- How did it happen that you became a member of Warsaw University Academic Choir?

- I entered a choirmaster contest and I won.

- Was it difficult to do?

- There were 18 candidates, and the contest itself consisted of three parts. First, the ten members of a board examined the candidates' qualifications and artistic achievements. Then the board asked about our plans and suggestions connected with the choir itself, our musical tastes, etc.

- Who were the members of the board?

- The Chancellor of Warsaw University, some university workers, a choir representative, Jadwiga Rappe, and eminent mezzosoprano and ex-member of our choir, and some other people.

- I wonder what you told them?

- I said I had enough time to get to know the choir history that I consider admirable and worth preserving. But the choir needs some changes, too.

- How did you get the knowledge about the history of the choir?

- I had enough time. It's not my debut in this choir - I've lived in Poland for 3 years. Up to now i worked as one of the instructors. And I think i have no problems in getting on with the choir members.

- And the third part of the contest?

- Our practical skills were examined. The final was reached by four people only. Each was given 5 minutes to prepare a short piece of music with the choir, find out some mistakes and correct them, and generally show his/her conducting skills.

- What kind of changes are you going to introduce?

- I know that the choir is particularly good at performing oratorios with orchestras. And I'm not against it, especially that such concerts make the choir popular and well-known, and the choir members themselves attend all the rehearsals and work very hard. But it is a cappella works that are a real test for the abilities of the choir as well as mine. And although I don't find singing contests attractive, there is a good motivation behind it. Last summer we won third prize in Denmark, and now all the members desire to take part in other contests. I'm thinking about one in Legnica.

- What kind of a cappella music are you going to work at?

- I'm not going to enumerate all the pieces. In my opinion, it is not important what sort of music we perform; a composer, style, origins do not matter as well. What matters id that compositions must be well-written and absorbing, and make the choir love them. We perform different kinds of music: classic works (Bach's motets, Bruckner), contemporary compositions (S. Barber, Szymanowski), as well as the music of the Orthodox Church for which I have a soft spot as I am a member of that church.

- Do you encounter any difficulties?

- I can see the choir has no difficulty to performing foreign music; the choir members are cosmopolitan young people, and excellent linguists. At the same time they find it difficult to sing in their mother - tongue. That is why I've decided to work on Symanowski's "Songs". Also, I'm thinking about performing Contemporary Polish music, for example Andrzej Koszewski's "The Bell". This composition may give a lot of pleasure, and nobody can complain about the contemporary music being dissonant. Obviously, we are still working on instrumental - vocal works. Recently, we have performed Bethoven's "Ninth Symphony" conducted by Jose Cura. This spring we are going to Sankt Petersburg to perform Prokofiev's "Alexander Nevsky" and Kilar's compositions. Also, we'd like to organize concerts for ordinary people, especially those in need, for example the disabled children.

- What is necessary to become a member of the choir?

- First of all, a future member must love singing. Everybody with a good singing voice is welcomed. Neither musical education not the skill of reading the score is necessary. During the first month each candidate must learn the compulsory repertoire, and then pass the exam. Nowadays students have no spare time, most of them study and work, and they have to give something up to attend the rehearsals. That is why we very much appreciate the members' enthusiasm. We are not very particular about the boys because usually they are not so apt to join the choir. The number of girls that want to join us is much greater, and here we can choose the best voices.

- In that case, do you aim at forming a professional choir?

- Not at all. Even a very good professional choir will never go beyond some level - it is unable to do it. On the other hand, amateurs can do the impossible. When you really love music you can learn Bach's oratorio by heart without knowing the notation. And that is the most impressive thing.

Interview by Bronisław Tumiłowicz for "Życie Muzyczne".