Universitas Cantat - Adam Mickiewicz University Academic Choir in Poznań

Participants Universitas Cantat 2024

Adam Mickiewicz University Academic Choir in Poznań, POLAND
Conductor: Beata Bielska

Adam Mickiewicz University Academic Choir in Poznań
https://choruampoznan.pl/

The Adam Mickiewicz University Academic Choir was established in 1966. At first, it brought together students and employees of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. Led by outstanding musicians, it has always referred to the choral tradition of Wielkopolska. In October 2010, Beata Bielska, a long-time assistant of a renowned composer and choirmaster Jacek Sykulski, became the artistic director and conductor.
The Academic Choir of the Adam Mickiewicz University has performed in almost all countries of Europe as well as in Bolivia, Ecuador, China, Taiwan, the United States, Canada, and Vietnam. The ensemble has participated in many prestigious artistic events: The G.P. da Palestrina Sacred Music Festival in Rome, the 17th World Youth Day in Toronto, a concert to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the opera "Ça ira" by Roger Waters, "Audiofeels on the Rocks", the project "Singing Europe 2016" organised in Wrocław by the National Forum of Music, an initiative of the "Drużyna Szpiku" Foundation, the Festival "East-West-Reunion" in Radomsko, an extraordinary concert of Placido Domingo in Poznan on the occasion of the canonisation of Pope John Paul II (inaugurating the 1050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland), the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar” (on the same anniversary) and numerous editions of the Festival UNIVERSITAS CANTAT.
In recent years the choir has cooperated with some of the largest music productions in Poland, including Visual Production in the "Visual Concert" and "Epic Game Music" tour project (until April 2023), and Goodtaste Production in the project "The World of Michael Jackson" where it performed alongside Natalia Kukulska, Kasia Moś, Kuba Badach, Nick Sinkler and Jacek Piskorz. The AMU Academic Choir took part in the international tour of Ennio Morricone's music - "The Official Concert Celebration", conducted by the famous composer's son, Andrea Morricone.
The choir singers of the Academic Choir can be seen in the latest film "Pilecki’s Report" directed by Krzysztof Łukaszewicz and in rebroadcasts of the programme "Jaka to melodia?" ("What melody is it? ").
The AMU Academic Choir has sung with such celebrities as Kasia Wilk, Kasia K8 Rościńska, the members of Audiofeels and with Jacek Czerwiński. The most recognisable song associated with the AMU Academic Choir is "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (over 745,000 views on YouTube).

Beata Bielska
Singer, choirmaster and teacher. Beata Bielska graduated from The Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań, in the Faculty of Choral Conducting, Music Education and Church Music, in a class of the Academy of Music professor Magdalena Wdowicka – Mackiewicz. Prior to that she completed The Frederick Chopin Public Music School in Olsztyn in which she attended a cello class of professor Józef Bartkowski.
Among numerous music undertakings, Beata Bielska’s focus is predominantly choral music. She founded her first ensemble when she was only 14 years old and led it successfully until her leave from her home town, Olsztyn. It was then when she started studies at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. Shortly after, she became a member and a soloist of the AMU Choir, directed by Jacek Sykulski.
Beata Bielska took charge of the Adam Mickiewicz University Choir in 2010. Ever since she has been creating her own artistic vision, as well as continuing group’s sound traditions. Under her direction the group takes part in various projects – both symphonic and a cappella, using colouring and abilities of the most perfect music instrument which is human voice.