Born in Lwów (now Lviv in Ukraine), Wanda Szajowska was a pianist by profession. Having moved to Kraków after World War II, she continued her musical education and subsequently taught piano performance at the Experimental Music Studio, which was founded in Kraków in 1946. Her students included the now famous conductor Antoni Wit.
In his words of farewell, Wit recalled her former teacher of music as a woman who commanded respect but, above all, was patient, kind and determined to instil a love of music in her pupils.
Father Grzegorz Lenart said in a homily that it was extraordinary that Wanda Szajowska had played all her life on the same instrument, which she had brought with her to Kraków from Lwów.
“Sitting at the piano almost every day, she was returning in her thoughts to the most wonderful moments in her life. Her neighbours used to say that through the sounds of her old piano coming out from the windows of her flat, she communicated with the outside world,” he said.
According to many, Szajowska was the world’s oldest pianist.
The funeral ceremony was attended by many of Wanda Szajowska’s friends and former students, as well as representatives of President Andrzej Duda, the government and local authorities.
Szajowska became Poland’s oldest person following the death on August 19 of Tekla Juniewicz, who was 116 years, 2 months and 6 days old.
Poland’s most senior citizen now is Elżbieta Rogala, who is 110 years old.
(mk/pm)