Biography

Jerzy Bauer – composer, music theorist, conductor and teacher was born on 12 May 1936 in Łódź.

At the State School of Music in Łódź he studied music theory (graduating in 1959), conducting (graduating in 1961) and composition with Tomasz Kiesewetter (graduating in 1966). In 1969–1970 he continued his studies with Nadia Boulanger in Paris.

Between 1959 and 1960 he worked at the Secondary School of Music in Łódź. In 1960 he began working as a teacher at the State School of Music in Warsaw. In 1979 he was made assistant professor, in 1987 – associate professor and in 1992 – full professor. In 1980–1998 he served as the chair of the Department of Composition, Music Theory and Eurhythmics, and in 2000 he became the chair of the Department of Music Theory. At the same time, in 1990–1996, he served as the dean of the Faculty of Composition, Theory, Music Education and Eurhythmics. In 1989–1991 he was Vice-President of the Board of the Polish Composers’ Union.

Jerzy Bauer’s works have been performed at numerous concerts and festivals, including the Warsaw Autumn and Musica Polonica Nova Festival of Contemporary Music in Wrocław.

Jerzy Bauer has received many awards and distinctions at composers’ competitions: in 1970 3rd Prize at the Composers’ Competition in Gdańsk for his Reed Trio No. 1 for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1964); in 1971 – distinction at the Grzegorz Fitelberg Composers’ Competition for Aetatis Mediae Sculpturae for mixed choir, boys’ choir and large symphony orchestra (1970–1971); in 1973 – distinction at the Karol Szymanowski Composers’ Competition in Katowice for Symphonic Pulsations for large symphony orchestra, two electric guitars and organ (1973); in 1984 – 2nd Prize at the National Composers’ Competition in Białystok for Jubilate e la danza polacca for symphony orchestra (1984), and 3rd Prize at the National Composers’ Competition in Łódź for Three Ballads for guitar (1983); in 1985 – 1st Prize at the National Composers’ Competition in Kamień Pomorski for Accende lumen sensibus for organ (1985); in 1988 – Bronze Medal at the 31st Concours International de Guitare organised by Radio France in Paris for Colours and Rhythms of Movement for guitar (1989); and in 1991 – 1st Prize at the Wawrzyniec Żuławski National Competition in Warsaw for Countryside Paintings for soprano (mezzo-soprano) and piano (1991).

In 1980 Jerzy Bauer received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, in 2005 – Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, and in in 2006 – Silver Gloria Artis Medal for services to culture.