Jan Cieplik
During my elementary and junior high school years, I sang in the Boys and Men Cathedral Choir ‘Pueri Cantores Thoruniensis’ under the direction of Prof. Roman Grucza. From the age of nine, I had the opportunity to participate in numerous concerts, festivals, and competitions organized in Poland and abroad. I have honed my vocal skills through workshops led by esteemed figures such as Stefania Toczyska, Andrzej Dobber, Prof. Izabela Kłosińska, Prof. Maciej Witkiewicz, Prof. Feliks Widera, Prof. Jarosław Bręk and Prof. Leszek Skrla. Throughout my journey, I have collaborated with notable conductors, including Mieczysław Smyda, Michał Kocimski, Piotr Sułkowski, Marek Głowacki, and Jan Willem de Vriend. In February 2020, I had the privilege of participating in a concert at the Pomeranian Philharmonic, which showcased the most talented winners of music competitions. In December 2020, I contributed to the recording of songs for the album "Kolęda na ten trudny czas..." [A Carol for this Difficult Time...] published by the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź. Additionally, in February 2021, I took part in recordings for the album "Stypendyści" [Scholars], released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Music School Complex in Toruń. Notable performances in my career include assuming the bass part in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem in D minor KV 626 for the first time, in October 2021. In April and June 2022, I portrayed one of Ecclitico’s disciples in the opera "Il mondo della luna" by J. Haydn, staged in Poland and Norway. In April 2022, I performed the bass part in the oratorio "Messiah" (HWV 56) by G. F. Händel, and in May 2022, I portrayed the role of Schlendrian multiple times in the cantata "Schweight stille, plaudert nicht" BWV 211 by Johann Sebastian Bach, commonly known as the 'coffee cantata’. Moreover, in July 2022, I had the privilege of performing on the stage of the Oskar Kolberg Świętokrzyska Philharmonic alongside Monika Świostek, Jadwiga Postrożna, and Arnold Rutkowski, as part of the final concert of the 2nd Monika Swarowska-Walawska International Vocal Festival. My repertoire encompasses oratorios, cantatas, operas, and operettas. I have established a regular collaboration with the Toruń Symphony Orchestra and Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz. In 2020, I graduated from the Music School Complex (2nd degree) in Toruń, specializing in vocals under the guidance of Dr. Wiesława Kończewska-Plac. In 2022, I completed my degree in vocal and acting at the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź, under the mentorship of Prof. Włodzimierz Zalewski. I have also been honoured to receive the Minister of Culture and National Heritage scholarship three times for my achievements and artistic contributions in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Additionally, I have been a recipient of the City of Toruń scholarship in the field of culture in 2019 and 2020.
Some of my notable achievements include second place in the 2nd Feliks Nowowiejski National Vocal Festival in Olsztyn third place in the 8th Krystyna Jamroz National Vocal Competition in Kielce, earning a distinction at the 3rd International Vocal Competition of Sacred Music 'Ars et Gloria' in Katowice, winning second place at the 8th Zdzisław Skwara National Vocal Competition in Mława, first place at the International Vocal Competition 'Bella Voce' in Busko-Zdrój, receiving a distinction and special prize at the National Vocal Competition 'Home Song Books' in Łódź, winning first place and a special prize at the 1st Stanisław Moniuszko National Vocal Competition in Gdańsk, first place and a special prize at the 1st International BEL CANTO Online Singing Competition in Ueckermünde, and achieving third place at the 2nd International Monika Swarowska-Walawska Vocal Competition in Krzeszowice.