STASZEK SOYKA
The exclusive U.S. concert of the extraordinary Polish artist.
THE ARTIST
In April of 1998 Staszek Soyka gave a benefit concert for the Society for Arts, for the very first time singing his Shakespeare's Sonnets in North America, along with his greatest hits. Audience in the sold out Simpson Theatre at the Field Museum witnessed the artistic event which exceeded all expectations and was considered as concert of the month in Chicago. Andrew Patner, a WFMT music critic, called it a mesmerizing, electrifying performance which happens only once every few years.
Soyka is not only vocalist, composer, lyricist, pianist, but also violinist, guitarist and poet. He began his musical education in the age of 5 years old, studying violin and singing with his father in a church choir. Then, he completed Music High School in a class of violin, and graduated from the Department of Composition of the Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. His official debut as a vocalist took place in 1978 in a recital of blues and gospel songs at the National Philharmonics in Warsaw. In 1983 he appeared with his own band at a prestigious International Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw. From 1986 to 1988 he resided in Germany, working under a contract with RCA. In 2003 he recorded cd The Rome Triptych by John Paul II and appeared in Vatican in front of the Pope who enthusiastically received the performance. In 2011 the artist won Grand Prix at the National Festival of Song in Opole. And one year later, his acclaimed recording of Czeslaw Niemen's songs Stanislaw Soyka's Homage to the Master was released to a critical applause.