Annual Polish Christmas Concert

In Program:

Karol Szymanowski: Arrangements of Polish Folk Songs
Henry Wieniawski: Selected pieces
Ernesto Ferreri: “A Nocturn for Violin & String Orchestra” (World Premiere)
Edward Grieg: Holberg Suite (Selections)
Traditional Polish Christmas Carols
with the Moniuszko Choir (arr. Kowalewski, Sylveen)

Soloists: Michael Schiano, accordion, Patrycja Posluszna, soprano

Michael Jude Schiano is Associate Professor of Music Theory at the University of Hartford, having studied at Princeton, London, and Brandeis University.
He is originally from Brooklyn, New York, and has performed as accordionist with Connecticut Virtuosi and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.
He lives in Simsbury, Connecticut with his other half, Carolyn.

Patrycja Posluszna is a Polish-American soprano based in New York City. She earned her
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College in
2023, where she studied with Jack LiVigni. Her stage credits at Brooklyn College include
Amore, First Soldier, and Athena in L’incoronazione di Poppea, as well as the First Witch in
Dido and Aeneas. In the summers of 2022 and 2023, Patrycja attended the Mediterranean Opera
Studio and Festival in Sicily, Italy, appearing in concerts and fully staged productions, including
Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. In 2024 and 2025, she was selected to join the prestigious Institute
for Young Dramatic Voices under the direction of Dolora Zajick. Patrycja regularly performs at
high-profile events for the Polish Consulate in New York City, the Embassy of Poland in
Washington D.C., the Residence of the EU Ambassador, and other prominent Polish cultural
organizations. Patrycja recently began her Master of Music studies at the Manhattan School of
Music, studying under Jack LiVigni. She will perform the title role in a scene program of
Mireille in Fall 2025, and perform the role Micaëla in Carmen in Spring 2026.