West Side Sinfonietta
The National Forum of Music in Wrocław is a state-of-the-art concert venue, which is the seat of the performing arts organisation established in 2014 after the merger of the International Festival Wratislavia Cantans and the Witold Lutosławski Philharmonic in Wrocław. One of the initiators of the creation of the National Forum of Music is Andrzej Kosendiak, currently serving as its director.

The National Forum of Music aims to promote active participation in cultural life among the inhabitants of Lower Silesia and people visiting Wrocław. The results of these intense activities are nine festivals, which each year invite the most outstanding Polish and international artists, the venue itself becoming a space for meetings of representatives of various artistic disciplines, not only music. The NFM is home to twelve resident ensembles: NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, NFM Choir, NFM Boys’ Choir, Lutosławski Quartet, LutosAir Quintet, NFM Ensemble, NFM Leopoldinum String Trio, Polish Cello Quartet, Wrocław Baroque Ensemble, and West Side Sinfonietta. The National Forum of Music also conducts a wide recording activity (each year it releases numerous albums with varied programmes) as well as offering educational programmes meant for people from all age groups.

Wrocław’s National Forum of Music is of special prominence as one of the biggest venues of this kind in central Europe. It contains four concert halls – with the main hall seating 1800 people, and three chamber halls for 250–450 visitors. Each hall can present every kind of music – from classical, to jazz, to alternative and electronic. The state-of-the-art acoustics of the four concert halls were developed by Artec Consultants (Arup) Inc from New York. Special solutions such as construction breaks and vibroisolators allow listeners to fully focus on music, without interference of sounds or vibrations from outside. Canopies and acoustic chambers surrounding the main concert hall make it adaptable for various performance forces and music genres. The NFM venue was designed to please the eye and the ear. Music inspired the architects from Kuryłowicz & Associates Architecture Studio. The venue’s shape and the finishing of its façade bring to mind a string instrument, whereas the foyer’s black walls and white balconies were inspired by the piano keyboard. Apart from concert halls, the venue contains rehearsal rooms, conference and office rooms, exhibition spaces and a restaurant. This impressive building, located in the heart of Wrocław, inscribes itself into the city’s historic centre, in harmony with its architectural characteristics.

Andrzej Kosendiak
Director of the National Forum of Music in Wroclaw, conductor and teacher, one of the most active musicians and promoters in Poland. In 1985, he founded the ensemble Collegio di Musica Sacra; he has also established the NFM Choir, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, Boys’ Choir NFM and Wroclaw Baroque Ensemble (of which he is artistic director). He has been the initiator of the creation of new festivals, such as Forum Musicum and Leo Festival.

He regularly conducts the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, the NFM Choir, the Wrocław Baroque Orchestra and philharmonic ensembles across Poland and around the world. He has performed in many countries in Europe, the USA and in China. He has recorded previously unknown works from the University Library in Wrocław and the Library in Strasbourg, as well as works by G.G. Gorczycki (Wrocław Music Prize), B. Pękiel and M. Mielczewski; most of these records were nominated for the Fryderyk Award, and in 2019 a Fryderyk was awarded to the Mielczewski II album (‘Album of the Year – Early Music’). The following albums with early Polish music include compositions by S.S. Szarzyński and M.J. Żebrowski.

Andrzej Kosendiak has initiated numerous educational projects, including the Musica Polonica Rediviva project, whose aim is to encourage young artists around the world to perform Polish music with the support of conservatoires and festivals, as well as the development programme for school choirs – Singing Poland.

He has initiated the series of recordings 1000 Years of Music in Wrocław and Witold Lutosławski. Opera omnia – in 2018, the seventh part of the Lutosławski series, containing songs for children, was released under his direction. In the same year, a record with S. Moniuszko’s Phantoms was released under his direction – it received a Fryderyk 2019 in the category ‘Album of the Year – Choral, Oratorio and Opera Music’. Among the many awards and distinctions granted to Kosendiak are the Award of the Mayor of Wrocław (2016), Lower Silesian Key of Success in the category ‘The Greatest Personality in the Promotion of the Region’ (2016), awards of Radio Wrocław Kutura – Emotions in the categories ‘Personality of the Cultural Season’ (2017) and ‘Classical Music’ (2018), Austrian Honorary 1st Class Cross for Merit in Science and Art (2018), Diamond of Wrocław (2018) and Honorary Badge of Meritorious Service to the Lower Silesian Voivodship (2018).

Andrzej Kosendiak is a professor at the at the K. Lipiński Academy of Music. He was the initiator and coordinator of the construction of a state-of-the-art concert venue of the National Forum of Music in Wrocław.