The Choir of the Dominican Liturgical Center, conducted by Ewa Kieres, set itself the main task of popularizing valuable sacred music. The ensemble works on a wide variety of sacred music, so that it can both serve during the liturgy and take part in cultural events. The choir’s repertoire includes works by composers such as A. Vivaldi, G. F. Handel, J. Brahms, E. Grieg, A. Dvořák, G. Fauré, F. Poulenc and M. Duruflé.

The choir began its activity in May 2015. It first sang in the liturgy on 29 June 2015 in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity on Stolarska Street in Kraków, presenting works by Gabriel Fauré. In autumn 2015 it began work on George Frideric Handel’s Utrecht Te Deum. With soloists and orchestra, the work was performed on 22 December of that year in the Dominican Basilica, on the 799th anniversary of the founding of the Dominican Order.

At the beginning of 2016 the choir began work on Antonín Dvořák’s Mass in D major. The work, in the version for choir, soloists and organ, was performed on 4 June in the Carmelite Basilica on Karmelicka Street in Kraków. At the end of the season the ensemble sang Dvořák’s work during the celebration of Holy Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite.

In 2017 the choir focused on works with Marian themes, thereby expanding its repertoire with Johannes Brahms’s cycle of Marian songs and works by Edvard Grieg and Marek Raczyński. In addition, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation it took part in festive Vespers, performing Antonio Vivaldi’s Magnificat with orchestra.

To improve their vocal skills, and thus to care as fully as possible for the beauty of the liturgy, the choir members take part in regular rehearsals and music workshops. We want the choir to be not only an ensemble of a high artistic level, but also a community that worships the Lord and is sanctified by His grace. That is why the choristers take care to pray together, to adore the Blessed Sacrament and to attend Holy Mass together.

The pastoral side of the choir’s activities was looked after by its guardian on behalf of our Center, Fr. Grzegorz Doniec OP.

Many of the choristers continue to pursue their passion in theChoir of St. Michael the Archangelat the Pauline Fathers’ Monastery at Skałka.

Conductor

Ewa Kieres graduated from the Faculty of Composition, Interpretation and Music Education of the Academy of Music in Kraków in the choral conducting class of Prof. Lidia Matynian (diploma with distinction). She leads the choir of the August Witkowski 5th High School in Kraków, with which she carries out various acappella and vocal-instrumental projects (including Gloria by A. Vivaldi, Stabat Mater by E. d’Astorga, and a concert for the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth). The 5th High School choir has won many regional and national competitions (among other things, the Silver Tuning Fork and the award for the best debut at the National Competition of Children’s and Youth Choirs acappella inBydgoszcz in 2012, the Golden String twice at the Małopolska Choral Festival “O Złotą Strunę” in Niepołomice, and third place at the National Festival of Religious Song “Cantate Deo” in Rzeszów).

She also pursues her passion for choral music as a singer in the Chamber Choir Lege Artis , active since 2005 under the direction of Agnieszka Trela-Jochymek.

She also graduated from the Instrumental Faculty of the Kraków Academy of Music in the oboe class of Prof. Marek Mleczko. Within the Erasmus programme she also studied at the Conservatorio Statale di Musica E. F. dall’Abaco in Verona under Paolo Grazzi. She completed postgraduate studies in baroque oboe at the Academy of Music in Poznań in the class of Rafael Gabriel Przybyła. She has taken part in master classes with, among others, Frank de Bruine, Alfredo Bernardini, Peter Frankenberg, Sophia McKenna and Marek Niewiedział. She develops her interest in early music in the ensemble Il Vento; she also works with other ensembles and orchestras. She is also a graduate of the Faculty of History of the Jagiellonian University.

For many years she has been involved, as an instrumentalist and conductor, with the music community gathered around the Dominican Friary in Kraków.