Richard Zielinski’s Work in Poland

Richard Zielinski is an American conductor with a Polish heritage of which he is very proud. His great-grandparents, Mikołaj Zielinski and Rose Krawczyk immigrated to the United States in the late 1800’s and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Richard has always had a fascination with Poland and its music. This was further realized in 1989 when, as a graduate student at the University of Illinois, he first met Jan Szyrocki, who was in the United States as a visiting professor to lecture on Polish choral music. The two forged a strong bond and Jan encouraged Richard to write his doctoral thesis on Polish composer, Karol Szymanowski’s vocal-instrumental music. The thesis not only gained Richard the title of Doctor, but also won the Kosciuszko Foundation Prize in New York and the Wanda Wilk (owski) Prize in Polish Research which enabled him to visit Poland to continue his conducting studies. During 1992 and 1993, Richard traveled to Poland to study oratorio and a cappella music with Jan, as well as study the works of Szymanowski under Prof. Stefan Marczyk and symphonic works under Prof. Henryk Czyz from Warsaw. In October of 2003, Richard was named as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor for Chor Akademicki Politechniki Szczecinskiej im prof. Jana Szyrockiego (Szczecin Technical University Choir), one of Poland’s top choral ensembles founded 50 years ago by the late Jan Szyrocki. He was also appointed Artistic Director and Chief Conductor for In Terra Pax (an international choral academy) and the International Festival of Choral Song, both in Miedzyzdroje, Poland.

Richard Zielinski is known for his innovative programming and versatility as both an orchestral and choral conductor. A passionate and compelling communicator, with an extensive knowledge of classical and contemporary repertoire. Zielinski has conducted extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the United States including the opening concert for the International Haydntage with a world premiere of Haydn’s Die Jahreszeiten choreographed for ballet. His recent conducting engagements in Poland include the Legnica Symphony Orchestra, Filharmonia Gorzówska, Zielona Gora Filharmonic, Ołsztyn Filharmonia, and Akademia Sztuki Orchestra, in addition to working with Shenyang Conservatory Orchestra in China and the Joseph Haydn Conservatory Orchestra in Eisenstadt, Austria. Previous conducting engagements include the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Florida Orchestra, Tampa Bay Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Choral Union and Naples Philharmonic among others.

His professional vocal ensemble, the Zielinski Singers, has recorded five CDs of music by many well-known contemporary composers. In the summer of 2019, the ensemble toured Poland presenting a variety of a cappella concerts in Krakow and throughout the lower Silesian region. Zielinski also served as Artistic Director and conductor of concerts at Legnica Cantat 50. At Legnica Cantat 50 the Zielinski Singers performed in the AGE OF SING event with guests Katie Melua, Renata Przemyk, Piotr Cugowski and Kamil Bednarek. Age of Sing was created by Grzegorz Szczepaniak, Executive Director, Legnickie Centrum Kultury in collaboration with Marta Bilejczek-Suchecka, Piotr Szulc and Zielinski. Richard and his Zielinski Singers ended their tour with the Poland premiere of Richard Einhorn’s VOICES OF LIGHT. In 2018 Grand Prix award at the International Choral Song Festival in Międzyzdroje, Poland for their innovative and outstanding performances. Richard was also awarded Best Conductor of the Festival.