Academic Choir
The Gdynia Maritime University Academic Choir was the first higher education choir in Gdynia. The choir was founded in the Autumn of 2001. Its members include students, staff, and friends of the University. The choir’s conductor is Karol Hilla – a lecturer at the Lodz Music Academy.
The choir’s repertoire includes works from various periods – from the Middle Ages to the present day, ranging from intimate a cappella pieces to monumental vocal-instrumental works. The choir regularly takes part in cultural events, scientific conferences, as well as church and academic ceremonies. It performs both at home and abroad, and has given concerts in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Romania, Lithuania, the USA, and Japan.
Besides concerts, the choir’s achievements include CD recordings, radio and television broadcasts, as well as participation in a feature film production.
Most Notable Achievements:
- 1st Prize and Best Conductor Award – Pomeranian Festival of Passion Songs (Szemud)
- 1st Prize – International Choral Competition in Eišiškės (Lithuania)
- 2nd Prize – International Choral Festival and Competition Canco Mediterrania (Barcelona) in the categories of Sacred Music and Folk Music
- Silver Diploma – Musica in Urbe Choral Competition (Bydgoszcz)
- 2nd Place – 5th National Review of Academic Choirs ‘Święty Krzyż’ (Kielce, 2018)
- Gold Diploma – Liviu Borlan International Choral Music Festival (Baia Mare, Romania)
- 3rd Prize – Provence International Choral Festival 2024 in the Mixed Choirs category
The ensemble successfully performs in some of the most prestigious venues in Poland, including the National Stadium in Warsaw, the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów, and the National Symphonic Orchestra Concert Hall, as well as abroad: in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Barcelona Cathedral, at Columbia University in New York, and during concerts at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
The GMU Choir has performed with outstanding vocalists such as Piotr Kusiewicz and Jadwiga Rappé, and on several occasions alongside tenors Andrea and Matteo Bocelli. The choir has worked with well-known artists from the Polish pop music scene, including: Natalia Kukulska, Patrycja Markowska, Michał Szpak and Justyna Steczkowska, and sanah.
The ensemble has performed concerts in collaboration with numerous symphony orchestras, including the Beethoven Academy Orchestra, the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ponticello Chamber Orchestra, the Gdynia Baroque Orchestra ‘Sinfonia Nordica’, and more.
Auditions for the GMU Academic Choir are held on Mondays and Thursdays at 19:00 in the T.Meissner Auditorium or room A13 (Faculty of Marine Engineering).
We look forward to meeting you!
