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Polish Music Reference Center |
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Advisory Board
Friends of Polish Music
Benefactors
History
Library
Projects
Staff
The PMRC is a research and information center devoted to gathering and disseminating knowledge about all aspects of Polish music. The PMRC is associated with the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, headed by Dean Larry Livingston. The PMRC publishes an extensive web site including a monthly newsletter and a semi-annual scholarly Polish Music Journal, as well as a book series (Polish Music History Series). It houses the largest collection of Polish music in the U.S. and is the only center at an American university devoted solely to Polish music.
The PMRC is located in the United University Church, on the USC University Park Campus, 817 West 34th St., Los Angeles, Room 219 (2nd floor, next to Music Admissions office).
A BRIEF HISTORY: The idea of establishing a Polish music research and resource center was conceived by Stefan and Wanda Wilk. In order to realize this goal, they donated the initial $100,000 to the Stefan and Wanda Wilk Endowment Fund. In 1984, an agreement was signed with the University and the School of Music; the PMRC became a reality.
The official dedication ceremony took place in 1985, in the presence of Witold Lutoslawski and other distinguished guests. The endowment grew over the years with gifts from the PMRC s founders as well as with major donations from Witold Lutoslawski, Dr & Mrs. Zbigniew Petrovich, Dr & Mrs. Clark Halstead, Helena Nowicka, M.D., Dr & Mrs. Kenneth Harris, and Lottie Harasimowicz.
Wanda Wilk was appointed the first Director of the Center and introduced many programs. In 1982 she had initiated a book series devoted to Polish music (Polish Music History Series), established Wilk Prizes for Research in Polish Music, enlarged the Center s collection of books, scores, recordings, and manuscripts, as well as organized many concerts featuring compositions by Polish composers. During the eleven years as Director, Ms. Wilk answered numerous inquiries regarding Polish music, assisted musicians in selecting a Polish repertoire, helped scholars to locate resources, and informed the American public about the existence of what she called a golden treasure trove of Polish music.
In the fall of 1996, Dr. Maria Anna Harley, of McGill University, Montreal (Canada), was appointed the new director of PMRC and assistant professor of music history and literature in the Thornton School of Music. In October 1997, during Gorecki Autumn Festival and in the presence of many distinguished guests the formal announcement was made by USC President, Prof. Steven B. Sample, about the naming of the newly created position "Stefan and Wanda Wilk Directorship" of the PMRC. Ms. Wilk continues to support the activities of PMRC as its Honorary Director, the Editor of the Polish Music History Series, and the President of the Friends of Polish Music--a support group for the PMRC. The FPM collect donations to the Polish Music Fund which is used to cover the costs of PMRC's publications and special projects, such as the PMRC Web Page, created in 1994 by Wanda Wilk, and developed since 1996 by Maria Anna Harley and her staff.
In December 1996 this page received an award for the Best Site from Polish World; the site was among the nominees for the title again in 1997. The site appears in most listings of academic resources for music, ethnic studies links, Polish studies and Polish culture, and in other databases. In the first two years of its existence it was visited by about 40,000 people.
In addition to the various publications that the PMRC issues (PMRC Newsletters, Polish Music Journal, Polish Music History Series of books including 6 titles), the Center has organized various festivals, conferences and special events dedicated to Polish music.
Recent PMRC events include:
Gorecki Autumn - Festival and Symposium about the music of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki with the composer in residence (October 1997),
- A Day with Women's Music including the residency of Hanna Kulenty (April 1998)
- Polish/Jewish/Music! International Conference with participants from five countries (November 1998), and
- The Heritage of Chopin series of lectures at USC (February-March 1999).
In 2000, the PMRC will present its new additions to the Manuscript Collection (over 20 manuscripts by Polish composers, including manuscripts scores and sketches by Grażyna Bacewicz, Roman Maciejewski, Zygmunt Krauze, Włodzimierz Kotoński, Zbigniew Bujarski, and many others, during an open house and an exhibit held on 21 October 2000 (during the celebrations of the Polish American Heritage Month).
PMRC ADVISORY BOARD:
- Prof. Bruce Brown (USC School of Music),
- Dr. Teresa Chylinska (Krakow, Poland),
- Prof. Donald Crockett (USC School of Music),
- Prof. Janet Johnson (USC School of Music),
- Prof. Bryan Simms (USC School of Music),
- Dr. William Thomson (Los Angeles),
- Ms. Wanda Wilk (Honorary Director, Los Angeles),
- Prof. Diane Wilk (University of Colorado, Denver; PMRC Associate Director),
- Prof. Maria Anna Harley (PMRC Director, ex officio).
PMRC BENEFACTORS:
Witold Lutosławski Dr. & Mrs. Zbigniew Petrovich Dr. & Mrs. Clark Halstead Helena Nowicka, M.D. Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth Harris Lottie Harasimowicz (Donors of $10,000 and more will receive a name plate
on the wall of the PMRC library room).
PMRC LIBRARY: The library contains manuscripts, scores, books, periodicals and recordings of Polish music. Our online catalogue is under construction: Dr. Barbara Zakrzewska-Nikiporczyk from the University of Poznan has received a Kosciuszko Foundation grant for 1998/99 to catalog the collection. At the moment only about 30 items are in the USC Libraries online catalog system (HOMER). By July 1999 the whole collection will be included. For general information you may check our (unfinished) Catalogue and the lists of our Manuscripts and Recent Donations. The library is open on weekdays: Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Prof. Maria Anna Harley, Director
- Dr. Barbara Zakrzewska-Nikiporczyk, Librarian (in 1998/99 and 99/00)
- Dr. Linda Schubert, Assistant Editor, Polish Music Journal
- Mr. Marcin Depinski, Student Worker (Web Design)
- Mr. Jan Jakub Bokun, Student Worker
- Ms. Wanda Wilk, Founder and Honorary Director
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