Canadian-Polish Society Pro Arte Popular Theatre and Chutzpah! Festival, both of Vancouver, BC invite you to a play King Matt the First / Król Maciuś I based on the novel by Janusz Korczak. This timeless children book classic has been adapted for theater and directed by Julia Wernio with music by Piotr Salaber.

Where: Norman Rothstein Theatre in Vancouver, BC; in English with Polish subtitles, Feb 29 & Mar 1 at 7 pm, Mar 2 at 1:30 pm, Mar 3-4 at 2 pm & 7 pm.

More: about play, Pro Arte / Teatr Popularny, Chutzpah Festival

Czerwone Gitary is a Polish pop group reconstituted in 1990s by some members of the old Czerwone Gitary band that received a legendary status under Klenczon and Krajewski from late 1960s through  1970s. The current members include Kossela, Dornowski and Skrzypczak from the original band as well as Kisielinski and Wisniewski. Their last CD is Historia jednej znajomosci (2007).

Where: Polish Cultural Center; tickets $35 advanced, $40 at the door; for tickets & info call Asia Jeziorska 425-417-9548 or Renata Mroz 206-362-7917.

More: Czerwone Gitary site (PL), Czerwone Gitary on Wikipedia

Agata Zubel

Ms. Agata Zubel is a Polish composer and a vocalist based in Wroclaw, Poland. Her collaboration with Seattle Chamber Players makes her a frequent guest to the Seattle area. Icebreaker VI: New Music from the Mediterranean is a festival of emerging music of Southern Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa. Featured artists of both concerts besides Ms. Zubel (soprano) include Salim Dada (guitar) and Yitzhak Yedid (piano). A link to the detailed program is below.

Where: Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall; tickets $25 & $15; concert on Feb 25 at 8 pm, on Feb 26 at 7 pm.

More: Agata Zubel, Icebreaker VI program,Zubel at Icebreaker, Seattle Chamber Players

The book for the meeting is Zrob sobie raj by Mariusz Szczygiel published by Wyd. Czarne in 2010 about contemporary Czechs and Czech culture and society. Szczygiel, 43, is the author of Gottland, a book about Czech culture and history that won the 2007 Nike in Poland and a slew of international literary awards. Gottland has been translated to many languages including English and staged as a play in Prague. His new book generated very favorable reviews as well. Club meetings are in Polish.

Where: at the Green Lake Public Library in Seattle; admission free; in Polish

More: about book (PL), Mariusz Szczygiel, Polish Book Club

The Library at the Polish Cultural Center invites you to the Polish Story Time Poczytajka for the youngest members of the Polish community.  In this meeting: playing, dancing and drawing along with reading and all of it in Polish. You can also borrow Polish children books & movies for an evening reading or watching. Organized by Monika Oczkowska-McNeal and the Polish Library. More on Poczytajka here.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center in Seattle; admission free, in Polish

More: Poczytajki at the Polish Library

Wislawa Szymborska

Wislawa Szymborska, the great Polish poetess and a Nobel prize winner for literature has died recently. She was 88. Salon of Poetry in Seattle invites her admirers to an evening remembering Szymborska and her poetry.  Please bring your favorite poem, in English, Polish or both, and share with others.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center; admission free

More: about Szymborska and her poetry, Szymborska on Wikipedia, Salon of Poetry

This is the 9th edition of the very popular Bronislaw Czech Memorial Cup organized by the Vancouver Polonia. Its ski and snowboard competitions have divisions for children and teenagers as well as all-family categories. Bronislaw Czech was a famous Polish skier and Olympian before WWII and a patriot who served as an underground courier over the Tatra mountains. Sponsored by the Polish Consulate General in Vancouver, BC and a host of Polish-Canadian businesses.

Where: At Cypress Mountain Ski Area, Vancouver, BC;

More: BCMC site & detailed info (PL),  Bronislaw Czech, 2012 BCMC Poster

The Polish Cultural Center invites everybody to the Valentine Day Party. Mixed music from CDs. Party form 8 pm to 1 am. The restaurant will be open from 6 pm to 10 pm; the bar will be open from 7 pm. Complimentary tea, coffee, hugs and kisses!

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center; tickets at the door $15 PHA members, $20 non-members

More: Valentine party poster

The 35th Portland International Film Festival presents the best movie of the 2011 Warsaw Film Festival Rose / Róża, directed by Wojciech Smarzowski. The film is a story set right after WWII ended in 1945 in a newly Polish East Prussia, where a former resistance fighter trying to find a new life meets a Polish widow of a German soldier. There will be a free reception before the screening on Feb 19 as well.

Where: at the International Film Festival in Portland, OR; tickets $10/$7 regular/discounted; screenings Feb 16 at 6:16 pm, Feb 19 at 7:45 pm, both at Whitsell Auditorium at the Portland Art Museum, reception is free of charge on Feb 19 at 6:30 at Steven's Room there.

More: movie at PIFF, the movie

Gauguin self-portrait

The Polish Library invites you to a lecture on the upcoming major show at the Seattle Art Museum Gauguin and Polynesia: An Elusive Paradise. Karolina Kalemba, a graduate of the Institute of Art History at the University of Poznan, will present a free lecture discussing Gauguin's works presented among 60 painting and sculptures with Polynesian native arts. This event is in Polish. Organized by Karolina Kalemba and Monika Oczkowska-McNeal.

Where: Library at the Polish Cultural Center in Seattle; admission free, in Polish

More: Gauguin exhibit at SAM

Jan Lisiecki

Jan Lisiecki, not even 17, is a Polish-Canadian prodigy piano player. Despite his age, he has already played solo concerts at Carnegie Hall and other best venues, and opened the Chopin's 200 year anniversary celebrations at Chopin's birthplace of Zelazowa Wola in Poland in 2010. His program at Meany Hall includes works by Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Chopin.

Where: Meany Hall at the University of Washington campus; tickets on sale now!

More: Lisiecki bio, Lisiecki site, Lisiecki at Meany Hall

Frederic Chopin

This concert features the winners of the 2012 NW Chopin Festival. As usual, the best young artists from our state are expected to deliver great performances of Chopin music. The program includes

   2:30 pm    Division A, B and C winners

   4:00 pm    Intermission

   4:15 pm    Division D winners

   4:45 pm    Concerto Division Winner w/ a String Quintet

   5:45 pm    Awards and Refreshments

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center in Seattle; admission free

More: Chopin Foundation NW, 2012 Chopin Festival

The local Polish Scout / ZHP Troop Kaszuby in Seattle invites alumni, friends and anybody interesting in local scouting traditions to a celebration of the 25 years of the Troop. The program includes the Polish Choir Vivat Musica and Troop members singing scout songs, a slide presentation and of course a special recognition for people who have helped running the troop for all these years, A delicious Swedish buffet will be provided.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center, suggested donation $20.

More: Scout troop website; for more info contact Scout Masters Anna Borodenko, tel. (425) 280-4858, or Marta Golubiec (206) 935-7535.

Frederic Chopin

The Chopin Foundation presents its annual Chopin Festival, this year attracting about 120 piano students from across our state.  The Competition runs from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Limited seating will be available due to the large number of participants, divided into several categories. The prize winner concert is on Feb 5, 2012, see a separate note. Organized by the Northwest Council of the Chopin Foundation and supported by Sherman Clay.
 

Where: at Sherman Clay, 1624 4th Avenue in Seattle; admission free

More: Chopin Foundation NW, 2012 Chopin Festival