The WBB Orchestra (Wroclaw, Bydgoszcz, Brno) Project brings together young musicians from universities in Poland and the Czech Republic. It is a unique initiative that not only promotes early music, but also builds bridges between nations, cultures and traditions. The orchestra, which is created out of a passion for music of the Baroque period, is a meeting place for young artists who study at music universities in the two neighboring countries and now they have an opportunity to bring 17th and 18th century music to life together. Baroque, as one of the richest eras in the history of music, becomes an excellent link between the universities, but also between the musical traditions of the two countries. In Poland and the Czech Republic, the music of this period has deep roots, and composers such as Georg Philipp Telemann (who often visited the areas of today's Poland and the Czech Republic) are part of the common musical heritage. The WBB Orchestra Project allows young musicians to discover this remarkable legacy, but also to revive it in the spirit of contemporary interpretation.

Thanks to the cooperation of universities in Poland and the Czech Republic, the project not only provides an opportunity to perform music together, but also creates a space for the exchange of experience, inspiration and new ideas. Young artists from two different musical traditions learn from each other, search for a common musical language that unites their diverse approaches to the art of the Baroque period. Each instrumentalist brings his or her unique interpretation and approach to early music, making the project a unique artistic experience where tradition meets modernity. The WBB Orchestra is also a space of creative freedom - young musicians learn how to read not only the score, but also how to seek their individual expression within a strictly defined style.

In a baroque orchestra, which plays historical instruments (or copies of them), such as the baroque violin, baroque cello, recorders or harpsichord, young musicians learn not only technical perfection, but also the art of performance in the spirit of the period. Interpretation classes, work on sound structure, the use of ornamentation or dynamics in accordance with Baroque principles - all this becomes part of daily work in the orchestra. Thanks to this unusual practice, participants have the opportunity not only to learn about the history of music, but also to learn how to reflect the spirit of the old era in a way that is as close as possible according to today's research to authentic and emotional at the same time.

The WBB Orchestra also gives young artists a unique opportunity to perform internationally. Concerts in Poland and the Czech Republic presented to a wide audience will become an important moment in the life of the orchestra. This is not only a chance to show their skills, but also a way to build an international career in early music movement. Moreover, the project creates a space for building relationships between young musicians from different cultures. Rehearsals, concerts, as well as the exchange of views on music interpretation, become a unique moment to get to know each other and develop international ties. The valuable contacts that arise from such a project are often long-term in nature and can lead to further artistic cooperation in the future.

The WBB Orchestra Concerts:

• January 10, 2025 (Friday) - Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz.
• January 11, 2025 (Saturday) - Karol Lipinski Academy of Music in Wroclaw.
• April 6, 2025 (Sunday) - Leoš Janáček Academy for the Performing Arts in Brno.

List of orchestra participants (in alphabetical order):

violin:

• Martin Dostál
• Bohdana Hinerováo
• Kamila Kelm
• Wanda Krzyzanowska
• Daniel Podroužek
• Tereza Šmidová
• Victor Woszczyna

violas:

• Alexander Pastuszynski
• Justyna Podlecka

cello:

• Mariana Túmová
• harpsichord and chest organ:
• Daria Savvateeva
• Jacek Wernikowski

oboe:

• Alena Liakhovich

recorders:

• Ewa Butrym
• Agnieszka Sobków

List of tutors:

• Jana Anyžova (Janáček Academy of Performing Arts)
• Hana Fleková (Janáček Academy of Performing Arts)
• Paweł Miczka (Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław)
• Marcin Tarnawski (Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz).

The project is co-financed by the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The fund's mission is to promote ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.

More information: Visegrad Fund website