JURY REPORT FROM THE CHOIR COMPETITION 2025
JURY REPORT FROM THE CHOIR COMPETITION,
held in Bielsko-Biała on October 18, 2025,
as part of the 20th International Choir Festival “Gaude Cantem”
Jury composed of:
1. Prof. Elżbieta Wtorkowska, PhD, DSc - Chairperson
2. Prof. Jolanta Szybalska-Matczak, PhD, DSc - Member
3. Prof. Anna Olszewska, PhD, DSc - Member
4. Prof. Jan Borowski, PhD, DSc - Member
5. Ewa Rafałko - Member
6. Dr. Justin Smith - Member
7. Dr. Solon Kladas - Member
8. Piotr Żółty, MA - Secretary
After auditioning thirteen choirs entered in the competition in the following categories: children’s choirs, youth choirs, academic choirs, mixed choirs, chamber choirs, mixed choirs, and senior choirs, the jury presents the following results:
1. The PLUNGĖ Women’s Choir from Plungė (Lithuania), under the direction of Rita Urniežienė,
received a bronze diploma in the mixed choir category (70 points).
2. The HASŁO Mixed Choir from Poznań, under the direction of Kateryna Ciszak, received a silver
diploma in the senior choir category (79 points).
3. The Children’s Choir of the Stanisław Moniuszko Music School Complex in Łódź, under the
direction of Kamil Chałupnik, received a silver diploma in the children’s choir category (77 points).
4. The Grodzisk Bogorya Choir from Grodzisk Mazowiecki, conducted by Marcin Łukasz Mazur, received a silver diploma in the youth choir category (86 points).
5. The AKATYST Choir from Kcynia, conducted by Agnieszka Maciejewska, received a silver diploma in
the youth choir category (88 points).
6. The PUELLAE CANTANTES Choir from Litoměřice (Czech Republic), conducted by Roman Pallas,
received a gold diploma in the youth choir category (94 points).
7. The Poznań Group Ensemble from Poznań, conducted by Michał Plichta, received a gold diploma in
the chamber choir category (97 points).
8. The Komorni Sbor CANTABILE from Hranice (Czech Republic), conducted by Markéta Láskova,
received a gold diploma in the mixed choir category (92 points).
9. The Choir of the Karol Szymanowski General Primary and Secondary Music School in Wrocław, under the direction of Beata Krzenciessy, received a gold diploma in the youth choir category (90 points).
10. The ABCD Women’s Chamber Choir from Třinec (Czech Republic), under the direction of Zuzana
Lasotová and Jan Nowak, received a gold diploma in the homogeneous choir category (91 points).
11. The DOMINANTA Choir of the Kraków University of Economics, under the direction of Małgorzata
Langer-Król, received a gold diploma in the academic choir category (91 points).
12. The Český Sbormistrovský Sbor from Prague (Czech Republic), under the direction of Igor
Karpilovskij and Patrik Buchta, received a gold diploma in the mixed choir category (90 points).
13. The CANZONA Girls’ Choir from Murowana Goślina, under the direction of Adrianna Wtorkowska-
Kubińska, received a gold diploma in the children’s choir category (91 points).
The jury decided to award the following distinctions and prizes:
1. A nomination for participation and exemption from the registration fee in the International Choir Festival and Competition ”Canco Mediterrania” the Pau Casals International Choir Competition in Barcelona and Lloret de Mar in Spain, goes to the
DOMINANTA Choir of the Kraków University of Economics, under the direction of Małgorzata Langer-Król.
2. A nomination for participation and exemption from the registration fee in the International Józef Świder Music Festival in Cieszyn goes to the PUELLAE CANTANTES Choir from Litoměřice (Czech Republic), under the direction of Roman Pallas.
3. A nomination for participation and a registration fee waiver for the International Festival of Religious Music named after Fr. Stanislaw Ormiński in Rumia goes to the ABCD Women’s Chamber Choir from Třinec (Czech Republic), conducted by Zuzana Lasotová.
4. A nomination for participation and a registration fee waiver for the SLOVAKIA CANTAT FESTIVAL in Bratislava (Slovakia) goes to the CANZONA Girls’ Choir from Murowana Goślina, conducted by Adrianna Wtorkowska-Kubińska.
5. A distinction for the most interesting interpretation of a sacred work and a cash prize of PLN 1,000 funded by Bishop Roman Pindel, Ordinary of the Bielsko-Żywiec Diocese., receives The Poznań Group Ensemble from Poznań, conducted by Michał Plichtafor their performance of Michał Plichta's piece "Jubilate Deo."
6. The Honorable Mention for the most interesting interpretation of a work by a Polish composer, as
well as a cash prize of PLN 1,000, funded by Bishop Adrian Korczag, Superior of the Cieszyn Diocese
of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, goes to the Český Sbormistrovský Sbor from
Prague (Czech Republic), conducted by Igor Karpilovskij and Patrik Buchta, for their performance of
Stanisław Moniuszko’s „Prząśniczka”
7. The Honorable Mention for the Best Children’s Choir and a cash prize of PLN 1,000 goes to the CANZONA Girls’ Choir from Murowana Goślina, conducted by Adrianna Wtorkowska-Kubińska.
8. The jury awarded a non-statutory cash prize of PLN 500 to the HASŁO Mixed Choir from Poznań,
conducted by Kateryna Ciszak.
9. The Honorable Mention for the Best Youth Choir and a cash prize of PLN 1,000 goes to The
PUELLAE CANTANTES Choir from Litoměřice (Czech Republic) under the direction of Roman Pallas.
10. A distinction for the best foreign choir and a cash prize of PLN 1,500 goes to The PUELLAE CANTANTES Choir from Litoměřice (Czech Republic) under the direction of Roman Pallas
11. The Bielsko Starost’s Cup and a cash prize of PLN 1,000 for the best conductor of the festival were
awarded to Michał Plichta, conductor of the Poznań Group Ensemble from Poznań.
12. The prize of PLN 1,000 for the first place in the children’s choir category goes to
The CANZONA Girls’ Choir from Murowana Goślina under the direction of Adrianna Wtorkowska-
Kubińska
13. The prize of PLN 1,000 for first place in the youth choir category goes to the PUELLAE CANTANTES
Choir from Litoměřice (Czech Republic), conducted by Roman Pallas.
14. The prize of PLN 1,000 for first place in the homogeneous choir category goes to the
ABCD Women’s Chamber Choir from Třinec (Czech Republic), conducted by Zuzana Lasotová and Jan Nowak.
15. The prize of PLN 1,000 for first place in the academic choir category goes to the
DOMINANTA Choir of the Kraków University of Economics, conducted by Małgorzata Langer-Król.
16. The prize of PLN 1,000 for first place in the chamber choir category goes to the Poznań Group Ensemble from Poznań, conducted by Michał Plichta.
17. The prize of PLN 1,000 for first place in the mixed choir category goes to the Komorni Sbor
CANTABILE from Hranice (Czech Republic), conducted by Markéta Láskova.
The Grand Prix trophy, a nomination to the Stefan Stuligrosz Grand Prix of Polish Choral Music in
Poznań, and a prize of PLN 10,000 go to the Poznań Group Ensemble from Poznań, conducted by Michał Plichta.
The Jury would like to emphasize the exceptionally high artistic standard of this year’s Competition,
the professional level of the Festival organization, and the excellent conditions resulting from the
commitment of the city, regional, and church authorities, as well as the management of the State
Music School Complex in Bielsko-Biała.
The Jury extends special thanks to the Festival Director, Mr. Krzysztof Przemyk, and all the
collaborators who are the “moving spirit” of this extraordinary artistic event.
Competition Jury