Biografia

The Girls’ Choir “Canzona” was established in October 1981. Currently, about 50 girls aged from seven to sixteen sing in the ensemble. The choir’s creator and long-time conductor was Professor Elżbieta Wtorkowska. For over forty years of its activity the choir has given concerts in Poland and abroad: in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovakia, Malta, Croatia, Spain, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the USA, Israel, France and Portugal. He has had the opportunity to sing for John Paul II on several occasions. Since 2008, he has collaborated on the annual editions of the Edmund Szymański International Choir Festival in Murowana Goślina.

In 2014-2015, the choir toured England, the Netherlands, Germany and Normandy, France. In 2019, the choir gave concerts in the USA (Chicago, New York, Linden). “Canzona” has won numerous prizes and awards at many choral competitions and festivals. Among them:

Silver Diploma at the VII International Festival Coros de Verão in Lisbon, Portugal (2018),

Gold Diploma and Financial Award for the highest score in the category at the XXV National Sea Song Competition in Wejherowo (2022),

Silver Diploma in the children’s choir category and Second Place and Gold Diploma in the Catalan Music category at the 11th Canço Mediterrania International Choir Competition and Festival in Lloret de Mar, Spain (2022),

Gold Diploma in the category of children’s and youth choirs at the 1st National Competition of Patriotic Songs Musica Patriae in Poznań and Silver Diploma in the category of children’s choirs at the 11th International Festival of Advent and Christmas Songs in Kraków,

Silver Diploma at the Third All-Poland Competition of Children’s Choirs of the Melodiis Branch in Połczyn Zdrój (2023),

Two Silver Diplomas (in the sacred music category and in the general classification of children’s choirs) at the 58th International Festival of Choir Song in Międzyzdroje (2023),

Gold Diploma in the Sacred Music category at the International Choral Competition Chorus Inside in Rovinj, Croatia (2023), Gold Diploma in the Children’s and Youth Choirs category at the 2nd National Choral Festival of Patriotic Song Musica Patriae in Poznań and Silver Diploma in the Children’s Choirs category at the 6th International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music Mundus Cantat in Sopot (2023),

Gold Diploma in the 2nd National Carols and Pastorals Competition in Wrocław (2024).

During the pandemic, the choir participated in online competitions all over the world winning major prizes, including in Poland (Wysoka, Chełmno, Rzeszów), USA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Russia, Belgium, Ukraine, Croatia, Czech Republic, Japan, Switzerland, Turkey, among others.

In 2023, the Canzona girls recorded songs for the film Mr. Kleks Academy. The choir is conducted by Dr Adrianna Wtorkowska-Kubińska, a graduate of the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań and of postgraduate studies in choral conducting at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. The choir’s accompanist is Weronika Jarzyńska – Pluta.