Academic Musical Meetings

The idea of academic musical meetings had been developing in Janusz and Małgorzata-Beata Siadlak’s minds for a long time. They felt the need to organize such an event in Czestochowa that could appeal through diverse receipients’ tastes and simultaneously allows to present a choir as an instrument able to perform the music of different styles, epochs and sorts. Finally, in 1997 they made a major step forward and organized a concert under the name “The Initial Academic Musical Meetings.”

November 1997

The first concert of the Academic Musical Meetings appeared to be an important event in Częstochowa. Collegium Cantorum Choir for the first time presented in Częstochowa a great composition “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff. The spectacular success in their hometown inspired Janusz Siadlak and the choir to perform “Carmina Burana” abroad. Collegium Cantorum went to France to establish cooperation with a French orchestra and soloists as well as achieve another success and very positive reviews there.

20-21 November 1998After the success of the first Academic Musical Meetings, Janusz Siadlak was convinced of the necessity to continue the idea simultaneously with its progressive perfection. Therefore the II Academic Musical Meetings lasted not one but two days. The first day belonged to the guests invited by Janusz Siadlak : repeteadly rewarded Academic Choir of the Silesian Politechnic with Czesław Freund as a conductor which performed sacred music repertoire. The second day was dominated by “American Music Concert” . On the stage there appeared Collegium Cantorum choir together with jazz musicians under Jarosław Woszczyna conduct. The program offered some pieces from very well known “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein, “Porgy and Bess” by George Gershwin and Negro spirituals (Hush!Somebody’s Calling My Name, Ain’t a Good News, among others).

On the 20th of November 1999 Częstochowa was filled with Latin American melodies and rhythm. The concert, performed in three parts, guaranteed an infusion of positive energy and optimism to the visitors as well as the performers. The audience was charmed by pleasant rhythms exactly as Janusz Siadlak was while preparing the repertoire for the 3rd Academic Musical Meetings several months earlier.As it happened before, the concert was added splendor by celebrities of the artistic world, such as Piotr Kusiewicz (tenor), Leszek Skarla (baritone) or “Temlum Sonoris” band.

Autumn 2000 was fully attended by Collegium Cantorum and Janusz Siadlak. The conductor who from the early child was fascinated by rousing music of the famous Beatles band, decided to take a brave step forward. Together with his brother, Zdzislaw Siadlak, they prepared an orchestration of the Beatles’ works in jazz mode. After having the scope prepared, Janusz Siadlak established contact with Marek Bałata – one of the most important jazz musicians in Poland and the world. As he said, he is the one who is able to dot the I’s and cross the t’s. The success of “John Lennon in Memoriam” concert surpassed all expectations. It was awarded in “Gazeta Wyborcza” newspaper plebiscite with “An Event of the Year” Janusz Siadlak was given the statue of “The Man of the Year” . “Zycie Częstochowy” newspaper also awarded him a “Man of the Year”. Yet, it was not the most important for Janusz Siadlak and the people under his charge. Excellent, huge and enthusiastic audience which experienced every sound and melody together with the performers, was the most fantastic reward and motivation for their activity.

16-17 November, 2001 The 5th Academic Musical Meetings – “20 out of 40” were Janusz Siadlak’s specific jubilee. It was 20th anniversary of the artistic work coincided with his 40th birthday. The event lasted two days and gathered eminent performers from Poland and Italy. On the 16th of November inhabitants of Częstochowa could have heard some religious choruses performed by the Italian choir with over 80 years tradition “Cesare Augusto Seghizzi” conducted by Luca Perssin and Academic Silesian Politechnic Choir conducted by Czesław Freund. Tenor parts were performed by Massimo do Vittor, and Enrico Menotti played the piano. The 17th of Nov. was marked with jazz music performed by the host choir.

16th of Nov. 2002A great success appeared to be the next concert “Mouth keep silent, soul is singing” with Katarzyna Suska, a recognized Polish mezzosoprano, Alexander Zbigniew Pinderak – a tenor performing abroad yet bound with Viennese Volksoper. The other artist was Piotr Lempa – Janusz Siadlak’s, glorified in Poland and the world, pupil. Compiled by the conductor and the artists program contained some pieces of opera, operetta and light music. The musicians enacted some pieces of the famous musical “Phantom of the Opera” by A.L.Webber or again “West Side Story” by G.Gershwin. The audience, fascinated by the brilliant rendition of the famous “Time to say Goodbye”, repeatedly asked for an core.

15 November, 2003The 7th Academic Musical Meetings – Misa Criolla in Tadeusz Leśniak’s arrangement. Collegium Cantorum Choir restarted cooperation with Marek Bałata to present Argentinian Creole Mass in jazz mode. Cooperation with a unique band “Sierra Manta” appeared to be a good move.The audience, eager for new impressions, spent an evening listening with pleasure to energetic Latin American rythms.

On the 20th of November, 2004, Leonard Bernstein’s and George Gershwin’s diversified musical works resounded on the stage of the Academic Culture Centre with regards to numerous requests.

On 19th November 2005 Marek Bałata, being on friendly terms with Collegium Cantorum Choir, visited once more Częstochowa to remind the concert “John Lennon in Memoriam” from before five years. The program of the concert could not fail, of course, news, and they were, enthusiastically received by audience, famous Skaldowie band’s, Marek Grechuta’s or Maryla Rodowicz’s songs in Zdzisław Siadlak arranging. Polish hits have subjugated hearts of listeners again, remembering many of them careless times of joyful youth.

On 26 November 2006 Collegium Cantorum has resumed cooperation with Katarzyna Suska and Alexander Pinderak. The new artists taking part in the concert were young French soprano, Charlotte Krawczyk and the pianist – Helena Christenko. The 10th , jubilee Academic Musical Meeting had the unique climate. Among others, program of the concert abounded with fine work of timeless composers such as Friedrich Händel (among others Ombra mai Fu), Gicomo Puccini (Nessun dorma from “Turandot”) , Giussepe Verdi (among others famous Libiamo from “Traviata”) or works from George Bizet’s opera “ Carmen”. There were also contemporary music. Alexander Pinderak raised imagination of the audience to heaven, singing among others popular R.Kelly’s song “I Believe I Can Fly”, Charlotte Krawczyk introduced listeners to a truly romantic spirit performing Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. The reminder of 2002 concert was again vigorously applauded song “Time To Say Goodbye” by F. Sartori.

Recent Academic Musical Meetings took place in 2006 to be reborn under a new name – Musicalia Czestochoviana two years later.

Musicalia Czestochoviana 2008This autumn mature Częstochowa inhabitants could have been transmitted in time to the years of youth. Jazz arrangements of genious Czesław Niemen’s songs attracted huge audience which together with the musicians decided to go through his songs once again yet in a different, new manner. Janusz Siadlak reestablished cooperation with remarkable Marek Bałata. The concert entitled “Niemen Memory” for a long time will be held in memory by the audience gathered that day.