“My Borderlands” Jan Kondrak with the band

Jan Kondrak's concert, which will take place on October 14, will have the character of a unique premiere. This material has never before been presented in its entirety or accompanied by a full instrumental composition.

On stage, the artist will be accompanied on a daily basis by musicians who co-create the Lublin Federation of Bards. The author of the libretto of the project is Krzysztof Czarnota — a writer, satirist and publicist, in the past, among others, the author of satirical texts for the radio magazine “60 minutes per hour”, and currently the creator of novels on borderline and hypological themes. The artist will personally announce the concert and introduce the listeners to its theme, which focuses on three themes: Borderlands, equestrian traditions and people of the old and modern borderlands.

The music for the performance is entirely the work of Jan Kondrak. In terms of arrangement and composition, the program is a direct reference to the traditions and extensive musical culture of the Cossack steppe.

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Jan Kondrak is an author, composer and performer of songs, as well as a translator, columnist and prose writer, graduate of Polish Studies at UMCS. As a co-founder of the Lublin Federation of Bards, he permanently entered the history of the national artistic song. He has won awards at the National Song Festival in Opole, FAMIA and the Student Song Festival in Krakow, where he was also honored with the “Golden Index” for creating the Lublin “principality of literary song”. He toured in many European countries and in the USA, and his works were performed by icons of the Polish stage, such as Beata Kozidrak, Urszula and Krzysztof and Piotr Cugowscy.

An important part of his achievements is occupied by the theater scene. He has realized numerous stage shows, the musical “My Hair” and the performance “Song of Songs” with music by Zbigniew Łapiński. For years he has been working closely with Lublin's Teatr Stary, where he plays the solo performance “The Master Sings” and performs in the famous play “Evening” with music by Włodek Pawlik. He is also the creator of the libretto of the jazz-rock cantata “In Love with Lublin”, written for the final of the celebrations of the 700th anniversary of the city.

His extensive discography includes solo albums — including acclaimed interpretations of Edward Stachura's lyrics (including “Missa Pagana”, “Tango Tristè”) and author's albums (including “Dwyżanie”, “Maratończyk”) — as well as a dozen albums recorded with the Lublin Bard Federation. As an author and columnist, he published, among others, in “Akcent” and “Piosenka”, and chapters in historical and scientific monographs have been devoted to his work. In addition, he is the originator and fourteen-time organizer of the Festival of Ecological Culture in Józefów.

Katarzyna Kacha Kowanek — a graduate of the Faculty of Arts of the UMCS in Lublin and postgraduate studies of a teaching and therapeutic nature. Violinist and vocalist of the Lublin Federation of Bards and the band Sauin, performing Celtic music, which she founded in 1999. Vocal instructor, instrument player, conductor, teacher, session musician. She took part in the recording of more than 20 albums — mainly the Lublin Federation of Bards, Marek Andrzejewski, the band Mojez Bêste, Sauin. As a conductor, she recorded three choral albums.

Marek Andrzejewski — author, composer, musician and vocalist, who is one of the most important representatives of Polish poetic song and folk ballad. As a co-founder and pillar of the Lublin Federation of Bards, he has permanently entered the history of the genre, which is confirmed by the main awards won at, among others, the Student Song Festival in Krakow, the National Recital Festival in Siedlce and the Castle Meetings “Let's Sing Poetry” in Olsztyn. In the 1990s, the artist worked intensively with the legendary Orchestra of St. Nicholas and the “Gardzienice” theater, and as a vocalist and composer he co-created the famous performance “Family Album” of the Grupa Chwilowa theater. He published his texts and thoughts in “Akcentu” and “Piosenka” magazines, among others.

His debut album “Trolleybus Bathyscaphe” from 1997 to this day constitutes the iron canon of the national author's song. It is from this album that the cult song “Like letters” comes, which became the flagship leitmotif of the entire “Land of Gentleness”. In his work, Andrzejewski in a classical, bardic way touches on social issues, the relationship between civilization and nature, as well as universal themes: truth, love, difficult choices and the spiritual quest of modern man. The artist is constantly looking for new forms of expression — in 2025 he took part in the International Festival “In Singer's Footsteps”, during which an international group of art masters and acrobats translated his songs into spectacular circus etudes.

His current record includes 14 albums recorded with the Lublin Federation of Bards and six original albums: the aforementioned debut, as well as the albums “Dzień ter” (2003), “Electric sweter” (2012), “Akustically” (2015), “Hashtags” (2018) and “Wariactwo” (2021). Although the studio recordings amaze with their depth, the real power of Marek Andrzejewski's work is reflected in the concerts. On stage, the artist exudes positive energy and a sense of humor. However, his recitals are not only author's compositions — the audience also has the opportunity to hear old border folk songs and unique musical interpretations of poems.

Piotr Selim is a versatile composer, vocalist, arranger, music producer and pianist with the degree of Doctor of Art. As a valued accompanist, he has co-created more than 50 record albums, collaborating with many vocalists and dozens of choirs. The pillar of his work is an artistic relationship that has lasted for 35 years with the poet Hanna Lewandowska, for whom he composes and with whom he performs his own repertoire. For almost three decades he has also co-created the Lublin Federation of Bards (14 released albums) and plays in the Quineta Tanguillo, specializing in the music of Astor Piazzolla.

His achievements include prestigious projects, among others with Grammy Award winner Włodek Pawlik (concert-performance “Evenings”) and Renata Przemyk, with whom he won the Golden Plate in 2023 for his album “Boogie Street”. An important part of his work is theatrical and illustrative work — he composed music for the play “Machia” directed by Juliusz Machulski and for the listening sessions of Grażyna Lutosławska. He is also the creator of great vocal and instrumental forms, including the program “Jesteś tu, I am with you” (premiered at CSK in 2018) and the oratorios “(Po) mosty” (2019) and “Dla survivaldom” (2023).