IDEA….

Last year in July Mrs. Grażyna Kmak – Agata’s mother – found in the Internet some information about the festival. “Maybe we can try?” – She suggested. I started one of our rehearsals with this question. In our members’ eyes a new brilliance appeared. Playing concerts gives us huge satisfaction, but taking part
in a competition – this is a completely different emotion mixture. We were really happy, when the organizers called us and let us know that after a hard elimination we got the finals!

A few days before the competition Archetti spent their time practicing at the rehearsals in the Centre of Culture in Jaworzno-Szczakowa ( these were very long rehearsals! The orchestra were practicing for about 6 hours every day!) with me and the conductor – Maciek Koczur. We keep an eye on the orchestra ;)  

HIGHWAY  TO .... NO, NOT TO HELL! ;)

29 of June at 6 am we set off to Bydgoszcz. Because of the early hour and long travel which waited for us, almost all of Archetti members started our trip from… a little nap
The first pause and a cup of coffee introduced us to the “trip mood”. Even on the bus Archetti didn’t  laze. This time Maciek – the conductor - showed us his didactic skills when he taught us the official BIM anthem. Jurek Dłubis (viola) helped him and made some accompaniment on a guitar. I think that even Mr.Zbigniew Nowak “caught” a few sounds ;)

BYDGOSZCZ

Finally! From this moment every group has a leader who helps with any problems or doubts; our pilot was Angela Andrzejewska. We stayed in a school hostel, on the fourth floor, unfortunately – without a lift (good occasion to lose weight, ha-ha! ). Our neighbors were bands from Singapore, Czech Republic, Hungary and Sweden. Fantastic!  
After dinner we went to the National Meet in the landing.

NATIONAL MEET

We didn’t expect any wonders, but even this time the organizers didn’t disappoint us. We started with…polonaise! With the excellent accompaniment all the competitors danced this really hard polish national dance trying their best. After the polonaise we played “I have a napkin”  (everyone love this game, cause there are only good things:  folk music, dance and kisses – 3 in 1! ;) ) and other games which expect huge skills from the players. Lovely girls from China with beautiful ranges taught us their dances – that was a lesson of charm and elegance.
Hot rhythms from Hungary gave us a lot of energy and made everyone smile. The last point of the meeting  was a disco.
Once again we saw how music and dance can unite people
and let them feel good together.

HIGH NOON – CONCERT IN THE AMPHITEATRE

Our notion of this place was a little bit different. Luckily high spirits never left us, even if the temperature was really high (something about 30 oC  is a little too hot for Poland!).
A concert in a spotlight? Of course, nihil novi, even if the sun
is the  reflector ;)
Standing ovation is a full compensation for all inconveniences! 

OLD TOWN – INAUGURATION OF THE FESTIVAL

In the afternoon we went  to the Old Market where the organizers welcomed every group (like an old, polish tradition says) with a bread and salt. Just a few minutes left to the concerts of groups from Georgia, China, Bulgaria, Republic of Serbia, Hungary and Poland, which are the part of the competition.
Beautiful costumes and exotic culture – we were really happy to be there. Unfortunately some groups couldn’t show us their performances, because the weather brought us rain.
Fortunately, Archetti members are really easy-going people and they are always on the bright side of life. Dancing in the rain?
No problem!  

1st July – Wednesday

At 9 am the competition started. We were  going to the Concert Hall of the Bydgoszcz Music Academy. We were  wondering how good other competitors are. This day we could see the groups from Singapore, Latvia, Sweden and Belarus. After the concert we knew that we have to do our best because the competition was going to be really hard.
Our general rehearsal
In the afternoon the same day we went to the Academy once again. But this time we didn’t  listen, we played. During our rehearsal, the folk groups from Georgia, Bulgaria, Hungary
and Poland had a competitive auditions in the Old Town. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go there but we wished them good luck.
Next day was going to be an essential one. At 9 am the competition was to start for us, so we went to bed earlier
and tried to relax before the concert.

2 of July – SHOW TIME!

Every bus trip with Archetti I could describe as a “funny bus”. But not this time. When we were going to the Academy everyone was maximally concentrated. Even our driver, mr.Zbyszek Nowak, turned down the radio. When we finally got to the Academy, each Archetti player got a “good luck kick”;) 
Then I went  to listen to Mikano from Poland and Muttiza from Russia. 
After these performances Archetti appeared on the scene.
They looked beautiful. Elegant costumes,  red roses in girls’ hair, I could even see smiles on their faces and concentration in their eyes. Then conductor came and they started the performance.
They performed with the whole range of emotions and unbelievable raciness. I was happy and touched.
The first piece was  The Beatles Forever, then – Faust Fantasy by Pablo de Sarasate (violin solo: Agata Kmak) and the last piece – Orawa by Wojciech Kilar.
26 minutes of unbelievable emotions.  Archetti took my  breath away!
I went  to the orchestra to congratulate them and I could see that many people were doing the same!
I was so happy and proud!
After Archetti’s performance we could listen to the Russian Souvenir from Russia, Junior Dixieland from Czech Republic
and Student Art Troupe from China. Each group was different but everybody tried their best.

WALKING THROUGH THE CITY

After morning emotions we visited  the most famous places
in the town. Our guide, Ewa, told us about the symbols
of Bydgoszcz:
- “Archer” – sculpture made by Berliner artist F. Lepcke
- close to the hall of the Pomeranian Pilharmonic a monument of Andrzej Szwalbe, who is a mastermind of this institute, is situated.
- hotel “Under the eagle” built in 1896 – the famous pianist and composer Artur Rubinstein was one of the hotel guests.
-“Man crossing over the road” – unusual sculpture made by J. Kędziora
- Marian Rajewski monument – Rajewski was a mathematician who broke the Enigma code
- fountain “Flood”, which show scenes from the biblical Flood – it’s also a F. Lepcke work with very interesting history:  during the second World War this fountain has been recast for field-guns. Today only one part of it is reconstructed – a bear which picks up her children from the flood. Maybe someday the whole fountain will be reconstructed.
- on the Freedom Square we can see a monument which is covered by all of  the most important dates from history of the town
Sightseeing was a very interesting and didactic experience. After this short trip we went to the Academy where the NUS Chinese Orchestra from Singapore performed. Their music was completely different, but it was pleasure to listen to them. NUSCO created a really magic atmosphere!

After the concert we went to the Vanilla Club.
There was a disco for all groups. We were dancing all night long; that was a Wednesday night fever!

3rd of July – GALA CONCERT IN OPERA NOVA

Tonight, after the main concert everything was clear and we knew which group is the best from the best.
The Opera was full, over 800 people came to the Gala Concert.
Concert started from a dance with the flags of all the competitor groups.

Program of Gala Concert:
- Michael Jackson's hits - Poland - MIKANO, Sieraków
- Macedonian dances - Serbia - SEVDAH, Vranje
- Old banjo - Russia - RUSSIAN SOUVENIR, Kaliningrad
- Mtiuluri, Gorni taniec - Georgia - IMEDI, Lagodekhi
- Bodrogkozi Tancok - Hungary - GYEROKOK, Kalocsa
- Macedonian Suite – Bulgaria  - Folklore Dance Group PRAZNIK, Sandanski
- Flying Asparas, Szła dzieweczka - Singapore - NUS CHINESE ORCHESTRA, Singapore
- Kukułeczka - China - STUDENT ART TROUPE - Ningbo
- Joy of the green opening - Poland - ZAWATERNIK, Leśnica
- Orawa - Poland - ARCHETTI, Jaworzno
- Mtiuluri - Georgia - Studio KOLKHA 2 folk group ODISHI, Tbilisi
- Wiesnianka - Russia - MUTIZZA, Kaliningrad
- Jautrais Sturis - Latvia - KOKLE, Riga
- Turion, The syncopated lock - Belarus - BREVIS, Minsk
- Washington and Lee – Czech Republic - JUNIOR DIXIELAND, Mariánské Láznie
- Does this man and this woman?... - Sweden - VERSUS GREY, Malmo
- Bohemian motives, Librtango - Belarus - Trio VICTORIA, Brześć
At the end of the show all the folk groups danced the polonaise.
On the scene we could see all bands which took part in the competition and the jury announced their decision … We got the first prize! Yippee!
Grand Prix, prize of the Ministry of Education and European Krzysztof Penderecki Music Center – NUSCO from Singapore
First prize, Prize of the Ministry of the Culture and National Heritage – ex aequo ARCHETTI from Poland and VICTORIA from Belarus

4th of July – COMEBACK TO HOME

All good things come to an end.
We spent such a great time in Bydgoszcz. Archetti worked, danced, laughed and spent many fantastic hours with new friends from the entire world. These days gave us so many beautiful memories, it’s unbelievable and hard to describe!
Our success motivates us to keep on playing and try to be better and better, to practice more and work more every day.  Sometimes dreams come true!  

Orchestra members:

Maciej Koczur - conductor

Violin 1

Izabela Kozak – leader
Urszula Ogórek
Agata Kmak
Agata Nowak
Justyna Kwarcińska
Anna Dym

Violin 2

Maciej Tomasiewicz
Karolina Fedak
Natalia Łaźnia
Patryk Dzióbek
Angelika Kumięga

Violas

Katarzyna Jarczyk
Jerzy Dłubis
Paweł Mariusz Czarny

Cellos

Jakub Gucik
Joanna Gutowska

Doublebass

Klaudia Baca

Artistic Director

Marzenna Synowiec

Photos
Piotr Synowiec