Violetta Bielecka - NOSPR

Conductor and artistic director of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir in Białystok, as well as a highly acclaimed pedagogue. Director of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic since 3rd November 2021, earlier serving as its acting director since 1st December 2020. A Białystok native, she has been inspired by and working for the city all her life.

Graduate of the primary and secondary State Music School in Białystok, in Z. Frankiewicz’s piano class. She honed her skill studying choir conducting with the exceptional professors J. Bok and R. Zimak at the State Higher Music School in Warsaw (graduating with honors). She is a graduate and former employee of the Postgraduate Choirmasters and Vocal Emission Studies at the F. Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. From 1984 to 1987, she conducted the Białystok University of Technology Choir. She teaches singing at the I. Paderewski Music School in Białystok. It was also there that she led the Girls’ Choir „Schola Cantorum Bialostociensis” (1987–2009). From 1995 to 2017, she served as the Chairperson of the „Cantica Cantamus” Choral Music Aficionados Society in Białystok, leading its „Cantica Cantamus” Białystok Chamber Choir from 1998 to 2006. She initiated and organised the Philharmonic of Peace International Workshops for Polish Youth Living in Poland and Abroad. The choirs she led have won numerous prestigious awards. From 1995 to 1997, she was a vocal consultant for the Grand Theatre – National Opera Choir in Warsaw. She was invited to collaborate with them again in 2015, during preparations for the premiere of S. Moniuszko’s „Haunted Manor” opera. In 2000, she was awarded the title of professor of musical arts by the President of the Republic of Poland. A teacher at the Chopin University of Music Branch in Białystok, in 2017, she became Head of the Chair of Choir Studies and Artistic Education UMFC at the Department of Instrumental and Pedagogical, Music Education and Vocal Studies (1999–2005 head of the Choir Conducting Unit; 2005–2012 Deputy Dean of the Department). Since 2019, she has served on the University Board and the Scientific Discipline Board.

She has taught numerous choirmasters, choir singers and soloists. Since 2006, she has enjoyed spectacular success as conductor and artistic director of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir at the European Art Center in Białystok. The choir under her direction participates in prestigious international festivals, performing the world’s finest musical masterpieces in concert halls of the greatest renown. She has prepared the ensemble for concerts, radio and television broadcasts, as well as global-scale CD recordings, at the “Chopin and his Europe” Festival, Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, the “Singer’s Warsaw” International Jewish Music Festival, the „Gaude Mater” International Sacred Music Festival in Częstochowa, the „Warsaw Autumn” International Festival of Contemporary Music, the A. Tansman International Festival and Competition of Musical Individualities in Łódź, and the „Katowice Culture Nature” festival.

In 2021, she was awarded the „Gloria Artis” Golden Medal For Services to Arts for artistic achievements in the field of culture. Her services to Polish culture and building the artistic image of the Chopin University of Music won her the UMFC Rector’s Grand Prix (2019). She has been awarded the J. Kiepura Theatre Music Award (2019), the Podlaskie Voivodeship Badge of Honour for popularising musical culture awarded by the Podlaskie Voivodeship Executive Board

(2018), the Mayor of the City of Białystok Award for lifetime artistic achievement (2016), the Medal „For Services to the UMFC” awarded by the Rector prof. dr hab. Ryszard Zimak (2014), Golden Medal from the Chair of the Wspólnota Polska Society in Warsaw (2012), Golden Medal for Longtime Service awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski (2010), 1st degree Minister of Culture and National Heritage Award for artistic and pedagogical achievement (2009), Commission of National Education Medal (MEN 2009), „Gloria Artis” Silver Medal For Services to Arts (2008), „For Merit in Polish Culture” Badge of Honour (2006), Gold Cross of Merit awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland (2002), Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Award (2002), Mayor of the City of Białystok Award for organisational activity related to popularising cultural heritage in the East through the activity of the Polish Peace Choir, (2000), Gold Badge „For Services to the Białystok Region” (1992) and Gold Cross of Merit awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland (1990). In 2013, in Poznań, she received the J. Kurczewski Award for outstanding achievement in choir music and propagating Polish music, awarded by the J. Kurczewski Award Board.

Since 2010, she has been a member of the Recording Academy (classical music section), which brings together musicians, lyricists, composers, music producers, journalists and other recording industry professionals, tasked with evaluating recordings and selecting winners of the Fryderyk awards. Since 2015, she has served on the committee tasked with awarding the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Awards for artistic creation, popularising and protecting culture, and scholarships for persons working in artistic creation, popularising culture and protecting monuments.