New Year's Eve Ball 2020 and Chopin from Toronto on January 31

New Year's Eve 2020 at the  Olympic Collection  
with music by Zbigniew Galazka

Tuesday, December 31, 2019, 8 pm. New Year's Eve Ball with Zbigniew Gałąza

The Modjeska Club will welcome the New Year on December 31, 2019 with a New Year's Eve Ball, at the Imperial Ballroom, The Olympic Collection, 11301W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (just west of 405)! Evening attire, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, desserts, open bar, raffle with exclusive prizes, and dance music by Zbigniew Galazka.   The reservations should be sent to Elzbieta Przybyla, Treasurer, at 626 484 2537. Tickets $145 members, $155 guests per person.  You can also mail your check to Modjeska Club  co Elizabeth Przybyla, 15308 Ashley Ct, Whittier CA 90603. We have 12 tables reserved and there is only room for 3 more! You can also pay via PayPal to prezes@modjeska.org, plus $5 per ticket for PayPal fees.

Monsieur Chopin- Salon Poezji, Muzyki, Teatru z Toronto

starring Agata Pilitowska with Maria Nowotarska

Friday, 31 January 2020, 8pm, Magicopolis, Santa Monica

 1418 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

The program of the evening includes the play "Dobry Wieczor Monsieur Chopin" (in Polish) with text and direction by Maria Nowotarska, with both Nowotarska and Agata Pilitowska performing. After the show the Club will present the 2019 Helena Modjeska Prize for Agata Pilitowska and Maria  Nowotarska for all their work promoting Polish culture in the U.S.   RSVP to president Maja Trochimczyk, prezes@modjeska.org,  to 26 stycznia, tickets $10 for members and $30 for guests.

OTHER RECOMMENDED EVENTS

January 18 at 5 pm - Krakusy Ball at Burbank

 

February 15, 2020 - Polish Night with Marcin Gortat Ball

Marcin Gortat and the MG13 Foundation are organising the 9th edition of the „Polish Heritage Night”, which this year will take the form of a charity ball on the 15th of February 2020 at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

Polish Heritage Night 2020

Venue: The Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Start: 7:00 p.m. Special Guests: TBA (polish actors, musicians, businessman, athletes)

Special Performance: Edyta Górniak. Type of Ball: red carpet gala

Ticket price: 220$/person or 2,000$/table for 10 guests

In order to purchase tickets please contact Tomasz Smolarek: polishhn@mg13.com.pl

Tickets are nontransferable, and required for entry with photo ID. Number of tickets limited!

All income from ticket sales will support the MG 13 Foundation.

The idea of Polish Heritage Night was created by Marcin Gortat, and its purpose is to promote Polish culture in the US. We celebrate Polish heritage and support Polish youth and the families of Polish soldiers. The 9th edition of Polish Heritage Night will be special - for the first time it will take the form of a charity ball and not just be part of an NBA game. This is a great opportunity for the entire Polish-American community to unite. We will have lots of special guests in attendance from Poland: actors, musicians, businessmen, and athletes. Senators, congressmen, and consuls will also grace the gala with their presence. There is also a charity auction planned with a Robert Lewandowski signed jersey among other memorabilia.  Edyta Górniak will give a special performance! All proceeds from ticket sales will support the MG 13 Foundation.

Gortat and KaroliNa at Christmas Caroling, Dec. 7, 2019

Christmas Carols with Marcin Gortat and Friends 

Our member-only exclusive Christmas Caroling Party will take place this year on December 7, 2019, at 6:30 pm at the elegant residence of Helena and Stanley Kolodziey in Beverly Hills, CA. The program includes a conversation with Marcin Gortat about his career, interests and plans, a mini-concert by talented jazz vocalist Karolina Naziemiec, and Christmas Carols sing-along led by Karolina. Of course, a Christmas catered dinner with amazing traditional treats, and lots of heartwarming music and fun.

YouTube Video from the event: https://youtu.be/HKSBs5BQVkw

Marcin Gortat is a Polish professional basketball player who last played for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6 ft 11 in, 240-pound center is the son of boxer Janusz Gortat. As a child, Gortat participated in football and track and field, where he competed in the high jump. His father, Janusz Gortat, was a Polish boxer and a bronze medalist in the light heavyweight class during the Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 Olympics, and his mother, Alicja Gortat, was a representative of the Polish national team in volleyball. He has an older brother, Robert, who is also a boxer. Gortat grew up in Łódź, Poland. He graduated from Technical School in Łódź. Apart from Polish, he is fluent in English, German, and Serbian.

Gortat started his career with ŁKS Łódź, then played three seasons for RheinEnergie Cologne in Germany's Basketball Bundesliga, with whom he won the domestic championship in 2006 and played in the 2006–07 Euroleague season for the first time in the team's history. After being drafted 57th overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns (with his rights later traded to the Orlando Magic), Gortat elected to keep playing with Cologne in Germany until 2007. In the U.S. he played for the Orlando Magic  (2007-2010), Phoenix Suns (2010-2013), Washington Wizards (2013-18), and Los Angeles Clippers (2018-19). After retiring from professional sports, he is engaged in a variety of charitable and cultural projects.

Marcin Gortat with Prezes at the Polish Film Festival Gala

He is a member of the Modjeska Club since November 2018, and participated in many club events. His Polish Night Ball on February 15, 2020 held in Beverly Hills promises to be the event of the season! In January 2019, he organized the Polish Heritage Day with LA. Clippers.

https://www.clipsnation.com/2019/1/7/18171685/for-marcin-gortat-polish-heritage-night-is-bigger-than-basketball

The interview will be conducted by Marcin Harasimowicz, actor and journalist. Marcin (Martin Harris)  is an American actor, writer and producer born in Poland, living in Los Angeles and Tuscany (Italy). Known for his role of Lt Nikolai Zybulski in TNT's "The Last Ship", also TV shows like "StartUp", "Days Of Our Lives", "Scorpion", "Making History" and others. Author of two books. Huge fan of Tottenham football club and of sports in general.

Karolina Naziemiec is a Polish violist and jazz vocalist known as KaroliNa, who has been performing and teaching in the United States since 2001. She is a recipient of an artistic visa on the recommendation of the American Federation of Musicians, who cited her as being “a violist of extraordinary ability.”  Ms. Naziemiec came to the United States for the first time in 2000 at the invitation of The Idyllwild Arts Summer Festival Orchestra in California, for which she twice served as principal violist. Ms. Naziemiec—the daughter of engineers and amateur musicians—grew up surrounded by music to become the first professional musician in her family. Born in Jedrzejow, Poland, she attended the Szymanowski Music High school in Katowice, then continued her education at the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, and received her Master’s Degree in Music Arts/Viola Performance from the Academy in 2000.

After a successful career in Poland, she was granted a full scholarship at the University of Southern California, where she attended the Advanced Studies Program in 2001- 2002 and completed the Master of Music in Performance program in 2004. In the US, she has performed with the most prestigious orchestras including The Los Angeles Opera; The Los Angeles Master Chorale; The Long Beach Symphony Orchestra; The Jewish Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles, California; The American Youth Symphony at Carnegie Hall in New York City and in Los Angeles; and The Aspen Music Festival Orchestra in Aspen, Colorado.  Ms. Naziemiec currently serves as a music coach for the Junior Chamber Music and provides private instruction in viola, violin, and piano to a wide range of students, from very young children to aspiring professionals. Karolina Naziemiec also performs in Los Angeles as a jazz vocalist. She recorded her first CD Introduction in 2008, and in 2015, she released Songs of Hope, which was considered for Grammy nomination in 2016. She is interested in and comfortable with all types of music, from classical to jazz, folk, and hip-hop.

KaroliNA will be accompanied by Olivia Kierdal - a singer, songwriter, pianist, organist and producer. She was born and raised in Sydney, Australia and recently moved to Los Angeles. She has been performing since she was 4 years old, and writing songs since age 9. Since then she has written well over 100 pieces of music, graduated in Contemporary Music and Media from Macquarie University and California State University, and has worked as a writer in the USA, Japan and Australia. 

New Year's Eve Ball at the Olympic Collection  
with Zbigniew Galazka

Tuesday, December 31, 2019, 8 pm. New Year's Eve Ball with Zbigniew Galazka

The Modjeska Club will welcome the New Year on December 31, 2019 with a New Year's Eve Ball, at the Imperial Ballroom, The Olympic Collection, 11301W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (just west of 405)! Evening attire, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, desserts, open bar, raffle with exclusive prizes, and dance music by Zbigniew Galazka.   The reservations should be sent to Elzbieta Przybyla, Treasurer, at 626 484 2537. Tickets $145 members, $155 guests per person.  You can also mail your check to Modjeska Club  co Elizabeth Przybyla, 15308 Ashley Ct, Whittier CA 90603. We have 11 tables reserved and there is only room for 4 more!

Farewell to Witold Sokolowski

Obituary in Los Angeles Times, December 12, 2019

November 21, 2019

No words are adequate to express the sadness I feel about the death of Witold Sokołowski – scientist, author of numerous scientific publications, member of the California Institute of Technology, but above all – a wonderful man – Vice President of the Helena Modrzejewska Art and Culture Club – Advocate of Polish cultural heritage, science and art in California. It is an unimaginable loss.

Adam Glapiński

President of Narodowy Bank Polski

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=witold-sokolowski&pid=194698524

Board members at Polam's Anniversary Ball in October 2019 - Chris Justin, 

Maja Trochimczyk, Aleksasndra Kaniak, Witold Sokolowski

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Dr. Sokolowski in a car accident on November 21, 2019. He was a wonderful colleague and everyone in the club appreciated his good humor, dedication, and creativity.  He is sorely missed.

Dr. Witold Sokolowski worked for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)/California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for more than 30 years   as  the Senior  Materials Scientist on new cutting-edge materials for space science and interplanetary mission applications. He is the author of more than 90 publications, including papers published in leading international technical journals, two US patents, two scientific books (the third book was in final stages) and over 20 NASA Novel Technology Reports (NTR). In the last 15 years, he was involved in lightweight advanced deployable structure/aperture technologies. He was the founder and principle investigator of novel, second generation Cold Hibernated Elastic Memory (CHEM) self-deployable structure technology at NASA/JPL. He authored or co-authored about 90 publications including papers in leading international reference technical journals, 2 US Patents and 16 NASA Novel Technology Reports (NTR). He worked in collaboration with 37 different co-authors.

Dr. Sokolowski recently edited a volume of scientific studies:  Cold Hibernated Elastic Memory Structure: Self-Deployable Technology and Its Applications CRC Press, December 2018. He held two patents, with multiple citations by others: patent US6702976B2 “Cold hibernated elastic memory self-deployable and rigidizable structure and method” (sole author) and as coauthor US5476633A “Ultrahigh-purity dimensionally stable INVAR 36.”  He was the author or co-author of many peer reviewed articles, such as: “Medical applications of shape memory polymers” Biomedical Materials vol. 2: 1 (2007, cited by 291 scientists), “Cold hibernated elastic memory foams for endovascular interventions” Biomaterials 24 (2003): 491–497; “Advanced Self-Deployable Structures for Space Applications” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 44:4 (2007); and “Shape Memory Polymer Foams for Biomedical Devices,” The Open Medical Devices Journal, 2: 20-23 (2010).

He co-authored many chapters in scientific books:  “CHEM Biomedical Applications” (2019), “Improvements for Large CHEM Structures” (2018); “Effect of Cold Storage” (2018); “CHEM Technology Development” (2018), “Properties of Baseline CHEM Foam Material” (2018); “Future CHEM Thin-Film Spacecraft” (2018); “Thermomechanical Behavior of CHEM Foams,” “CHEM for Endovascular Interventions,” “Thiol-ene/acrylate systems for biomedical shape-memory polymers,” (2015); “Shape-Memory Polymer Foam and Applications” (2010). His scientific also articles include: “Shape Memory Polymer Foams for Biomedical Devices” (2010); “Shape memory self-deployable structures for solar sails” (2008); “Advanced Self-Deployable Structures for Space Applications” (2007); “Medical applications of shape memory polymers” (2007); “Surface control of cold hibernated elastic memory self-deployable structure” (2006); “Potential biomedical and commercial applications of cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) self-deployable foam structures” (2004); “Applications of cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) structures” (2003); “Cold hibernated elastic memory foams for endovascular interventions” (2003); “Die Attachment for −120°C to +20°C Thermal Cycling of Microelectronics for Future Mars Rovers—An Overview” (2001); “Influence of long-term storage in cold hibernation on strain recovery and recovery stress of polyurethane shape memory polymer foam” (2001); “Cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) self-deployable structures” (1999); “Temporally And Thermally Stable Iron/Nickel Alloy” (1995); “Long-term and thermal instability of carbon/carbon composite”  (1994), and many more.

Dr. Sokolowski was a recipient of many awards from NASA and other technical organizations, including the Innovation and Improvement NASA Nova Award in recognition of his continued development and conception of new ideas and improvements of advanced space structures. He was a member of editorial boards for several technical journals and served as an advisor/thesis reader to Ph.D. students at Harvard University and other universities. He was selected or elected to numerous special technical assignments, professional organization/conference committees and journal peer reviews. He was invited to participate in several television programs prepared  by TV Polonia.

After leaving JPL, he worked at Sokolowski Consulting Services on commercial and medical applications of some advanced material technologies as well as a consultant for US and international firms. He enjoyed traveling, sport (skiing, tennis, swimming) and good classical & modern music. He was elected as a journal referee in several technical/scientific magazines and selected to numerous special technical assignments, professional organization/conference committees and journal peer reviews. Dr. Sokolowski served as an advisor and thesis reader to PhD and Master students in smart materials/structures area at Harvard University and other universities.

Photos from Past Events

Nov. 11, Independence Day Concert

Nov 11, Zipper Hall, Colburn School - Krzysztof Jasinski recital

Krzysztof Jasinski with Rita Shen, play 4-hand piece

Maja Trochimczyk, Ewa Barsam with State Senator Bob Wieckowski

Board of Directors, L to R: Witold Sokolowski, Ewa Barsam, Ela Przybyla, Maja Trochimczyk, Chris Justin, Syl Ves, Beata CZajkowska

Board of Directors with Consul General Jaroslaw Lasinski

Witek Sokolowski with Board and friends

Nov 9, Shandy and Eva Concert at Kulak's Woodshed

Board of Directors with Shandy and Eva, L to R: Witold Sokolowski, Maja Trochimczyk, Ela Trybus, Beata CZajkowska, Ela Przybyla, Ewa Barsam, Chris Justin, seated - Shandy Casper and Ewa Zmijewska

The studio with exquisite recording equipment, six cameras, multiple mikes, professional mixing boards, was definitely bohemian in style... 

Maja Trochimczyk welcomes guests.

Specialty seating for 10 - on a sofa-bed! With Chris, Ania and Witek

The music stars with the board and guests, a fantastic concert in very tight space....

Shandy & Eva's Concert on November 9 and Christmas Party with Marcin Gortat on December 7

We are delighted to invite members and friends of the Modjeska Club  to a wonderful concert of Shandy & Eva, promoting their new CD "Give it a Try" - we have been friends with these musicians for a while and greatly appreciate their talents.

• What: Los Angeles Album Release Concert
• When: Saturday, November 9th, 2019, 8pm 
• Where: Kulak's Woodshed, 5230 Laurel Canyon Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91607
• How: RSVP to prezes@modjeska.org to November 7 (Thursday), tickets are $10 and Modjeska Club members attend for free. 

Shandy & Eva is an acoustic duet performing their original songs. Shandy (Shandrelica Casper) is a drummer and a percussionist from Curacao in the Caribbean, Eva (Ewa Zmijewska) is a guitarist from Warsaw, Poland. They both sing and compose, Shandy and Eva met at Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena where they graduated with Associate of Arts degree in Vocal Performance. In 2015, during their studies they formed the duet, started playing show and writing music together. Later on Shandy graduated from LA College of Music with a Bachelor Degree in Vocal Performance and Eva graduated from California Institute of the Arts with a Performer-Composer Master’s Degree.

The Duet not only performs in the Los Angeles area, but is also known in Poland and in the Caribbean. Shandy & Eva’s music can be generally described as pop/singer-songwriter style, nevertheless the duet’ songs are inspired by many different musical genres like jazz, latin, or even country. They closely collaborate with a Polish music producer and engineer Kris Gorski and on August 11th 2019 they played a concert in Sopot, Poland and released their first studio album, "Give It a Try". After a succesful tour in Poland, Shandy & Eva are back in Los Angeles and are pleased to invite you to their LA Album Release Concert!

https://www.facebook.com/shandyandevamusic/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC92vjtaLHXEhHWykv0Fw1fA?view_as=subscriber
https://open.spotify.com/artist/784Lit3qDDU8lQLJIiFsym

Christmas Carols with Marcin Gortat and Friends 

Our member-only exclusive Christmas Caroling Party will take place this year on December 7, 2019, at 6 pm at the elegant residence of Helena and Stanley Kolodziey in Beverly Hills, CA. The program includes a conversation with Marcin Gortat about his career, interests and plans, a concert by a mystery guest from New Orleans brought in by Mr. Gortat, and Christmas Carols sing-along. Of course, a Christmas catered dinner with amazing traditional treats, and lots of heartwarming music and fun. The invitation  will be sent out in November. 

New Year's Eve Ball at the Olympic Collection  with Zbigniew Galazka

Tuesday, December 31, 2019, 8 pm. New Year's Eve Ball with Zbigniew Galazka

The Modjeska Club will welcome the New Year on December 31, 2019 with a New Year's Eve Ball, at the Imperial Ballroom, The Olympic Collection, 11301W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (just west of 405)! Evening attire, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, desserts, open bar, and dance music by Zbigniew Galazka - what's not to like? So save the date, and tell your friends. The reservations go to Elzbieta Przybyla, Treasurer, at 626 484 2537.

Tickets $145 members, $155 guests per person.  You can also mail your check to Modjeska Club POBOX 4288 Sunland CA 91041-4288 attn. Maja Trochimczyk, President (Elzbieta is in Poland to November 5, so we are accelerating the processing of funds this way).

Modjeska Club's Plans for Fall 2019

We had a very busy year 2018-2019, and are getting ready for equally busy and interesting season 2019-2020. The Modjeska Club will welcome the New Year on December 31, 2019 with a New Year's Eve Ball! So save the date, and tell your friends. And see you in the fall during amazing Polish events that we will organize for you or co-sponsor!

Calendar of Events, Fall 2019

Saturday, September 7, 2019, 2 pm -  WWII 80th Anniversary Concert at Santa Monica Public Library

This event, hosted by Polish American Congress of Southern CA at the main library in Santa Monica (6th and Santa Monica Blvd.) from 2 - 5 pm. will include Polish music provided by Marek Zebrowski and a quartet of musicians. These include Grazyna Bacewicz's String Quartet No. 1 (1938) and 4 popular film songs by Henryk Wars (written between 1930-1939).  Besides the quartet, the selections will also include Chopin's Nocturne (from Polanski's film The Pianist) and Szymanowski's Mazurkas (selected from Op. 50), performed by Marek Zebrowski.  Introductory remarks and a historical overview will also be provided by  Marek and the Consul General.  Refreshments will be served afterward courtesy of Wanda Presburger Helena Kolodziej. Posters depicting the beginning of the WWII and Poland's First to Fight will be shown courtesy of the Consulate of Poland. The event itself is free of charge however parking costs are nominal.  Seating is limited to 146 available seats in the library auditorium. There is no RSVP, the Modjeska Club sponsors the event with $250 donation and will have 25 reserved seats.  The auditorium opens at 1 p.m. so the earlier the better.

From September 13, 2019 - Another Day of Life, film about Ryszard Kapuscinski, at Laemmle Theater in Glendale

GKIDS will soon release ANOTHER DAY OF LIFE, based on the book by celebrated Polish journalist Ryszard “Ricardo” Kapuściński. The film follows Kapuściński in 1975 as he reports from Luanda while civil war breaks out following Angola’s independence from Portugal. Against all advice, Kapuściński is intent on driving south into the heart of the bloody conflict to find the isolated rebel leader Farrusco. You can click go to AnotherDayOfLifeMovie.com for additional information.
The film will be playing in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Glendale starting September 13th.

Saturday, September 21, 2019, 6 pm - Prof. Andrzej Targowski's Lecture at the Iwanczyk Residence 

Prof. Targowski will present his recent book "Borders of Civilizations" published in 2019. The event will include catered dinner and will be the first gathering of club members only after vacations. Free to members. The Iwanczyk address will be sent to members in an email. Bring your own beverages and fruit for dessert. The club will order the dinner and cakes. Andrew (Andrzej) Targowski is a Polish-American computer scientist specializing in enterprise computing, societal computing, information technology impact upon civilization, information theory, wisdom theory, and civilization theory. One of the pioneers of applied information systems in Poland, he is an executive, university professor, scientist, civilizationist, philosopher, visionary, writer, and generalist. In Poland he is known for developing a computerized the social security number (PESEL, 1972–74) for 38 million citizens,[4] a prototype of INFOSTRADA (1972–1974), and authoring of the first books on applied information technology in business, economy, and society. In the United States he has developed one of the first digital cities in the U.S., teleCITY of Kalamazoo, Michigan (1992–1996). He concentrated on the cognitive informatics-oriented development of the theories of enterprise-wide system, information, communication, civilization, and wisdom.

Saturday, September 28, 2019, 7 pm. - Konrad Wilk Presents  80/75 - Warsaw at War - poetry and songs about WWII and Warsaw Uprising

We include this event on the list, to encourage Modjeska Club members to attend. The performance will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the start of WWII and the 75th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. Konrad Wilk writes: "80/75 - Warsaw at War - on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at the Santa Monica Playhouse at 7pm I will stage an artistic commemoration in honor of the 80th anniversary of the siege of Warsaw and the 75th anniversary of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.
               The program ENTIRELY IN POLISH will feature poetry and narrative performed by the amazing Ms. Monika Ekiert and the talented Mr. Lukas Dziemidok, with songs performed by the wonderful Mrs. Jolanta Tensor and the sultry Mrs. Sylvia Wilk and a waltz by Ms. Ewa Violet and Mr. Krzystof Glowinkowski. We will have the honor of introduction remarks by Dr. Maja Trochimczyk. Mr Dave Rodgers has been amazing in his technical, musical and theatrical assistance as has Mr. Nickolas Stephens in his role as costume director, along with stage set design assistance of Ms Ewa Violet, and advertisement of Ula Jaskolka Beaudoin and graphics of Mr. Andrew Kolo. Special thanks go to Ms. Elizabeth Kanski for her invaluable assistance. I want to also thank my mother Ms. Liliana Tademar for allowing us to use material from her mother's Dr. Alicia Burakowska's diary. The show is $25.00 - either by e-mail or at the door. Refreshments will be served at 6pm." LOCATION: Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401 - parking across the street in Parking Lot 1; near corner of Wilshire Blvd and 4th Street.
More information: KonradWilk@gmail.com

Sunday, September 29, 2019, 3 pm - Classical Piano Recital by the Yoder Brothers at Prof. Kocyan Residence, Baldwin Hills

Dominik, Lukasz and Kasper Yoder are the children of pianists Roza Kostrzewska-Yoder, well known as a piano teacher promoting Polish music to all her students, and Douglas Yoder.  The young pianists have started to participate in international competition and we decided to present their talents to the Modjeska Club members and guests. The recital will feature Polish music at the home of Prof. Wojciech Kocyan in Baldwin Hills.  Reception to follow.

Lukasz Yoder  has been playing piano since the age of four. Enriched by the musical tradition of his mother and teacher Roza Kostrzewska Yoder whose studies with Jan Ekier place her in direct lineage to the music teacher and pianist Theodor Leschetitzky, Lukasz has received numerous accolades for his “revolutionary” performances marked by their “controlled intensity”. Grand Prize Winner of the Lansum International Music Festival, Lukasz is a top prizewinner of the Beverly Hills National Auditions, Claudette Sorel International Piano Competition in Fredonia, New York, Classics Alive National Auditions, The Kosciuszko Foundations National Chopin Competition in Washington D.C. (category 16-18 years old), The International Chopin Competition in Hartford, Connecticut, Glendale Piano Competition, MTAC, MTNA, CAPMT State Finals, and the statewide Kathryn Gawartin Chopin Competition.  Lukasz has performed concerts on both coasts of the United States, Europe and Puerto Rico, in venues that include Zipper Hall of the Colburn School of Music, the Polish Embassy in Washington DC, the Kosciuszko Foundation’s headquarters in NYC, the Steinway Society of Puerto Rico, the Dzialynski Palace and White Hall of Poznan, Poland, as well as Zelazowa Wola, Chopin's birthplace. Lukasz has had lessons or masterclasses with Garrick Ohlsson, Eteri Andjaparidze, Edward Wolanin, Dina Yoffe, Natalia Troull, Pawel Nersessian, Antoinette Perry, Dmitri Rachmanov, Baruch Meir, and Wojciech Kocyan. He has recorded for Polish Radio and Television, and been featured in the Polish and American Press.

Dominik Yoder began studying piano at the age of three. He was awarded the Gold Medal in the 2018 Kosciuszko Foundation Competition for Young Pianists in Washington, D.C. (category 13-15 years old) Dominik also received: First Prize in the 2017 MTAC State and CAPMT State Competitions and the 2017 Parness Concerto Competition; Honorable Mention and a Special Prize from the jury in the 2015 San Jose International Piano Competition; Second Prize in the 2014 MTAC Pasadena Music Competition; and First Prize at the 2013 CAPMT State Level Honors Auditions, the 2012 Long Beach Mozart Festival, the 2012 Southern California Junior Bach Festival (Gold Medal), the 2009 SYMF Competition, the 2009 CAPMT Sonata Competition, the 2010 CAPMT Honors Auditions, and the 2011 CAPMT State competition. He has also been a prizewinner of the Glendale Piano Competition and Cypress Piano Competition. Dominik has performed in Żelazowa Wola, birthplace of Frederic Chopin, and for Polish radio and television. He has given concerts in the United States, Germany, and Puerto Rico. Dominik has also performed with the Culver City Symphony Orchestra and the Southwest Youth Chamber Music Festival Orchestra. He currently studies under Róża Kostrzewska Yoder. Dominik enjoys surfing and rock climbing.

Kasper Yoder is 12 years old and has already won prizes in several piano competitions, for instance in National Young Artists Auditions in Los Angeles, 2018 Lansum International Piano Festival and many more.


Two events of our friends:

Saturday, 5 October 2019 - 50th Anniversary Ball of Polam, Atheneum, Cal Tech Club, Pasadena

Sunday, 6 October 2019, 5 pm - "Chopin" play by Polish Teatr from Toronto presented by Klub PAPA, Orange County

Sztuka "Dobry Wieczor Monsieur Chopin"  The Polish-Canadian Society of Theater invites you for an evening of beautiful music and impressions! Trained in Krakow, Maria Nowotarska and Agata Pilitowska brought their talents to Northern America when they began the Poetry, Music, and Theater Salon in Toronto, Canada. Now they are bringing their talents to Orange County. Tickets are $35 and $25 for members of the Modjeska Club. The performance  will take place at Curtis Theater in Brea, CA, 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea, CA 92821. Doors open at 4 pm.

When purchasing ticket say you are a Modjeska Club Member and give your name for the list to be kept by Darek Swiatkowski. Only members with paid membership for 2019 are eligible for this discount. 

Saturday, October 12, 2019 - Paderewski Lecture at USC

This year, the Polish Music Center’s annual Paderewski Lecture-Recital presents the latest expanded version of  "Three Paderewskis" - on Saturday, October 12 at 8:00 p.m. in USC’s Newman Recital Hall. This presentation of an exciting musical-opera hybrid, steeped in Polish history will also feature a discussion with Oliver Mayer and Jenni Brandon.

The Modjeska Club supports this annual event with a donation of $250.

October 16, 2019 at 7 pm, Rebel Babel Ensemble at Live House Hollywood

LIVE HOUSE HOLLYWOOD -  1534 North Highland Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90028
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rebel-babel-orchestra-tickets-71701082869

REBEL BABEL ENSEMBLE is an international and unlimited Big Band of more than 10,000 musicians performing all over the world together.

The concert "Polish Hollywood Film Composers" is a journey into jazz, folk, hip-hop, classical and film music. Outstanding polish composers and producers including Krzysztof Herdzin, Maciej Obara (ECM JAZZ), Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski, reinterpreted the repertoire of world renowned film music authors like Krzysztof Komeda (Rosemary's Baby by R. Polański), Henryk Wars and oscar winners - Bronisław Kaper (Mutiny on Bounty) and Jan A.P. Kaczmarek (Finding Neverland). Film soundtracks with video mashups in brand new, often futuristic arrangements played with great power and energy by a large Big Band made up of European and local American young musicians merged with jazz icons - conducted by one of the most awarded young polish musicians Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski.

Meetings and workshops lead to grand gala concerts presented at the biggest festivals as well as crazy performances combining live music with the sounds of nature or technology. The project combines musicians, singers and composers from different regions, crossing cultures, languages and stylistic genres. REBEL BABEL is an experimental, innovative project that engages and invites musicians from various spheres and places to join the orchestra that raises important social problems. It combines contemporary music with local traditional music and high culture with street culture. The collective of professional musicians travels around the world organizing surreal performances as well as micro and macro-concerts. Conductor - Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski.

Friday, October 18, 2019  Polish Film Festival Los Angeles - Opening Gala

We encourage our members to attend the opening Gala of the Festival  at the Writers' Guild Theater in Beverly  Hills and its screenings in Santa Monica and North Hollywood.The Festival will open with VALLEY OF THE GODS by Lech Majewski, starring Josh Hartnett, Jaime Ray Newman, John Malkovich, among others. This year the Gala Opening will take place on Friday, October 18, 2019.
The  Gala will take place at  WGA Theatre in Beverly Hills, an extravagant start to a nine-days-long celebration of Polish Cinema through October 26, 2019 with subsequent screenings at the Laemmle's NoHo 7 and Monica Film Center Theaters and Hellada Gallery.  The Modjeska Club supports this annual event with a donation of $250.


November, TBA (15 or 16) Meeting with Mariusz Brymora 

Author of a new history of Polish diplomacy in the U.S. Mr. Brymora is former Consul General of Poland in California. At the home of Ewa and Efraim Barsam in Woodland Hills. Reception to follow.

Saturday, December 7, 2019, 6 pm. Marcin Gortat Presents an Evening of Christmas Carols

At the Beverly Hills residence of  Helena and Stanley Kolodziey, Marcin Gortat will talk about his career and plans, and will present his favorite accordion player from New Orleans to play for us and with us in an evening of Christmas Carols. For club members only, limited seating, paid valet parking $15.

Tuesday, December 31, 2019, 8 pm. New Year's Eve Ball with Zbigniew Galazka

The Modjeska Club will welcome the New Year on December 31, 2019 with a New Year's Eve Ball, at the Imperial Ballroom, The Olympic Collection, 11301W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (just west of 405)! Evening attire, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, desserts, open bar, and dance music by Zbigniew Galazka - what's not to like? So save the date, and tell your friends. The reservations go to Elzbieta Przybyla, Treasurer, at 626 484 2537.