Jadwiga Puzynina, 94, is an emeritus professor of Warsaw University, from which she graduated in 1951 and with which she was associated for several decades. In her research and academic studies, she focused on lexicography, the relationship between language and values, as well as the language of the literary output of Polish Romantic poet Cyprian Kamil Norwid.
In her teens, Puzynina was a member of Grey Ranks (Szare Szeregi), an underground paramilitary Polish Scouting Association during WWII. In the 1970s, she was involved in the activities of the dissident Workers’ Defence Committee KOR, and after the imposition of martial law by the communist regime in December 1981 she helped the persecuted students.
During a ceremony at the Presidential Palace on Polish Constitution Day, President Andrzej Duda expressed his gratitude to Professor Puzynina for her many years of service for Poland, Polish science and Polish society.
Conductor and composer Jerzy Maksymiu received the Order of the White Eagle for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of Polish music around the world.
In his citation, President Duda described him as one of the most recognizable Polish musicians on the international scene.
Maksymiuk, who turned 88 last month, continues to be in excellent form, appearing regularly on the conductor’s podium. He is also a pianist and composer.
Born in Grodno (in present-day Belarus), Maksymiuk completed his musical studies in Warsaw with three diplomas, in piano, composition, and conducting. In 1961 he won First Prize at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz, but soon afterwards abandoned the piano in favour of conducting. In 1972, he founded the Polish Chamber Orchestra, which performed in many prestigious venues such as the Carnegie Hall, the Wiener Konzert-Verein and the Royal Albert Hall. In 1983-1991, he served as Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow. He has worked with many of the world’s leading orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre National de France.
Maksymiuk holds an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from Strathclyde University in Glasgow and is one of only two artists in the world to have been presented with the Gold Medal from the Elgar Society for the promotion of Elgar’s music.
His compositional output includes symphonic and ballet music, chamber works, songs and film soundtracks.
(mk/tf)