WROCŁAW BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
The Wroclaw Baroque Ensemble specializes in historically informed performances, with a focus on exploring the unusual repertoire of Central Europe.
The group presents a variety of early music, from chamber works to oratorios and cantatas, maintaining a special interest in the heritage of the Polish Renaissance and Baroque.
It was founded in 2012 by Andrzej Kosendiak and has operated under his artistic direction since its inception.
It is currently one of the resident ensembles of the National Music Forum in Wroclaw.
The core of the group consists of outstanding instrumentalists and singers from European countries (Poland, Czech Republic, UK and Germany).
The Wrocław Baroque Ensemble can boast of an extensive discographic catalog, which includes a series of CDs dedicated to the Baroque repertoire with mainly works by Polish composers: Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki, Bartłomiej Pękiel, Marcin Mielczewski, Stanisław Sylwester Szarzyński, Mikołaj Zieleński, and Jacek Różycki ( CD Agreement).
The series is available on Spotify and distributed worldwide by Naxos, earning positive international reviews on MusicWeb International, ClassicsToday.com, and Fanfare Archive.
The first album, with music by Gorczycki, was awarded the Wrocław Music Prize in 2013.
In 2013, 2015, 2017-2021, 2023 the albums were nominated for a prestigious Polish music prize, Fryderyk.
In 2019, Mielczewski II won a Fryderyk and in 2021 – Mikołaj Zieleński (both in the Album of the Year – Early Music category).
In 2015, the group released The Salzburg Marian Mass (with liturgical music by Mozart) in collaboration with the NFM Boys’ Choir under the direction of Andrzej Kosendiak.
In 2022, the ensemble released its first vinyl record with Gorczycki’s Completorium and the CD Marcin Józef Żebrowski – Vesperae in Visitatione Beatae Mariae Virginis (awarded Fryderyk 2023 and nominated for Opus Klassik).
Their latest album is Musica liturgica recorded with organist Marcin Szelest.
It features all the preserved works of Marcin Leopolita, along with anonymous pieces from tablatures, works by Wacław of Szamotuły, and two world premiere recordings of compositions by Francesco Maffon.
The ensemble has appeared at major international festivals, such as Wratislavia Cantans, Ohrid Summer, Emilia Romagna Festival, Usedomer Musikfestival and Ljubljana Festival, as well as performing in numerous cities in Poland and Europe.

Andrzej Kosendiak, director
Director of Wrocław’s Witold Lutosławski National Music Forum, conductor and teacher, one of the most active musicians and promoters of musical life in Poland.
He graduated from the Department of Composition, Conducting and Music Theory at the Wrocław Academy of Music.
In 2013 he received a postdoctoral degree and in 2021 the title of professor and is currently employed at his alma mater.
In 2005 he became director of the Wrocław Philharmonic and the Wratislavia Cantans International Festival and carried out the structural and profile transformation of both institutions, eventually merging them into the National Music Forum.
The inauguration of the NFM’s new headquarters-which was built thanks to his ideas and efforts-was honored with the 2016 Coryphaeus of Polish Music award in the Event of the Year category.
As director of the NFM, he created new artistic groups, among others.
the NFM Choir, the Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, and the NFM Boys’ Choir.
From 2011 to 2021, Andrzej Kosendiak was chairman of the board of the Polish Philharmonic Society and from 2012 to 2016 he was vice-chairman of the Council for Artistic Institutions, an advisory body to the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
Music of the past is of particular interest to Andrzej Kosendiak.
In 1985 he founded the ensemble Collegio di Musica Sacra and in 2012 the Wrocław Byzantine Ensemble, of which he is artistic director.
He has recorded previously unknown works from the Library of the University of Wrocław and the Strasbourg Library, works by Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (recipient of the Wrocław Music Prize), Bartłomiej Pękiel, Stanisław Sylwester Szarzyński, Jacek Różycki and others; most of these recordings have been nominated for Fryderyk Prizes: Mielczewski II won a 2019 Fryderyk (Album of the Year – Early Music) and Mikołaj Zieleński triumphed in the same category, winning a Fryderyk in 2021.
The CD featuring works by Zieleński was also nominated for the International Classical Music Awards 2021 in the Baroque Voice category.
New recordings conducted by him were released in 2022: a vinyl disc with Gorczycki’s Completorium and the CD Marcin Józef Żebrowski – Vesperae in Visitatione Beatae Mariae Virginis (awarded Fryderyk 2023 and nominated for Opus Klassik 2023 in the categories: Conductor of the Year and Ensemble of the Year).
The album recorded with Marcin Szelest – Liturgical Music – containing all the preserved works of Marcin Leopolita and other works for organ was released in 2023.
Andrzej Kosendiak regularly conducts NFM ensembles and orchestras in Poland and internationally.
He has performed in many countries in Europe, the United States (including a collaboration with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) and China.
He is very active in the field of education.
He has initiated educational projects: Singing Wrocław, Singing Poland, international meetings of choirs Singing Europe, and thanks to his support or initiative at the NFM the following have been created: the Polish National Youth Choir, the Choral Academy, Academies of Early Music that combine master classes with concerts, the NFM Orchestra Academy that prepares musicians to work in professional ensembles, as well as the NFM Education Center. He is the father of the program Polish Music Revived, the premise of which is to encourage the performance of Polish music by young artists around the world with the support of conservatories and festivals.
Andrzej Kosendiak also initiated the series of recordings 1000 Years of Music in Wrocław and Witold Lutosławski. Opera omnia. Thanks to his efforts, a joint phonographic project by Paul McCreesh and the NFM Choir is underway, including recordings of major oratorio works; the albums released so far have twice won the BBC Music Magazine Award, a Diapason d’Or, and Gramophone magazine’s Editor’s Choice.
A CD featuring Moniuszko’s Ghosts under the direction of Andrzej Kosendiak was released in 2018 – recorded by eminent singers and actors as well as the NFM Choir and Wrocław Baroque Orchestra; this CD won a 2019 Fryderyk Award in the Album of the Year – Choral Music, Oratorio and Opera category.
Andrzej Kosendiak has numerous awards and honors to his credit, including the Wrocław Mayor’s Award (2016), the Lower Silesian Key (2016), Radio Wrocław Kultura – Emotions awards (2017, 2018), the Austrian Honorary Cross of 1st Class for Merit in Science and Art (2018), Diamond of Wrocław (2018), Golden Honorary Badge “Wrocław with Gratitude – Wratislavia grateful soul” (2020) and, awarded by the President of Poland, Cross from Officer of Poland Restituta Order.