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The Paderewski Symphony Orchestra (previously the Polish-American Symphony Orchestra) is the largest cultural organization within the 11 million member Polish-American community in the USA (Census 2000). Named after a man whom President Roosevelt called “a Modern Immortal,” the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra (PaSO) is focused on the promotion of dialog between communities that although coexisting side by side, are often unaware of each other magnificence. One of its main goals is to present the Polish community with world class music, introduce the American community to Polish music, and serve as a cultural bridge between the two. During ten years of intensive activity, under the guidance of its extraordinary conductor Wojciech Niewrzol (WN Victor) PaSO has experienced astonishing growth. It has gone from a small chamber ensemble to a huge cultural organization with permanent staff, events involving 240 performers, and concerts in Chicago’s most illustrious concert halls including the Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It has performed over 90 concerts for almost 100,000 listeners presenting music by the most illustrious Polish composers, including Chopin, Wieniawski, Karlowicz, Lutoslawski, Szymanowski, Górecki and Kilar.For its cultural leadership and educational work, the orchestra has been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Excellence and Recognition from the City of Chicago, The Cook County and the Cultural Ministry of the Government of Poland. Today it is becoming one of the key institutions of the cultural landscape of Chicago's diverse community. |
