Tadeusz Wroński

He was born in Warsaw on April 1, 1915. He started learning to play the violin at the age of seven. From the age of 15, he was a student of Professor Józef Jarzębski. In 1939 he graduated with distinction from the Warsaw Conservatory. The war did not allow him to develop his promising career. In 1945, he found himself in Sopot, where he resumed his professional activity, becoming a co-founder and then the first concertmaster of the Baltic Philharmonic. He also started his teaching career in Sopot. In 1947, he went on a two-year scholarship to Belgium, where he studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, under the supervision of prof. Andree Gertler. He graduated with Premiere Prix distinction. In 1949, he became a deputy professor at the then Warsaw Conservatory. At the same time, he expanded his artistic activities. He performed extensively in Europe and Asia. As a soloist, he performed with Polish and foreign orchestras, with conductors such as: St. Wisłocki, J. Krenz, B. Wodiczko, W. Rowicki, P. Klecky, V. Smetacek, D. Georgescu, etc. He also performed in a duet with Władysław Szpilman, then in the string quartet he founded and finally in the Warsaw Quintet. Keenly interested in the problems of the musical environment in Poland, he was one of the founders of the Association of Polish Art Musicians and the Association of Polish Art Violin Makers. then in the string quartet he founded and finally in the Warsaw Quintet. Keenly interested in the problems of the musical environment in Poland, he was one of the founders of the Association of Polish Art Musicians and the Association of Polish Art Violin Makers. then in the string quartet he founded and finally in the Warsaw Quintet. Keenly interested in the problems of the musical environment in Poland, he was one of the founders of the Association of Polish Art Musicians and the Association of Polish Art Violin Makers.

In 1965, he went to the USA to teach at the renowned Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana. From then on, until 1986, he divided his time between Warsaw and Bloomington. In the years 1973 – 1975 he was the rector of the Academy of Music. Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw. During his over 40-year teaching career, approximately 400 students passed through his class. Many of his students made significant artistic and teaching careers. He was a member of the Central Qualification Committee, the Polish Cultural Council and the Higher Education Council of the Ministry of Culture and Art.

For his artistic achievements, Tadeusz Wroński was awarded numerous state awards, including: The Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the 1st Degree Award of the Minister of Culture and Art, the diploma of Merit for Polish Culture (1988), and the Order of Iran awarded by the Shah of Iran in 1967. He was, among other things, an honorary member of the Association of Japanese Music Educators.

Tadeusz Wroński has made many album, radio and television recordings in Poland and abroad. He took part in numerous radio and television programs. Among other things, in 1989 he was the hero of a series of 12 Polish Radio broadcasts “Professors and Their Students” entitled “Professor Wroński’s Dynasty”, as well as a 3-episode radio series entitled “Conversations with the Master”.

Yet another field of T. Wroński’s activity was publishing. He is the author of numerous violin publications and books on music pedagogy.

Tadeusz Wroński conducted master classes and participated in the work of the jury of many violin and violin-making competitions. He was one of the organizers of the competitions. H. Wieniawski in Poznań. In January 1990, he organized his own competition called the “Tadeusz Wroński Competition for Solo Violin”. This competition attracted nearly 30 young violinists from all over Poland and became the beginning of a new chapter in T. Wroński’s professional life. The success of the first competition resulted in its subsequent editions: in 1992 and 1995 – nationwide, and from 1997 – international. To this day, the International Competition named after Tadeusz Wroński on Solo Violin is the only event of this type in the world.

Tadeusz Wroński was the initiator and co-organizer of numerous courses and summer workshops for instrumentalists. The last course, held annually in Żagań, gathered teachers and their students to work together on teaching problems.

Keenly interested in the phenomenon and issues of talent, during his term as rector at the Academy of Music in Warsaw, he created the Institute of Music Pedagogy at the academy. He was involved in the work of the Institute as chairman of its scientific council. He gave lectures on psychology and musical talent at the Institute and at the School of Special Education. He participated in symposia and international conferences devoted to talent in music, art and in fields unrelated to art. In 1993, the Warsaw AMFC awarded him an honorary doctorate for his entire achievements.

Tadeusz Wroński was also known by the violin making community. Keenly interested in building string instruments, he maintained contacts with many violin makers in Poland and abroad. Valued as an expert in the construction of string instruments, he was a frequent consultant to young artists – those who make instruments and those who play them.

His non-musical and non-pedagogical interests include philosophy, astrology, tarot, and chess. He was a chess composer, specializing in double-chess and fairy chess. He received several awards in international chess composition competitions. He also wrote books and essays on philosophy, astrology, tarot, as well as short stories and poems.

Until the end of his life, Tadeusz Wroński worked on new musical editions, wrote and participated in the musical life in the country. He did not live to see the publication of his last book – “Artist in the Land of Thoughts” – which reflects his wide interests, including non-musical ones. The book was published a few weeks after His death. Tadeusz Wroński died on January 15, 2000 at the age of 85.

Source: Fundacja Skrzypce