persons' index (K)

conductor. He has been active as a conductor, manager and teacher. He began his professional career in 1967 in the Cultural Centre in Stalowa Wola as a répétiteur, later – as a conductor and artistic director of the Song-and-Dance Ensemble "Lasowiacy". He also taught at the State Primary Music School. In 1975 he was appointed manager of artistic education and music culture in the Provincial Office in Tarnobrzeg, where he founded and directed (in 1976-81) a symphony orchestra. Since 1982 he has held the post of a director at the Stanisław Moniuszko State Music School Complex in Bielsko-Biała. Under his management the school attained the highest standard in both general and artistic subjects. Their pupils regularly win awards in national and international competitions, as well as obtain artistic scholarships from the "Young Poland" programme of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Thanks to his efforts, a brand new school building with a concert hall was opened in 2010. Kucybała was a consultant on the reform of artistic education to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Andrzej Kucybała has co-organised many major artistic events. In 1974-79 he co-organised the "Young Musicians to the Young City" Festival in Stalowa Wola. In 1978-81 he was one of the organisers of the Music Encounters Festival in Baranów Sanomierski. Since 2010 he has organised over 250 concerts featuring Polish and foreign musicians in the new seat of the Bielsko-Biała Music School Complex. Many concerts were performed by the State Music School Complex’s Symphony Orchestra in Bielsko-Biała, whose extensive repertoire ranges from the Baroque to the 20th century. The orchestra has toured the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Dubai, and Cyprus. The ensemble received the "Ikar" Award of the President of Bielsko-Biała, as well as state awards from the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. In 2013 Andrzej Kucybała’s school orchestra won the 1st prize in the 1st National Competition for Secondary Music School Symphony Orchestras. The school orchestra regularly participates in the Festival of Polish Composers in Bielsko-Biała. In 2012 and 2013 it also performed during the La Folle Journée Festival in Warsaw.

Andrzej Kucybała has been presented with several awards and distinctions including the Gold Badge of Merit to Polish Culture (1977), the Bronze Cross of Merit (1977), the Gold Cross of Merit (1987), the Commission of National Education Medal (1995), the Cavalier’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2005), the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis (2010) and the individual award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage (2013).

updated: October 2015 (wa)