biography

The choir of the University of Szczecin was founded in October 2006 on the initiative of the then dean of the University of Economics and Sciences, prof. Dr. Edward Urbańczyk and Dr. Tadeusz Buczkowski – a conductor with many years of experience, who became its first artistic director. The core of the group are students, graduates and academicians of the University, and the composition is completed by a group of music and singing enthusiasts from Szczecin.
Initially the band mainly performed at important university ceremonies. Over time however, thanks to his hard work and his remarkable progress, the group of its listeners has grown and today the choir can boast numerous concerts in Poland and abroad, including Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland and Bulgaria. The most notable performances during the tours were performances in both European Parliament houses, in Brussels and in Strasbourg.
The ensemble has had the opportunity to collaborate with guest conductors such as Paul Esswood, Simon Halsey, Warcisław Kunc, Piotr Sułkowski and Bassem Akiki. It has received prizes and awards in competitions and choir reviews in Będzin, Chełmno, Kamchia and Święty Krzyż. His artistic achievements include four CDs and five DVDs of recordings of great vocal and instrumental works.
In 2016, the choir received the Laurel Statuette of West Pomeranian Culture, awarded by the Szczecin Cultural Society for lifetime artistic activity and numerous congratulatory letters from city and regional authorities, other friendly bands, as well as decorations of the Association of Polish choirs and orchestras , presented by prof. Dariusz Dyczewski, then Rector of the Art Academy of Szczecin and also president of PZChiO. In 2017, the choir was awarded by the Marshal of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship with the Silver Badge of Honor of the West Pomeranian Griffon.
In addition, the Szczecin University Choir was the organizer of cyclical summer university concerts, under the auspices of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, during which, together with professional musicians and professional soloists, they performed major musical works by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn or Charpentier, e.g. in Szczecin, Wolin, Kobylanka or in Kamień Pomorski.
In March 2022, the current director and artistic director of the ensemble – Dr. Tadeusz Buczkowski was replaced by Anna Tarnowska – professor at the Szczecin Art Academy and curator of the school choir development program at the Choral Academy of the Poland.
Together with the new conductor, new voices of the Soli Deo mixed choir previously directed by her were added to the US Choir, with which the female part performing under the name Gioia di Canto achieved numerous successes, e.g. in June 2021, at the 56th International Choral Singing Festival in Międzyzdroje, he received a Golden Diploma and the Cup of the President of the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras in Szczecin, a Golden Diploma and two special awards at the 20th International Choral Music Festival. Feliks Nowowiejski in Barczewo or the 2nd place and the Golden Diploma won in November 2021 at the National Choir Tournament Legnica Cantat 51.
In March 2022, the United States Choir under the guidance of prof. Tarnowska had the opportunity to perform with the Wood & Brass orchestra in Goleniów at a benefit concert for refugees from Ukraine, and is currently preparing a new repertoire, with which she will soon perform, among others at the Philharmonic Mieczysław Karłowicz in Szczecin.