Agnieszka Franków-Żelazny PhD with habilitation, graduated from Wrocław University (diploma in biology 2000) and the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław (diploma in musical education 2004, diploma in voice 2005). In 2006 she completed her postgraduate studies in choral conducting at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, and in 2014 – the Cultural Leadership Academy at the University of Economics in Kraków.

As a chorister she began with the Mixed Choir of the Głubczyce High School and next sang in Wrocław academic choirs. In 1995–1999 she was a member of the Polish-German Choral Academy ‘In terra pax’. In 1999 she founded the ‘Con Amore’ Choir of School Complex No. 1 in Wrocław. At the same time she was conductor and artistic manager of the Wrocław University of Technology Choir. In 2000 she founded the Chamber Choir of Medical Academy (now Medici Cantantes Choir of Wrocław University of Medicine) with which till the end of 2014 she won several awards and honourable mentions at national and international competitions.

Since June 2006 she has been artistic director of the NFM Choir (formerly: the Wrocław Philharmonic Choir). From January to July 2013 she was artistic supervisor of the Polish Radio Choir, helping to re-establish the ensemble and reintroduce it to Poland’s musical scene. She has appeared as guest conductor and choirmistress with: Gabrieli Consort, NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, NFM  Leopoldinum Orchestra, Sudeten Philharmonic Orchestra, Opole Philharmonic Orchestra, Wrocław Soloists’ Ensemble Ricordanza, Wrocław Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra, Wratislavia Cantans Festival Choir, Silesian Philharmonic Choir, Chor der Bamberger Symphoniker, and Schleswig-Holstein Festival Choir, Poznań Grand Theatre Chorus, Kaunas State Choir, and Coral Juvenil do Guri.  Her idea to create the Polish National Youth Choir came to fruition in 2013, and she has been its artistic director ever since. The PNYCh is managed by the National Forum of Music. Since January 2015 she is a programme director of the Choral Academy project.

At present she is a senior lecturer (PhD in Arts) at the Department of Music Education, Choral Art and Church Music of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław where she teaches choral conducting and runs the Stanisław Krukowski Choir. As a singer and choirmistress, she is often invited to run workshops for choirmasters and choral ensembles.

From 2013-2016 he was Curator of Music for the European Capital of Culture Wrocław 2016.  She has 16 recordings and over 70 individual and group awards to her credit, including the 1st prize at the National Choral Conductors Competition (2004), the 1st place at the Lower Silesian stage of the National Student of the Year Competition Primus Inter Pares (2004), Badge of Honour “Merit for Polish Culture” (2008), Wrocław Music Prize (2010), Internauts’ Award in the competition Man of the Year 2011, “Iuvenes Wratislaviae” Award of the Polish Academy of Sciences (2012), the Bronze Medal for Merit to Polish Culture – Gloria Artis (2014), and Fryderyk 2017 and 2019. She has performed in 19 European countries, as well as touring the United States, Israel and Brazil. She has conducted over 1000 choral works and over 250 vocal-instrumental works.

Artist's website ⇒