Wojciech Kałamarz

Father Wojciech Kałamarz born in 1974 in Dębica, he is a conductor, composer, teacher and missionary priest of the Congregation of the Mission of St Vincent de Paul. He studied at the Music Academy in Kraków (1997–2003) – choral conducting (with Adam Korzeniowski) and church music at the Department of Choral Conducting, Church Music and Music Education. He also studied composition with Anna Zawadzka-Gołosz and computer music with Magdalena Długosz. In 2003 he began Ph.D. studies at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. He also pursues a teaching career, lecturing in church music at the Missionary Theological Institute and the Higher Monastic Catechetical Institute in Kraków.
He has won several awards for his works, including First Prize at the 9th Adam Didur National Composers’ Competition in Sanok (2001, for Stabat Mater); First Prize at the 11th Adam Didur National Composers’ Competition in Sanok (2003, for Passion Motet); Third Prize at the International Composers’ Competition to mark the 30th anniversary of the Music Academy in Bydgoszcz (2004, for Fantasy) and Second Prize at the International Composers’ Competition ‘Garden Music’ in Kraków (2004, for Les plantes).
He writes choral, instrumental, vocal-instrumental and electronic music. His works have been performed in many Polish cities.

Selected works: Variations for piano in classical style (1999), For Joseph – a Christmas Carol for solo voice, mixed choir and chamber orchestra in classical style, text: Janina Błocka (2000), Stabat Mater for mezzo-soprano and string quartet (2001), Miniatures for piano (2001), Memories for organ (2001), Kyrie for baritone and symphony orchestra (2002), Three-part Invention for solo clarinet (2003), Two Choral Pieces: Mother of God and Domine for a cappella mixed choir (2003), Fonos for tape (2003), Passion Motet for baritone, violin and piano (2003), Les plantes for string orchestra (2002–04), Sinfonietta for string orchestra (2004), Fantasy for clarinet and piano (2004), Scherzo for organ and violin (2004).

Fonos was realized in 2003 in the Studio of Electroacoustic Music of the Music Academy in Kraków. The piece is a product of a classical approach to a new instrument that is computer technology. Hence the specific form of the composition and the category of generated timbres which fill the space between the successive pillars of time. Fonos is the fruit of the extremely joyous work involving the world of sounds created in the composer’s hands. It is a reflection of the misty vision of the elusive harmony of the subtle matter of sound.

Father Wojciech Kałamarz