Chopin University Big Band

Piotr Kostrzewa Artistic Manager  

The ensemble was founded in 2006 at the initiative of Bogumił Gadawski and Błażej Sroczyński. In the period of 2006–2012 its supervisor was Ryszard Borowski. Since 2012, the ensemble’s artistic manager has been Piotr Kostrzewa. Since that time the ensemble has performed during spectacular music events, e.g. La Folle Journée Festival in Nantes (2014, 2017, 2019) and La Folle Journée Festival in Warsaw in 2014 (performance with Gordon Goodwin) and 2017, jazz festivals (Jazz Jamboree, Siauliai Big band Festival, etc.), as well as concerts broadcasted  by radio and TV stations (The Oscars Night on Canal+; Five o’Clock on Programme 2 of the Polish Radio, Concert on Radio 3 – 100th birthday of F. Sinatra). In 2017 the ensemble presented itself at the seat of the National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio in Katowice. Its recording-related achievements include 7 albums: L’historie du big band, Classic on Jazz, Big Band – Swing Christmas, I Got Rhythm and Dance, Frank Sinatra. 100th birthday anniversary / Concert on Radio 3 and guest appearance on the latest album by Basia Trzetrzelewska – Butterflies. Their new concert album was recorded in 2019 during the La Folle Journee – Carnets de Voyage Festival with a guest appearance of conductor and arranger Miho Hazama. The ensemble was a two-time winner and received the Grand Prix at the Big Band Festival in Nowy Tomyśl (2015, 2017). Chopin University Big Band was also one of the stars of the Summer with the Radio Festival 2019.