Moc, Michał
Composer, accordionist, and teacher, he studied composition with Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil, graduating with distinction from the Karol Lipiński Music Academy in Wrocław, where he also received his PhD in 2008. He also studied on a scholarship with David Rowland at the Conservatorium Hogeschool Enschede (2000). His creative output, numbering some 40 works, includes chamber, vocal, vocal-instrumental, and orchestral compositions, with particular preference given to the accordion as the solo instrument. As he himself often emphasises, he does not recognise music without emotion.
He has won awards at several composition competitions, including the Eucharistic Congress (Opole 1997, two 2nd Prizes for Mass of the Polish People and I Believe in You), 1st Composition and Instrumentation Competition in Wrocław (1998, 1st Prize), Musica Sacra in Częstochowa (1999, 2nd Prize for Hallelujah), Andrzej Panufnik Competition in Cracow (2000, 1st Prize for Betelgeuse), competition for music of the Świdnica city anthem (2001, main prize), R. Murray Schaffer International Competition in Poznań (1999, distinction), and Franz Josef Reinl Foundation Competition in Vienna and Munich (2001, 3rd Prize for Furietta). He has also held scholarships from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, ZAiKS (Polish Society of Authors and Composers), Wrocław City Council, Kiwanis Club Wratislavia (on behalf of Mercedes Benz Poland - Mirosław Wróbel), Leopold Kronenberg Foundation, and a scholarship from Maria Klementyna Tomaszewska. In 2007 he was included in the four-year programme of promoting young composers by the Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Centre.
He is also a concert accordionist, winner of many competitions. He has made recordings for Polish Radio and TV and record companies.
He teaches composition as an assistant professor at the Music Academy in Wrocław, and conducts research and teaching in the area of musical ear training; he has authored computer programmes and educational games, and is the initiator of the Auditory Olympics National Competition for senior music schools students, as well as mYear, a festival of musical skills. In 1999-2010 he taught at the Primary and Secondary Music School in Wrocław (heading its music theory section from 2004), and has since 2009 been the coordinator for the macroregional Centre for Art School Teachers Education (CENSA). In 2006 he was awarded the Cross of Merit by the President of Poland.
Selected works: Betelgeuse for accordion and tape (1999), Sinfonietta for string orchestra (1999), Hommage à Piazzolla for accordion and symphony orchestra (2000), Prague Fantasy for symphonic orchestra (2002), Chordalians & Chordaliens for accordion and chamber orchestra (2004), Chipset for symphony orchestra and accordion (2005), Music for orchestra (2007), Stuntmen's Relay for symphony orchestra (2008), Barbarioso for string orchestra (2009), The Switching Faces for chamber orchestra (2009), Hippocampus for large orchestra and school children (2010), Emotion for string orchestra (2011), S.A.N.D for accordion, two cellos, percussion and video projection (2011), Power for chamber orchestra (2012-13), MissA for accordion and harpsichord (2014), sulP'lus for string orchestra (2014), K'akkoFonia for accordion and string orchestra (2015), Fjörður for symphony orchestra (2016), AcordeON for accordion and cello (2017).