was created in 1990 on the initiative of Andrzej Chorosiński, Rector of Warsaw’s F. Chopin Academy of Music. The founder, artistic manager, and the conductor of the choir is Krzysztof Kusiel-Moroz, professor at the F. Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the Choral Conducting Department, renowned choirmaster and conductor who works with many vocal ensembles and orchestras in Poland and abroad.
In 1998, a men’s choir was also established, composed of former members of the boys’ choir, students of high schools and universities. Since 1994, the Choir has cooperated with leading conductors including Antoni Wit, Kazimierz Kord, Gabriel Chmura, Jacek Kaspszyk, Yoav Talmi, Jan Latham-Koenig, Philippe Herreweghe, John Axelrod as well as Krzysztof Penderecki whose works (St. Luke Passion, Utrenja, Credo) are permanent fixtures of the Choir’s repertoire.
The Warsaw Boys’ and Men’s Choir has appeared on the most important stages and festivals in Poland and beyond, including the Warsaw Philharmonic, Grand Theatre – National Opera, Wratislavia Cantans, Warsaw Autumn, Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, performing works of different ages and styles. It regularly cooperated with the City of Warsaw and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
Highly acclaimed international tours have take the Choir to the Netherlands, Germany, France, Lithuania, Slovakia, Austria, Macedonia, thee tours of Japan (1999, 2001 and 2003) with performances in prestigious concert halls in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Choir has appeared, with Penderecki’s Passion and Credo, at the Echternach Festival in Luxembourg, Penderecki Festival in Münster, Europäische Festspieltage in Passau, International Sacred Music Festival in Kristiansand (Norway), and the Festival de La Chaise-Dieu. In 2008, the Choir participates in the 30th anniversary celebration of John Paul II’s election in Rome, and in 2009 it concertised in Shanghai and Hong Kong. In 2009 within the Polska Year celebrations, it toured the United Kingdom, e.g. performing Penderecki’s Passion in Canterbury as well as London and other cities, to critical acclaim. Another UK tour followed in 2011.
Apart from its concert activity, the Warsaw Boys’ and Men’s Choir is active in the recording studio, with 17 CDs to its credit including Penderecki’s St. Luke Passion, Utrenja, Credo and Magnificat for Naxos, the first recording of Paweł Mykietyn’s Passion, and George Crumb’s Star Child for Bridge Records, awarded with a Grammy in 2001.
Between 2006 and 2009, the Choir received several international awards including the 2nd Prize at the European Youth Competition in Neerpelt (Belgium), two Golden Diplomas ath the International Choral Competition in Bratislava (2006 and 2009), and 1st Prize at the prestigious Seghizzi Choral Competition in Gorizia, Italy (2007).
Since 1993, the Choir’s activities are supported by its own Foundation. In over 12 years of music education programmes, the Choir has trained over 2,000 young people from Warsaw. Yearly artistic workshops are organised including singing, education and sports activities.
