English

The Tadeusz Tylewski Gdańsk Medical University Choir is one of the oldest student ensembles in Poland, as it will be celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2006. Jerzy Szarafiński, who graduated from The Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Gdansk, has been its conductor since 1988.

During its long artistic activity, the choir has received many prestigious awards in polish and foreign choir competitions and festivals. The singers took part in festivals in Knokke (Belgium), Middlesbrough (England), Cork (Ireland), Arezzo (Italy), Spittal an der Drau (Austria), Warna (Bulgaria), Tolosa (Spain). Among the choir’s latest accomplishments are:

First Prize in the X Festival of Religious Music in Rumia, Poland (1998)
First Prize in the XIX International Festival of the Orthodox Church Music in Hajnowka (2000)
three first prizes in the XVII International IFAS Student Choir Festival in Pardubice in the Czech Republic (2002)
Gold and a Silver Medal in the World Choir Games in Xiamen (China) in 2006

The Gdansk Medical University Choir has given concerts in 26 countries around the world, among others in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, The Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, The Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, the USA, the Vatican and former Yugoslavia. Apart from a cappella music programs presenting pieces of various musical styles and epochs by both Polish and foreign composers, the choir also performs songs for films and musicals, Gospel as well as oratorio music.

In recent years the choir has released 6 records:

1997 – “Masterpieces of World Choral Singing”
1999 – “Ein deutsches Requiem” – Johannes Brahms
2001 – “Jesus Christ is born” – Polish and foreign Christmas carols
2003 – “Bepyio” – Orthodox Church Music
2004 – “Hold On!” – African-American music – Spirituals & Gospel
2005 – “Spirituals and Gospel” – live DVD

The Conductor

Jerzy Szarafinski born in 1954 in Sopot, graduated from the Choral Conducting Faculty of The Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Gdansk in 1986.

He began his long pedagogical activity as a piano teacher in 1978, additionally working as a director of a musical course in Gdansk-Oliwa in 1981-1989. In 1983 he established a parish choir in Gdansk-Bretowo. One year later he became the conductor of the Gdańsk-Oliwa Cathedral Choir. As diocese conductor he led the combined Gdansk and Chełm Diocese church choirs during Pope John Paul II`s visit in Gdansk (1987). Since 1991 he has also been a teacher at a music high school in Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz. In 2001 he had been conducting Gdansk`s oldest male choir, “Moniuszko”. Jerzy Szarafiński is also a judge at Gdańsk regional school choir competitions.

In 1988 he became the artistic director of the Gdańsk Medical University Choir. Together they have performed a capell programs and oratorio music in thirteen European countries. He has inspired and organized many artistic exchanges for singers in Poland and abroad. Jerzy Szarafiński has also been a member of the artistic council, vice-president and artistic director of the Polish Choir and Orchestra Association in Gdańsk.

His efforts to spread amateur culture have gained him The Silver Cross of Merit, the Honorary Golden Order of Polish Choir and Orchestra Association, the President of Gdansk Award, The Medical University of Gdańsk Rector Award and many more. In 2004 Jerzy Szarafinski received the “Bene Merito Diocesi Gedanensi” medal from Tadeusz Goclowski the Archbishop of Gdańsk.