Tadeusz Wronski was born on April 1, 1915, in Warsaw, Poland. He started to play the violin at the age of seven. In 1930 he began to study with prof. Józef Jarzębski. In 1939 he graduated with distinction from the Warsaw Conservatorium of Music, but the war did not allow him to concentrate on his promising career.After the war he went to Sopot, at the Baltic coast, to restart his professional life.  He was a co-founder, and then the first concertmaster of the Baltic Philharmonic. While in Sopot, he also began to teach the violin. In 1947 he received a scholarship to study in Belgium, at the Royal Conservatorium in Brussels, in the class of prof. Andree Gertler. He graduated in 1949 with a diploma and a distinction Premiere Prix. The same year he became an assistant professor at the Warsaw Conservatorium of Music and started to develop his artistic career. He played many concerts and recitals in Europe and Asia, performing as a soloist with the Polish and foreign orchestras, under such maestros as: St. Wisłocki, J. Krenz, B. Wodiczko, W.Rowicki, P. Klecky, V. Smetacek, D. Georgescu, etc., as well as in a duo with the famous pianist, Władyslaw Szpilman, then in a string quartet, and, finally in the Warsaw Quintet.  Vividly interested in the Polish music environment he co-founded the Association of the Polish Musicians, and the Association of the Polish Violin Makers.

In 1965 TadeuszWronski went to theUSA, to teach at the reknown American music academy, the Indiana University School of Music, in Bloomington,Indiana. From then, until 1986, he divided his time between Warsaw and Bloomington. In 1973 – 1975 he was the Rector of the Fryderyk Chopin University (then- Academy) of Music in Warsaw. In over 40 years of his didactic work he taught violin to about 400 students. Many of those who studied with him made important artistic and pedagogical careers.T. Wronski worked on several professional and administrative boards, such as the Central Committee of Qualification, the Polish Council of Culture and the Council for University Education at the Ministry of Culture and Arts. 

For his artistic achievements T. Wronski received a number of Polish state distinctions, as well as a medal from the Shah of Iran (1967).

Tadeusz Wroński made a number of radio, tv and disc recordings in Poland and abroad. He took part in various radio and tv programs, including a 1989 series of twelve episodes, realised by the Polish Radio “Professors and their students”, The Wroński’s dynasty”, and a three episode radio mini-series”, Conversations with a Maestro”.

Yet another area of T. Wroński’s activity was editorial work.  He made many editions of violin music, and wrote books on teaching music. 

Tadeusz Wroński gave master courses and was a jury member of a number of violin and violin making competitions.He co-organized the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poznan, Poland. In 1990 he organized his own contest, the Tadeusz Wroński Competition for solo violin. The event attracted nearly 30 young violinists from all over Poland and marked a new chapter in T. Wroński’s professional life, as the success of that first competition brought about two more national contests – in 1992 and 1995, and — in1997 – the competition an international event. Today the International Tadeusz Wroński Solo Violin Competition remain the only such contest in the world. 

Tadeusz Wroński initiated and organized a number of courses and summer workshops for musicians. His last creation was an annual summer course for string instruments teachers and their students in Zagan, Poland, with the idea to work together on solving problems in teaching. 

Wronski took great interest in the phenomenon of talent. During his term as Rector of the F. Chopin University of Music (UMFC) he opened a Music Pedagogy Institute at that school. He took part in the Institute’s work as the chairman of its scientific council. He lectured on psychology and musical talent at the Institute and at He the Academy of Special Education, and attended a number of symposiums and international conferences on talent in music, in art in general, as well as in the areas not related to art.In 1993 the UMFC in Warsaw, his alma mater honoured him with the doctor honoriscausa title for his entire work. He also received the honorary membership of The Association of Japanese String Teachers.

Tadeusz Wroński was well known also to violin makers. He took interest in string instrument construction and maintained active contacts with many makers in Poland and abroad. Recognized as an expert, he frequently advised young professionals, both those who make string instruments, and those who play them. 

Music and teaching were not the only fields of his interest; the list includes philosophy, astrology, tarot, chess. He authored a large number of chess compositions, specialising in fairy chess, and double move chess.He won several prises in international chess composition competitions. He wrote poems, books and essays on subjects that fascinated him. 

Until the end of his life Tadeusz Wroński remained active: he worked on music editions, took interest in music events in Poland. He did not live to see his last book in print.Artysta w krainie myśli (An artist in the land of thought) – a reflection of his broad interests in many areas appeared a few weeks after his death. Tadeusz Wroński passed away on 15 January 2000, at the age of 85.

AN ARTIST 

ON STAGE

  1. Concerts and recitals in Poland,
  2. Concert tours in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia., Denmark, Finland, France, East and West Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Romania, the Soviet Union, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Yugoslavia,
  3. Concert tours in Asia: Hong-Kong, India, Iran, Japan,
  4. Recitals in the USA,

AT THE RECORDING STUDIO

Radio

With orchestra:

  1. L.v. Beethoven – Violin Concerto,
  2. J. Brahms – Violin Concerto,
  3. Z. Turski – ViolinConcerto  (dedicated toTadeuszWroński),
  4. K.Szymanowski – Violin Concerto no. 1,
  5. D. Milhaud – Concertino de Printemps,
  6. A. Berg – Violin Concerto,
  7. J.S. Bach – Violin Concerto in E Major,

With piano:

  1. W.A. Mozart – Sonatas G-Major, A-Major, B-Major
  2. L.v. Beethoven – Sonata VIII, G-Major,
  3. J. Brahms – Sonatas G-Major, A- Major, D- Major,
  4. F. Schubert – Sonatina D- Major,
  5. C. Debussy – Sonata for violin and piano,
  6. C. Frank – Sonata for violin and piano,
  7. F. Brzezinski – Sonata for violin and piano,
  8. H. Melcer – Sonata for violin and piano,
  9. J. Wertheim – Sonata op.18, for violin and piano,
  10. S. Prokofiev – Sonata for violin and piano,
  11. K. Szymanowski – Sonata for violin and piano,
  12. K. Szymanowski – The Myths,
  13. N. Paganini, K. Szymanowski – 3 Caprices,
  14. K. Szymanowski – Lullaby,
  15. A. Szałowski – Suite,

Records:

  1. A. Berg – Violin Concerto, 
  2. J.Brahms – Violin Concerto,
  3. D. Milhaud – Concertino de Printemps,
  4. J. Brahms -Sonatas G-Major, A- Major, D-Major
  5. C. Debussy – Sonata for violin and piano,
  6. Z.Turski – Violin Concerto (compact disc),
  7. Three CD album, Polskie Nagrania, Muza, 2004(re-make)
  8. The Quartet, and the Warsaw Quintet
  9. T. Baird – Quartet no. 1, dedicated to T.Wroński,
  10. S. Moniuszko – Quartetno. 1 &no. 2,
  11. G.Bacewicz – Quartetno. 4 & 5
  12. C. Debussy – Quartet,
  13. D. Szostakowicz – Quintet,
  14. F. Schumann – Quintet,
  15. J. Zarebski – Quintet,
  16. G. Bacewicz – Quintetno. 1,
  17. J. Brahms – Quintet,

 

A  TEACHER 

The most outstanding violinists from the class of T. Wroński

Krzysztof Bąkowski, Zenon Bąkowski, Leni Braus, Bogusław Bruczkowski, Sally Chisholm, Franciszek Jurys, Krzysztof Jakowicz, Jakub Jakowicz, Stefan Kamasa, Syssen Gerd Kappeln, Stanisław Kawalla, Henryk Keszkowski, Henryk Kowalski, Zofia Kuberska, Hanna Lachert-Segal,  Margaret McDuffy, Robert Murray, Eugene Purdue, Mary Rees, Magdalena Rezler-Niesiołowska, Andrzej Siwy, Maria Słubicka–Podejko, Kenneth Stromberg, Magdalena Szczepanowska, Jan Tawroszewicz, Sławomir Tomasik, Michał Urbaniak, and many others 

AN  AUTHOR AND EDITOR

Critical editions

  1. N. Paganini – 24 Caprices,
  2. J.S. Bach – Sonatas and partitas for solo violin,
  3. R. Kreutzer – 42 Caprices (co-edited with Eugenia Uminska),
  4. H. Melcer – Sonata for violin in G Major,

 Other music editions

  1. K.Goldmark – Violin Concerto in A Minor,
  2. G. Viotti – Violin Concerto in A Minor 
  3. H. Vieutemps – FantasiaAppassionata,
  4. O.Rieding – Violin Concerto in B Minor,
  5. O. Rieding – Violin Concerto in G Major,
  6. L.v.Beethoven – 5 Sonatas for violin and piano, (a selection), 
  7. J. Brahms – 3 Sonatas for violin,
  8. W.A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in G Major, (KV. 216),
  9. Z. Turski – Violin Concerto 

W.A. Mozart – 10 Sonatas for violin (a selection)

  1. J. Paderewski – Krakowiak, Melodia, in Miniatury Polskie (the PolishMiniatures),
  2. L.v. Beethoven – 10 Sonatas for violin and piano,

Books

On music

  1. Intonacja, (Intonation) PWM, 1951,
  2. Palcowanie, (Fingering) PWM, 1961,
  3. Technologiagryskrzypcowej, (Technique of violin playing)PWM, 1965,
  4. Aparatgry, (Play apparatus)PWM, 1969, [The above 4 books are independent parts of a cycle “Zagadnieniagryskrzypcowej”(The Problems of Violin Playing)],
  5. J. S. Bach, Sonaty i partity na skrzypce solo; studium edytorskie i wykonawcze, (Sonatas and Partitas for violin solo, an editorial and performing study) PWM, 1970, (The book accompanied T. Wronski’s critical edition of J.S. Bach’s Sonatas and partitas for solo violin),
  6. La Structure et l’organisation de l’enseinement Musical enPologne, in :Documentation sur l’Europe Centrale, Institutede Recherches de l’Europe Centrale, Louvain, Belgium, 1965,
  7. Zdolni i niezdolni, o grze i anty-grze na skrzypcach (The Talented and the talentless),PWM, 1979,
  8. A Plan for Modernizing Violin Pedagogy, in a collection: Concepts in String Playing; Reflections by Artist – Teachers at the Indiana University School of Music, Indiana University Press, Bloomington & London, 1979,
  9. On the Necessity of Furthering and Assisting Musical Talent on an International Level, w: Finding and Promoting the Musically Gifted, in Documanetation of the Kiel-Week Congress, 1985, Gustav BosseVerlag, Regensburg, 1986,
  10. Co robić z tymi zdolnymi (What to do with the talentedstudents), in: Raport o programie i prognostyce rozwoju teorii i praktyki nauczania osób uzdolnionych – lata dziewięćdziesiąte, Warszawa, 1990
  11. O czym nie ma czasu mówić na lekcjach (Things we neverhavetime for duringlessons), Brevis, Poznan, 1986

On other subjects

  1. Tarok (The Tarot), Warszawa, 1990,
  2. Magia Życia (The Magic of life), (1995),
  3. Artysta w krainie myśli (An artist in the land of thought), 2000 (posth.)
  4. Resztki z mojej szuflady. Rzeczy niemuzyczne(The remnants in my drawer. Not aboutmusic) 2004,(posth.)
  5. Resztki z mojej szuflady cz. II rzeczy muzyczne (The remnants in my drawer.  About music), 2009 (posth)

A  SCHOLAR 

Chairman of scientific board of the Institute of  Teaching of Arts,

Presentations and lectures at conferences: 

  1. 1974 – Rovinj, Yugoslavia, International Music Symposium, 1974 – Gratz, Austria, International Music Symposium, 1975 – Rovinj, Yugoslavia, International Music Symposium
  2. 1975 – The Federal Republic of Germany, visits at music schools and academies at the invitation of the German government, a research program,
  3. 1985 – Kiel, FRG, Kieler Woche Congress, 
  4. 1987 – Kielce, Poland, symposium on development of talent in music, lectures and speeches
  5. 1988 – Radziejowice, Poland, International symposiumon development of talent in music,
  6. 1988 – Warsaw, Poland, International Conference on development of talent in music,
  7. 1989, 1990 – as above,

A  JUROR

  1. 1952,1957 – Poznań, Poland, H. Wieniawski Violin Competition, juror,
  2. 1957 – Poznań, H. Wieniawski Violin-making Competition, juror, secretary of the jury,
  3. 1959 – Liege, Belgium, ConcoursInternationale de Quatour, & Violin-making, juror,
  4. 1960 – as above – Composition, juror,
  5. 1961 – as above, Violin-making, juror,
  6. 1962 – Poznań, H. Wieniawski Violin-making Competition, chairman of the jury,
  7. 1962 – H. Wieniawski Violin Competition, juror,
  8. 1963 – Liege, Belgium, Concours Internationale de Quatour, &Violin-making, juror,
  9. 1964 – Liege, Belgium, Concours Internationale de Quatour, Composition,juror,
  10. 1967 – H. Wieniawski Violin Competition, juror,
  11. 1967 – H. Wieniawski Violin-makingCompetition, chairman of the jury,
  12. 1967 – Leipzig, DDR, J.S. Bach Violin Competition, juror,
  13. 1969 – Munich, FRG, Violin Competition, juror,
  14. 1969 – Paris, France, Concours Internationale de Musique de Chambre,Conservatoire Nationale de Paris, juror,
  15. 1979 – Brescia, Italy, International Violin Competition, juror,
  16. 1980 – Odense, Denmark, Carl Nielsen Violin Competition, juror,
  17. 1981 – Brescia, Italy, International Violin Competition, juror,
  18. 1984 – Odense, Carl Nielsen Violin Competition, juror,
  19. 1985 – Midland, Odessa, Texas, USA, Music Competition, juror,
  20. 1988 – Odense, Denmark, Carl Nielsen Violin Competition, juror,
  21. 1990 – Warszawa, Poland, Tadeusz Wroński Solo Violin Competition, organiser, chairman of the jury,
  22. 1990 – Zakopane, Poland,  Karol Szymanowski Competition, chairman of the jury,
  23. 1992 – Warszawa, Poland, Tadeusz Wroński Solo Violin Competition, organiser, chairman of the jury,
  24. 1992 – Odense, Carl Nielsen Violin Competition, juror,
  25. 1995 – Warszawa, Tadeusz Wroński Solo Violin Competition, organiser, chairman of the jury,
  26. 1997 – Warszawa, Tadeusz Wroński Solo Violin Competition, chairman of the jury,