Munich.

Sebastian Kuczynski - Committee's scholarship recipient (organ)

He began his musical education at the age of thirteen in his hometown, at the State Music School IIII degree in Suwałki, attending Ewa Wolczek's organ class for six years. He graduated from this school externally in 2019 with the title of professional instrumentalist musician in organ.

In October 2016, he began full-time undergraduate studies at the Department of Piano, Harpsichord and Organ of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw (in the class of Jarosław Wróblewski and Wojciech Bednarski), graduating with a very good grade in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in organ performance. During his studies, he also completed a pedagogical study, completing internships in Warsaw music schools of the first, second degree.

He then continued his education at the master's degree program of his alma mater in clerical studies: Instrumentalism - organ class of Jarostaw Wróblewski and Wojciech Bednarski, and Church Music - organ class of Piotr Wilczynski, improvisation class of Michał Markuszewski and Damian Skowronski, which he completed in 2021.

During the 2018/2019 academic year, he studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg in the organ class of Wolfgang Zerer, and in the harpsichord and clavichord class of Menno van Delft. He went to Germany to study as part of the Erasmus+ international student exchange program. The following year, he also completed the postgraduate course "Music Manager". Sebastian Kuczynski has been awarded numerous prizes for his performance in education, activities and artistic achievements; including the Scholarship of the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship (2015), twice the scholarship of the Art-SOS Foundation of Alicja Roszkowska (2016, 2017) and three times the scholarship awarded by the Committee for Relief to Polish Childre in Montreal (2018, 2019, 2020).

Winner of numerous competitions. Winner of the 7th National Organ Competition in Olsztyn (2015), the 9th National Organ Competition in Krasnobrod (2016), the 2nd National Improvisation Competition in Legnica (2021) and the 9th Jean Sibelius International Instrumental Music Competition in Turku (Finland-2021).

Sebastian Kuczynski enhances his qualifications by attending numerous academic sessions. He has participated in many master classes in organ interpretation and improvisation conducted by outstanding musicians and pedagogues, such as Peter Planyavsky, Balys Vaitkus, Hans Fagius, Bernhard Haas, Gerhard Gnann, Ben van Oosten, Menno van Delft, Christophe Mantoux, Wolfgang Seifen, Julian Gembalski, and Józef Serafin.

Originator, coordinator and artistic director of the student series of organ and chamber recitals "Pro Arte et Studio", as well as the International Mokotow Festival of Organ and Chamber Music, organized by St. Andrzej Bobola Parish in Warsaw.

As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed at international organ and chamber music festivals in Poland, Germany, Austria, Belarus and Lithuania. He has given concerts at the 9th International Organ Forum in Warsaw, the 6th International Franz Liszt Festival of Organ and Chamber Music in Zagan, and the 45th International Festival of Organ, Choral and Chamber Music in Gdansk, among others. He performs in an organ duo together with Roksana Kalinowska.

He has collaborated with esteemed ensembles, such as the Concert Orchestra of the Representative Artistic Ensemble of the Polish Army.

Since 2016, he has been working as organist of the National Sanctuary of St. Andrzej Bobola Parish in Warsaw.

Presentation of silver badges of honor to the Committee For Relief To Polish Children members by the Canadian Polish Congress

On November 13, during the Academy of the Canadian Polish Congress in the province of Québec, held at the Church of Our Lady of Czetochowa in Montreal on the occasion of Independence Day, silver badges of honor were presented to six members of the the Committee For Relief To Polish Children in recognition of outstanding contributions to the welfare of the Canadian Polish community. Among these individuals were Ms. Krystyna Dreger, Vice President of the KPDP, Ms. Elizabeth Mostovac, Ms. Anna Dziewinska, Ms. Krystyna Sliwinska-Dardzinska, Ms. Halina Babinska and Ms. Helena Urbanek.

We extend our warmest congratulations to all the awarded ladies.
Bord of Directors of the Committee For Relief To Polish Children

The Committee For Relief To Polish Children in Montreal awarded scholarships this year from the Lisowski-Smykowski Fund for the 22/23 school year to eight candidates in Montreal and eighty-five candidates in Poland.

Our congratulations to Sebastian Kuczynski !

Sebastian Kuczynski, a student at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the organ class - a Commitee's scholarship holder and a ward of the Art-SOS Foundation in Suwałki - has passed his final DIPLOMA exams very well. Our congratulations !

For organ music lovers, we include links from Sebastian's final exams :
J.S. Bach BWV 660: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
M. Tariverdiev: II, Organ Concert op. 93, Basso Ostinato

Dear members and supporters !

Due to the corona virus, the Polish youth of Montreal have decided to unite under the name "COVID-19 Canadian Community Initiative" to help the elderly in this situation (e.g. with food, medicine or other urgent matters).
To this end, they have launched a HOTLINE for those in need of assistance:
Phone: 514-700-6377.
On Facebook: COVID-19

Regarding this initiative, I am attaching the message of the 2nd Canadian Polish Congress, Quebec District.

We talk about the Committee's activities on Radio Polonia in Montreal

You can listen to the March 15 interview on Radio Polonia here..

You can listen to an interview on Radio Polonia from December 9 here.

The Committee For Relief To Polish Children in Montreal has been named Donor of the Year 2018, awarded by the ART-SOS Foundation in Suwałki

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The Committee For Relief To Polish Children in Montreal partners with the "Work of the New Millennium" Foundation in supporting youth from small towns and villages

More about this here

Interview on Montreal's Radio Polonia with Patryk Surowiak, a scholarship recipient of Committee For Relief To Polish Children in Montreal

You can listen to the interview here.

Annual General Meeting of members of the Committee For Relief To Polish Children in Montreal

On May 5, 2018, the Annual General Meeting of members was held at the White Eagle Hall on Frontenac Street, at which the Board and Committees presented reports on their activities for 2017.In addition, a new logo designed free of charge by graphic artist Andrzej Krysztofowicz as a gift to the Committee was presented to all members. The logo depicts Helen from Wyspianski's painting painted in 1900 on a black and white background.All present liked the new logo very much as evidenced by the fact that it was unanimously approved by the Committee members. At the same time, the members appointed Mr. Andrzej Krysztofowicz as an Honorary Member of the Committee.

We also had the pleasure of presenting membership cards and the text of the new statute to two ladies: Ewa Nakonieczna and Emilia Wilk. The third lady, Wieslawa Socha, who has a long history as a supporter, was unable to attend the meeting. The membership card and the Statute will be given to her at a later date.

The Statute, along with the Bylaws, was also approved unanimously. You can familiarize yourself with it on the sub-page of the same website " About Us".

In addition, by-elections were unanimously elected:
for Secretary - Ms. Klara Rostworowska,
to the Recruitment Committee - Ms. Teresa Dardzinska, Klara Rostworowska and Alexandra Pruszynska
to the Grant Committee - Ms. Ewa Nakonieczna.

The Board of Directors will include three Work Team Delegates: Ladies Teresa Dardzinska, Barbara Rogowska and Emilia Wilk.

Congratulations to all the ladies.
Bord of Directors of the Committee For Relief To Polish Children

Ceremonial presentation of certificates to Lisowski-Smykowski Foundation scholarship recipients in the province of Quebec

Yesterday, i.e. on the 14th of September, an informational meeting of the Committee was held at which the certificates of the Lisowski-Smykowski Foundation scholarship recipients in the province of Quebec were presented.

The meeting was held in a very pleasant and friendly atmosphere. Our scholarship recipients were received with applause. There was no shortage of congratulations to the Board of Directors, the Scholarship Committee and members of the Classification Committee for bringing the Scholarship Program to life.

We wish our scholarship recipients a successful school year, good grades in their exams and the awarding of the scholarship next year.
Bord of Directors of the Committee For Relief To Polish Children

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Here is one of the participants of the meeting, Kiti Rudnicka, wanted to share her impressions of the celebration

It was a real pleasure for me to attend last Thursday's special meeting of the Committee For Relief To Polish Children. It was held to ceremonially award certificates to the Lisowski-Smykowski Foundation Scholarship recipients in the province of Quebec.

The intensive work of the Committee's Board of Directors, which lasted only a few months, yielded a wonderful, long-awaited result:
Lisowski-Smykowski Foundation's funds are being distributed to young people in Poland and in the province of Quebec at no out-of-pocket costs-all of the donated sums will reach the recipients !

The occasion marks a milestone in the history of the Committee, a far cry from everything we have done so far to help children, wherever they may be.Namely, we bestowed ten wonderful young people, from the Montreal environment close to our hearts, having at our disposal a Fudusz additional to that normally earned during the Bazaars. Our enthusiasm was most justified: here we have a unique opportunity not only to help a group of our ambitious young people, but also to give ourselves a much-needed chance to rejuvenate the ranks.

Thunderous applause rewarded each name read out, smiles were on all faces: the young recipients , their families and Committee members present.

In the break before the reporting part of the meeting, in backstage conversations, over coffee and sweets prepared, among other things, by the parents of the Scholars, we, the Committee members, made closer contacts with them and shared insights. It was to them, the newly appointed Supporters of the KPDP, that we explained how important and necessary their presence and active participation in the work of the Committee would be to ensure our continuity. We emphasized how much pleasure we derive from our work in organizing Bazaars, where the efforts of our members, lasting several weeks, turn into, for example, smiles of disabled children and their caregivers. Our actions coincide, by the way, with the currently so popular, not only in Canada, trend of charitable actions "donner au suivant / to pay it forward" !

Congratulations from the heart to the Scholars, and I am extremely pleased that the Committee has entered new ground!
Kity Rudnicka

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