Choir of the Maritime University of Szczecin

THE CHOIR OF THE MARITIME UNIVERSITY OF SZCZECIN (formerly the Choir of the Maritime Academy), under the direction of its founder Sylwia Fabiańczyk-Makuch, has been present on the music scene for 21 years. This over one hundred-person ensemble represents Szczecin and Poland on the world's largest stages. The ensemble has taken part in hundreds of concerts and dozens of international tours, presenting itself in most EU countries, as well as in: Ecuador, Canada, Japan, and Taiwan. The choir premiered numerous works of Polish contemporary music by recognized Polish composers. Thanks to its excellent performances at many prestigious international competitions around the world, the ensemble has won 90 festival awards, including 14 Grand Prix, 53 Gold Medals, and has also received numerous recognition awards. Through its activity, passion and commitment, the choir has created a widely recognizable, characteristic image, for which in 2019 it was awarded the honorary title of The Ambassador of Szczecin, in 2021 the brand certificate "Made in Szczecin", and in 2024 the Artistic Award of the City of Szczecin.

The most important awards in recent years: the title of the best choir from Europe at the Ave Verum competition in Baden, Austria; 1st place at the 41st International Choir Competition in Varna (Bulgaria), GRAND PRIX and all main prizes at the 60th edition of the Seghizzi International Choir Competition in Gorizia (Italy), 2nd GRAND PRIX Runner Up at the International Choir Competition in Taipei (Taiwan), Gold Prize in the Chamber Choir Category at the International Choir Competition in Tokyo (Japan), GRAND PRIX of the 47th Olomouc Song Festival (Czech Republic), 1st place at the 18th International Kathaumix Festival in Powell River (Canada).

The group is also invited to collaborate with outstanding artists of the Polish and foreign music scene, such as: Andrea Bocelli, Krzysztof Penderecki, Krzysztof Dębski, Zbigniew Preisner, Dawid Podsiadło, Włodek Pawlik, Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz, Zbigniew Wodecki, Andrzej Piaseczny, Justyna Steczkowska (joint concert tour at the largest auditoriums), Krzysztof Zalewski, Stanisław Soyka, Vito Bambino, Igor Herbut, Beata Kozidrak, Anita Lipnicka, Natalia Niemen, Natalia Szroeder, Daria Zawiałow and many others.

In 2022, the group took part in the largest media charity event in Poland "Together with Ukraine", which was broadcast live to 50 countries around the world. The group is also the creator of the innovative, original project "Wspólne Brzmienia", whose artistic director is Sylwia Fabiańczyk-Makuch. During the ten editions of the grandly organized undertaking, combining choral music with other musical genres, the choir performed with, among others, Kuba Badach, Kayah, Dorota Miśkiewicz, Grzegorz Turnau, Smolik, Skubas, Ireneusz Krosny, Spięty and the bands: Ørganek, Mikromusic, Fiszemade Tworzywo, Voo Voo, Grupa Mozarta and Kroke.

In addition to intensive artistic activity, the ensemble has recorded 11 CDs and 19 music videos, including the song "Dziwny jest ten świat" with Ukrainian vocalist Daria Psekho, "Living on the prayer" with Piotr Cugowski or "Toss a coin to your Witcher" from the series Wiedźmin with the excellent English vocalist Paul Phoenix (King's Singers). The ensemble's latest album, The Sound of the Sea, is a nod to the maritime musical tradition and an important point on the map of contemporary Polish choral music, for which it was nominated for the prestigious Fryderyk award in the Album of the Year – Choral Music category.