Female Choir "MELODIA"  

... operating at the Polish Cultural and Educational Association (PZKO) in Nawsie in the Czech Republic, originated in 1955 from the best traditions of Polish singing in Zaolzie. The ensemble is constantly developing its skills and providing rich concert activities thanks to the work of successive conductors Karol Heczko, Andrzej Zielina, Władysław Winkler (1962-1987), Aleksandra Paszek-Trefon (1990-2000; currently professor at the Academy of Music in Katowice), and Aleksandra Zeman (2000- present; professor at the University of Silesia in Katowice).


2017 - Monastery Church of St. Joseph of the Elizabethan sisters in Jablunkov (Czech Republic)

The Melodia choir is one of the outstanding singing groups in Cieszyn Silesia. It has had repeated invitations to the World Festivals of Polish choirs to Koszalin, recorded sessions in the studios of Czech and Polish radio, performed numerous concerts in Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Ukraine, Russia, Finland, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Spain, Hungary, Romania and in Italy where it sang at Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

The repertoire of Melodia includes masterful secular works and magnificent works of sacred music from the Renaissance to contemporary music without omitting artistic stylizations of folk songs or popular carols.

2015 - Jubilee Concert on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of "Melodia"

The Melodia choir greatly appreciates the traditions of the region and this is why each year participates in „Gorolski Święto“ (Highlander Celebrations), „Trojok Śląski“ festivals, and it also popularizes the culture of Cieszyn Silesia at international festivals.

2019 - "72nd Gorolski Święto" together with the Male Choir "Gorol" from Jablunkov (Czech Republic)

Choirmaster - Assoc. Prof. Aleksandra Zeman,
professor of the University of Silesia in Katowice

Conductor, choirmaster, pedagogue, doctor of arts in the field of arts, granted by resolution of the Council of Artistic Disciplines of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music (2020). Graduated from Music Education with a specialization as an instructor of musical ensembles at the University of Silesia in Katowice, branch in Cieszyn (1998), as well as from the Postgraduate Choirmaster Studies operating at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz and the Center for Cultural Animation in Warsaw (2002) and the 5-year study for conductors of Polish choirs in Koszalin (2006).

In 2007, she was awarded the degree of Doctor of Musical Art, in the artistic discipline conducting by the Council of the Faculty of Choral Conducting and Music in Bydgoszcz. Since 1999 she has worked at the Institute of Music at the Faculty of Arts in Cieszyn, and from 2021 to present she has worked at the Institute of Musical Arts at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Education, as a professor at University of Silesia in Katowice.

She conducts lively scholarly and artistic activities related to choral music, and gives concerts at home and abroad. Her reviews are published in Polish and English and reviews articles dealing with the art of conducting and interpreting musical works diverse in texture and style.

She has performed in the Czech Republic with the following ensembles: the Melodia Women’s Choir operating at the PZKO in Nawsie in the Czech Republic (since 2000), the Choir of the Institute of Music of the Cieszyn Branch of the University of Silesia (2003-2006), the Polish Singing Ensemble Hutnik from Třinec in the Czech Republic (2003-2006), the Chamber Choir of the Cieszyn Cultural Center, Dom Narodowy, (2nd conductor, 2004-2009), the choir „Gloriam Dei“ operating at the IT of St. J. Kante in Bielsko-Biała (2007-2014), Austria, Russia, Finland, Ukraine, Italy (including St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican), as well as Bulgaria, Switzerland, Spain, Hungary and Romania.

She has won numerous national and international awards and prizes with the aforementioned ensembles. In 2015, she received the Stanislaw Moniuszko International Prize and the Silver Badge awarded by the „Unie českých pěveckých sborů“. The album Paweł Łukaszewski, „Beatus vir“,  released by DUX in 2018, which she recorded with the Czestochowa Philharmonic Collegium Cantorum choir which was nominated for the 2019 Fryderyk Award in the category of Classic Music, Album of the Year Choral, Oratorio and Opera Music. She is a member of the Phonographic Academy that awards the Fryderyk music awards, classical music section (since 2019).

Most important successes of choir

  • Badge of Nohor, Meritorious for Polish Culture (2022)
  • First Place in the adult choir category at the XXIX Myślenice Festival of Choral Song Carols and Pastorals Myślenice (2020)
  • Gold Diploma, Victory in the women’s choir category; Special Award for expressive poetic performance of the competition program at the 17th International Festival and Venezia in Musica Choir Competition, Sacile & Venezia, Italy (2018)
  • Diploma of Recognition of the President of the Republic Poland Andrzej Duda for nurturing  and promoting the culture and traditions of the Polish national minority in the Czech Republic (2017)
  • Second place in the 2016 PZKO Initiatives Cempetition (out of 34 nominations) organized by the Main Board of the Polish Cultural and Education Association (PZKO) in the Czech Republic  (2016)
  • Silver Diploma in the category of the homogenous choirs a Distinction from the Department of Choral Conducting at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice for nurturing a multi-generation singing tradition at the 12th Gaude Cantem International Choir Festival of Kazimierz Fober in Bielsko-Biała (2016)
  • Gold Medal (in its category) at the "Mundi Cantant" International Choral Competition as part of the 43rd International Choral Festival in the Czech Republic, "Svátky Písní" Festival of Songs, Olomouc (2015)
  • Winner of the "Such we are" contest organized by the Congress of Poles in the Czech Republic – audience award (2014)
  • Gold Diploma in the category sacred music; Silver Diploma in the category folklore-inspired music at the 14th Intenrational Festival and Choral Competition "Cançó Mediterrània" Llored De Mar, Barcelona, Spain (2014)
  • Diploma BIEN at the 49th "Montreux Choral Festival" in Montreux, Switzerland (2013)
  • Silver Band at the 22nd International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music with the Petr Eben’s Award in Prague (2012)
  • First place at the 4th International Festival "Balkan Folk Fest" in Kiten, Bulgaria (2010)
  • First place at the 2nd International Festival of Christmas Carols and Pastorals "Kolędnicze Serce Polskie" in Wiśniewo (2011)
  • Second Prize in the category of homogeneous choirs Myślenice XVII Festival of Choral Song "Christmas Carols" (2008)
  • Silver Band in the category of "adult choirs" competition at the VIII Festival Of Advent and Christmas Music "Prague’s Christmas" in Prague in the Czech Republic (2007)  
  • First place at the Second Silesian Choir Festival in Ustroń (2004)
  • Firts place at the Fourth International Meeting of the Song of "Mary Choral Ad Dei Gloriam" in Pinczow (2003) and a special prize for the performance of a work by J. Swider "My Song"
  • Golden diploma and President’s Cup Division Bielski Association "Polish Community" at the VII Feast of the song "Gaude Cantem" in Bielsko-Biala (2002)
  • Prize in the name of Stanislaw Moniuszko Festival "Silesian Trojok" in Katowice (1999)
  • I Prize and Prize of the Mayor of Katowice in Katowice Confrontations Choir (1997)
  • Silver Band at the International Competition of Choral Singing in Prague in the Czech Republic (1995)
  • "Silver Band" on the nationwide Choir Competition in Jihlava in the Czech Republic (1993)
  • First place in three singing competitions PZKO (1984, 1986, 1991)

 

Publishing record

  • "Ta Święta Noc", album of Christmas carols, RAGTIME records Ostrava (2022)
  • "Płyń, pieśni nasza!", live concert recording of vocal and vocal-instrumental music, which took place on November 25, 2006, in the Church of Saint Elizabeth in Cieszyn. Performers: Melodia Women’s Choir of aid at the PZKO in Nawsie in the Czech Republic; Chamber Choir of the Cieszyn Cultural Center, Dom Narodowy in Cieszyn; Dorota Wyciślik, piano; Michał Borkowski – solo tenor; Anna Scheller – harp; Marcin Armański – organ; Aleksandra Zeman – conductor (2019)
  • "Ojcowski dom", two-disc album with Trinec Chamber Orchestra (Czech Republic) and pianist Magdalena Szwanda-Szeliga, Art Music, Jelenia Góra (2009, 2010)
  • "Bóg się rodzi", Polish Christmas Carols with Tomas Orlow (organ improvisations), RAGTIME records Ostrava (2005)
  • "Z biegiem Olzy", RAGTIME records Ostrava (2000)
  • "Hej, ludzie prości Bóg z nami gości", Studio DR (1996)
  • "Beskidy" – Polish Radio Katowice (1995)