photo: Piotr Lubomirski
The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw is among the oldest and largest schools of music in Poland, as well as one of the oldest in Europe. Historically, the University’s most memorable date is the year 1810. Two important events took place that year: the birth of Fryderyk Chopin, patron of the school, and the permit for the founding of the School of Drama, attached to the National Theatre by Wojciech Bogusławski. The school, meant for actors and singers of the theatre, was transformed into a college of music under Józef Elsner — a well-known composer, conductor and teacher.
In 1821 the school took the name of "The Institute of Music and Recitation" or "The Conservatory" and became a division of the Warsaw University Department of Fine Arts. In 1826 the institute was divided into two units: The Main School of Music, functioning within the university framework, and The Dramatic and Vocal School, comprising primary and secondary education. Between the years 1826 and 1829, Fryderyk Chopin studied at the Main School of Music.
The school underwent numerous changes inevitably connected to the history of the country and city. All of the national uprisings aimed at the occupying rulers consequently restricted or eliminated cultural institutions. Thus, when the University of Warsaw was dissolved in 1831, Elsner’s Main School of Music also ceased to exist. Thirty years later, in 1861, the heritage of the Main School of Music was taken over by the Apolinary Kątski Institute of Music, which existed until 1918. When Poland regained independence, the school was nationalised and given the name "Conservatory". It existed and functioned uninterrupted until the outbreak of World War II. During the Nazi occupation, under the name of Staatliche Musikschule in Warschau, the school followed the curriculum of the pre-war conservatory.
In 1946, after the Second World War, the school was granted the name of "The Higher State School of Music" and in 1962, the school was granted full academic status and the right to confer MA diplomas in all disciplines of music. A branch of the school was created in Białystok in 1974, which was transformed into the FCAM Out-Of-Town Department in 2007. In 1979, the school took on the name of its patron becoming The Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music. At present the name has been changed into The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music.
photo: Piotr Lubomirski
The FCUM confers the following degrees:
- bachelor of arts — on successful completion of level one (junior)
- master of arts — on successful completion of level two (senior).
Students who are scientifically and artistically active, students who are preparing for international competitions or other significant artistic or scientific endeavours, and students who are suffering serious hardship or are temporarily ill may study according to an individual plan and program specified by the faculty council. About 150 students graduate from the FCUM every year. The University has nearly 900 students.
The University’s organisational units are entitled to confer the following doctoral and postdoctoral (habilitation) degrees:
The Department of Composition, Conducting and Theory of Music
- doctor of music arts in conducting
- habilitated doctor of music arts in conducting
- doctor of music arts in composition and theory of music
- habilitated doctor of music arts in composition and theory of music
The Department of Piano, Harpsichord and Organ
- doctor of music arts in instrumental studies
- habilitated doctor of music arts in instrumental studies
The Department of Instrumental Studies
- doctor of music arts in instrumental studies
- habilitated doctor of music arts in instrumental studies
The Department Vocal and Acting Studies
- doctor of music arts in vocal studies
- habilitated doctor of music arts in vocal studies
The Department of Choir Conducting, Music Education, Church Music, Rhythmics and Dance
- doctor of music arts in conducting
- habilitated doctor of music arts in conducting
The Department of Sound Engineering
- doctor of music arts in sound engineering
The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music
Address: ul. Okólnik 2, 00-368 Warsaw, Poland
Phone: (+48 22) 827 83 03, 827 72 41
Fax: (+48 22) 827 83 10
WWW: www.chopin.edu.pl