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Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, conductor

Short Biography

A regular guest of the major international orchestras for over 35 years, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski is one of today's pre-eminent conductors. He has received the Gold Medal of the Mahler-Bruckner Society for his interpretations of Bruckner symphonies and five 'ASCAP' awards for his programming of contemporary music.

Born in Poland, Skrowaczewski began piano and violin studies at the age of four, composed his first symphonic work at seven, gave his first public piano recital at 11 and conducted Beethoven's 3rd Piano Concerto when he was 13. In 1946 he became conductor of Wroclaw (Breslau) Philharmonic and subsequent positions include Music Directorship of Katowice Philharmonic (1949-54), Krakow Philharmonic (1954-56) and Warsaw Philharmonic (1956-59).

In 1956 he won the International Competition for Conductors in Rome and, invited by George Szell, made his American debut with the Cleveland Orchestra in 1958. This led to engagements with New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati symphonies and, in 1960, to his appointment as Music Director of Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (Minnesota Orchestra). From 1984-91, following 19 years in Minneapolis he was Principal Conductor of Britain's Hallé Orchestra.

Skrowaczewski has conducted all the major American orchestras, toured with the Philadelphia Orchestra to South America and with the Cleveland Orchestra to Australia. Guest conducting engagements take him regularly to the continents of both North and South America, Australasia, Scandinavia and in Europe to Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, London, Paris and Vienna. In Japan he works regularly with both the NHK Symphony and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.

Many acclaimed early records for Mercury, Vox, RCA/BMG from his extensive discography are now being re-released on compact disc and recent recordings of Shostakovich, Brahms and particularly Bruckner have received the highest praise. The recently released complete edition of Bruckner symphonies with the Saarlaendischer Rundfunk (Arte Nova), where he is Principal Guest Conductor won the Cannes 2002 Award for Best Orchestral Recording of 18th/19th Century Orchestral Work.

Skrowaczewski is also an award winning and active composer. Many of his compositions are currently being programmed and recorded by a number of the world’s most prestigious ensembles.

September 2002/341 words

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