30 Years of the Celebrity Symphony Orchestra

1994 was a remarkable year, marked by major cultural milestones. Films that became cult classics premiered in Poland—Jańcio Wodnik by Jan Jakub Kolski, Schindler’s List by Steven Spielberg, and Three Colors: Red by Krzysztof Kieślowski. That year, Edyta Górniak represented Poland for the first time at Eurovision, securing second place with “To nie ja!” Meanwhile, in Canada, Alice Munro published Open Secrets, and notable artists like Nikki Yanofsky and Justin Bieber were born. It was also the year Maestro Andrzej Rozbicki founded the Celebrity Symphony Orchestra.

In May of that year, Jerzy Burski, President of the Polish Congress of Canada, invited Maestro Rozbicki to organize a gala concert celebrating the Congress’s 50th anniversary. Rozbicki, already conducting the Brampton Symphony Orchestra, took on the challenge of assembling a full orchestra for this one-of-a-kind event. With the help of the Brampton Symphony’s manager, Karen Fedorowski, the Celebrity Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was born, premiering to great acclaim at the University of Toronto’s McMillan Theatre and marking its entry onto the Toronto music scene.

Over the last 30 years, Maestro Rozbicki has led the CSO with unflagging passion and dedication, elevating the orchestra with each performance. From Mozart and Chopin to Lutosławski, the CSO has brought masterpieces to life and accompanied internationally celebrated opera stars. The CSO has also honored significant historical and patriotic events, from concerts celebrating Pope John Paul II to the commemorations of the Warsaw Uprising’s 70th anniversary. The CSO’s productions have regularly filled concert halls and church naves, moving audiences with powerful renditions and showcasing extraordinary vocal and instrumental talent.

Under Rozbicki’s leadership, the CSO unites musicians from fifteen countries who share a deep passion for their craft. Over the years, many CSO musicians have been honored by the Polish government with the Medal of Merit for Polish Culture. The Celebrity Symphony Orchestra is a shining example of how music transcends boundaries, promotes Polish culture, and keeps traditions alive for new generations.

On November 9, join us at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga for an unforgettable concert celebrating the CSO’s 30th anniversary. Prepare for a spectacular evening featuring renowned vocalists from Poland—Rafał Brzozowski, Ewelina Szybilska, and Łukasz Gaj—as well as Canadian soprano Laura Sąsiadek and American baritone Marcel Sokalski. Before and after the performance, you’ll also have the chance to purchase a signed copy of Andrzej Rozbicki’s new book, Maestro from Toronto, detailing the CSO’s illustrious history. Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of music, heritage, and artistry!

Kaja Cyganik

Celebrity Symphony Orchestra – Full Biography

The Celebrity Symphony Orchestra was instituted in 1994 as a means of sharing Polish music and culture with Canadian audiences. Founded by artistic director and conductor Dr. Andrzej Rozbicki, the orchestra quickly became an integral part of the Polish-Canadian communities of Mississauga and Toronto. In 1998, the Celebrity Symphony Orchestra had its first performance at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, and began to forge a path into the city’s arts and culture sector. The orchestra was presented with a MARTY Award for Performing Arts Group- Emerging in 2010.

The Celebrity Symphony Orchestra has striven to introduce the best European musical superstars to Canadian audiences, representing all genres from classical opera and piano to musical theatre and pop. They have performed over 250 concerts, both major public performances at the Living Arts Centre and other respected concert halls across the GTA, and smaller salon gatherings at venues such as senior centers and the Polish Consulate. In total, these concerts featured more than 500 soloists from countries such as Poland, Ukraine, Germany, USA, Holland, Lithuania, Austria, Italy, Spain, Ecuador, Portugal, Lichtenstein, Slovenia, and Canada. These soloists are often of high renown and have performed in Europe’s finest concert halls and operatic stages. Some of the prominent soloists that have been featured by the CSO include coloratura soprano Katarzyna Dondalska, actress and singer Monica Wegiel, classical tenor Krystian Krzeszowiak, pop and R&B singer Natalia Kukulska, the Tre Voci tenor trio, soprano Grazyna Brodzińska, and opera and rock singer Andrzej Lampert.

Over the past three decades, the orchestra has featured a wide range of performance themes, from the music of Polish composers Kilar and Moniuszko, to Chopin, beloved tenor arias, and film music. Repertoire is often used to commemorate major historical events or anniversaries important to Canadian and Polish nationalism and cultural identity, such as the Canada 150^th Birthday Gala in 2017, or the All-Stars Gala celebrating the 500^th birthday of Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in 2023. Given their connections to Polish heritage, the Celebrity Symphony Orchestra enjoys helping other Mississauga communities celebrate their unique cultures, such as the Slovenian Christmas concert in 2010, and the Spirit of Ukraine and Victoria concerts, presented in 2023 and 2022 respectively.

The Celebrity Symphony Orchestra has placed special emphasis on promoting Canadian musicians and composers. Many remarkable Canadian soloists have been featured repeatedly over the years, such as pianist Elizabeth Schumann, vocalist Artur Wachnik, school and youth choirs, and youth dancers. One memorable concert featured the World Premier of a work honoring the tragic passing of a former Polish President, composed by a very talented Toronto high school student. Some soloists of special note are Mississauga’s Viva Trio in 2016, tenor Romulo Delgado, who most recently performed with the CSO in 2022, and Daniel Vnukowski, concert pianist and radio host of the Classical Jukebox on the new Classical 96.3 FM. Mr. Vnukowski has not only performed favorites such as Chopin’s Polonaise and the Warsaw Concerto (2022), but has even treated audiences to his wit and insight as Master of Ceremonies for the 2023 All Starts Gala.

 The Celebrity Symphony Orchestra has endeavoured to support others in Mississauga’s Polish community, and has always featured and promoted Mississauga businesses, professionals, and entrepreneurs in their concert programmes. The concerts have such an impact on this community that there is often extensive cultural media coverage in Polish publications, news sites and channels such as Gazeta, Bejsment.com and Goniec TV. The annual concerts have become a cultural hub, as many Polish-Canadians gather to celebrate their shared history and roots, and have thus solidified the orchestra’s place in the multicultural tapestry of the Mississauga arts scene.

Alexandra Haninec