Prof. dr hab. Krystian Kiełb

A composer, music theorist and academic teacher. He graduated in composition (the class of Prof. Zygmunt Herembeszta) and music theory from the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, receiving a diploma with honours in both fields. During his studies, he was a scholarship holder of the Minister of Culture and Art for two years. He also completed Postgraduate Studies in Management of Educational and Cultural Institutions.

Professionally affiliated with the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. In 1998 he earned a doctoral degree, in 2005 – a post-doctoral degree (Habilitated Doctor) in art, and in 2014 – the title of Professor in Music Art. He is a winner of awards, distinctions and state decorations. His composer’s work has become the subject of scholarly discussions and analyses.

Composer

Krystian Kiełb’s compositional oeuvre consists of several dozen works including various genres and forms of instrumental, vocal, and vocal-and-instrumental music. His compositions have been premiered and repeatedly performed in Poland and abroad, e.g. in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, France, Sweden, and the USA. They were featured, among others, at music festivals, interpretation courses, performance competitions (also as obligatory pieces), and in programmes of artistic institutions.

Academic teacher

At the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, Krystian Kiełb teaches a composition class and conducts doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degree seminars in composition and music theory. During the 24 years of his teaching activity, he has also lectured on special and general composition, counterpoint, fugue, special and tonal harmony, methodology of harmony teaching, piano improvisation, and music analysis. He was a supervisor and reviewer of a number of theses, including master’s theses in composition, music theory, artistic education, music therapy, and management of educational and cultural institutions. By 2016, 23 graduates (7 in composition, 15 in theory of music, 1 in artistic education in the field of musical art) had completed first- and second-cycle studies or a five-year master’s programme, and 61 students finished the Postgraduate Studies in Management of Educational and Cultural Institutions under his tutelage. At the same time he also acted as a supervisor of five and a reviewer of three doctoral dissertations, a reviewer of seven post-doctoral (habilitation) proceedings, a head and member of habilitation committees, and a reviewer of the procedure for awarding the title of doctor honoris causa.

Research and promotional activity

Apart from artistic and teaching activities, Krystian Kiełb is actively engaged in research and promotion work. He is an author of scholarly and journalistic works, as well academic texts for general public. He delivered a number of papers, reports, lectures and talks at conferences, symposia, scholarly sessions, interpretation courses, and during events for general public. His research interests focus on music theory and philosophy, modern techniques of composition, and interdisciplinary issues.

Organisational and management activity

An important part of Krystian Kiełb’s activity is organisation and management. In the years 2008–2016 he was the rector, and in 1999–2005 the deputy rector of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. Since 2017 he has headed the Composition Chair of the Academy of Music in Wrocław. In 2020 he was once again elected to the post of the rector. Moreover, in the years 2005–2006 he acted as the head of the Department of the History of Silesian Musical Culture, in 1998–2008 he managed the Academy’s involvement in the Lower Silesian Festival of Science, and in 2000–2008 he was a member of the Programme Board of that festival. In the years 2002–2008 he headed the Postgraduate Studies in Management of Educational and Cultural Institutions at his alma mater. In 2000 he was appointed to the group of Experts of the Minister of National Education. In 2005–2008 he actively worked for the implementation of the Bologna Process in higher, especially artistic, education. This activity was crowned with his appointment by the Minister of Science and Higher Education to the Bologna Expert Group. He is a member of a number of collegial bodies, including: the Accreditation Committee of Artistic Schools (2002–2012, in 2009–2012 as president of the Committee), the College of Deputy Rectors of Wrocław and Opole Universities (1999–2008), the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (2008–2016, since 2012 as a member of the Education Committee of the CRASP), the College of Rectors of Wrocław and Opole Universities (2008–2016, in 2014–2016 as vice-president), the Council of the Lower Silesian Office for Promotion of Graduates of Wrocław’s Higher Education Institutions (2000–2005), juries of various competitions, and editorial committees. In the years 2009–2015 he had a seat on the Monitoring Committee of the Regional Operational Programme of the Lower Silesian Voivodship for 2007–2013 as a representative of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. In 2013 appointed to the Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors. Since 2015 a member of the Council for Artistic Education at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and since 2016 a member of the Committee for Music Professions. In 2017–2019 an expert of the Polish Accreditation Committee, and in 2019–2020 a member of the Council of Scientific Excellence for the first term of office and of the first Council of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. In 2020 the Rectors of Polish artistic schools of higher education elected Krystian Kiełb to the position of the President of the Conference of Rectors of Artistic Schools. He has also been repeatedly invited to sit on juries of various music competitions.

Most significant compositions:

oratorio works:

• Pomiędzy miłość i śmierć [Between love and death] – a dramatic rhapsody for four solo voices, reciter, mixed choir and large symphony orchestra, to the texts by Halina Poświatowska (1995)

orchestral works :

• Equale – symphonic sequences for large symphony orchestra (1997)
• Tetrada [Tetrad] for symphony orchestra (2003)
• Epitafium. Andrzej Panufnik in memoriam [Epitaph. Andrzej Panufnik in memoriam] for symphony orchestra (2006)
• Pentagram for symphony orchestra (2006)
• Furioso – a neoclassical sketch for string orchestra (1994)
• Sinfonietta for string orchestra (1997)
• Presto ardente for string orchestra (1997)
• Phantasma for string orchestra (2002)
• Trzy liryki [Three lyrics] for soprano, piano and string orchestra (1993, 2003)
• Koncert [Concerto] for harpsichord and string orchestra (2003)
• Mortis Causa for viola, piano and string orchestra (2009)
• In Aeternum... 310311 for orchestra (2011)

chamber music works:

• Liryki Łacińskie [Latin lyrics] – a cycle of songs for mezzosoprano and instrumental ensemble to the texts by Ovid (1993)
• Antymuzyka [Anti-music] – a cycle for string quartet (1994)
• Opętanie [Obsession] for string quartet (1994)
• Trio stroikowe [Reed trio] (1994)
• Strukturokształty [Structure-shapes] – a quodlibet for three performers (1994)
• Nam desunt vires – a song for soprano and piano to the text by Ovid (1993/1995)
• Karmiłem czarne kruki [I was feeding black ravens] – five songs for solo tenor, double bass and piano to the texts by Tomasz Jedz (1995)
• Wszystkie śmierci moje [All my deaths] – a recitative chamber drama in three episodes for low reciting voice, solo soprano, cello, double bass, bassoon and percussion to the texts by Halina Poświatowska (1997)
• Przeznaczenie [Destiny] – three songs for solo baritone and piano to the words by Halina Poświatowska (2000)
• Resonet in laudibus for vocal ensemble to an anonymous Latin text (2001)
• Aforyzmy dziecięce [Children’s aphorisms] – three miniatures for cello and piano (2002)
• Wyznanie [Confession] – a song for soprano and piano to the text by Stanisław Baliński (2002)
• Przebłyski [Glimmers] – a cycle of songs for soprano and piano to the texts by German poets (2002)
• De brevitate vitae – three songs for soprano and piano to the words by Lucius Annaeus Seneca (2003)
• Ars vitae – three songs for soprano and piano to the words by Saint John of the Cross (2003)
• Myśli [Thoughts] – three epigraphs for tenor and harpsichord to the words by Angelus Silesius (2006)
• Epipháneia – a song for soprano and piano to the words by Saint John of the Cross (2007)
• Homo mysticus – five epigraphs for tenor and piano to the words by Angelus Silesius (2007)
• Pałac pustki [A palace of emptiness] – a song for soprano and piano to the words by Ewa Sonnenberg (2008)
• Tadeosiana – a song for soprano and piano to the words by Saint John of the Cross. Tadeusz Luty Ad Honores (2008)
• Entre Nous... 280808 – six songs for soprano and piano to the words of Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska (2009)
• Versus for organ and saxophone (2017)
• Quando de Grażyna cogito… for baritone and piano to the composer’s original text
  Professor Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil ad honorem (2017)
• Alter ego for violin, cello and piano (2018)
• Bagatele [Bagatelles] for saxophone and piano (2018)
• Epigramma III – etc. for saxophone and keyboard instrument (2019)
• Hieroglyphos modernos for viola and piano (2019)

solo works:

• Szkice sonatowe [Sonata sketches] for piano (1993)
• Sonata fortepianowa [Piano sonata] (1994)
• Tritonos – a cycle for prepared piano (1995)
• Struktury I [Structures I] for solo organ (1998)
• Struktury II [Structures II] for solo organ (1999)
• Struktury [Structures] for piano (1999)
• Entrada Festiva for organ solo (2000)
• Symfonia kameralna [Chamber symphony] for solo percussion (2000)
• Hejnał [Bugle call] for solo trumpet (2001)
• Struktury III B-A-C-H [Structures III B-A-C-H] for solo organ (2004)
• Entropě for solo double bass (2007)
• Aeras – aphoristic sketches for solo violin (2008)
•  M.F. 150413 for solo piano (2013)
• Modus for solo piano (2015)
• Pars pro toto for solo cello (2015)
• Sonoris for solo organ (2016)
• Conatus for solo organ (2017)
• Dodekachordes – a dodecachordal study for piano (2017)
• The Paintings for piano (2018)
• cycles of miniatures for solo instruments

theatre music:

• Czekając na Don Kichota [Waiting for Don Kichot] – music to a theatre performance written and directed Jacek Głomb (1992)