Dr. Ireneusz Lukaszewski’s last Mass as Organist for Corpus Christi Church

(For the YouTubeless amongst us, here is low-fi Windows Media version…)

Dr. Ireneusz Lukaszewski’s BIO…

Most people at Corpus Christi Church know Dr. Ireneusz Lukaszewski for his voice. What most of us didn’t know for the past 22 years of his service at the parish, is what an internationally renowned musician, composer and director we have had in our midst. Reading Professor Lukaszewski’s bio below, we can all be inspired by his humility. In light of his accomplishments, we are especially grateful for his community involvement. The Villa Maria Chorale and the Quo Vadis Choir have performed on Buffalo’s East Side (St. John Kanty’s, St. Ann’s, St. Stanislaus, etc.) countless times. Dr. Lukaszewski also has invited choirs from Poland and Lithuania to perform in our neighborhood. While he has retired from playing the organ at Corpus Christi, he continues to lead the two aforementioned choirs, teach at Villa Maria College as well as in his home.
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Dr. Ireneusz Lukaszewski studied under renowned mentors from Poland and abroad earning master degrees in piano, voice, and conducting from music conservatories in Gdansk and Poznan and an advanced degree from Warsaw. He has performed with his choirs in almost all capital cities of Europe and traveled the crossroads from Moscow to Lisbon and Stockholm to Athens. He has also gone as far as Asia and South America.

He has won the coveted Grand Prix awards in International Choral Competitions recognized as the most prestigious such as Cork (Ireland), Arezzo (Italy), Varna (Bulgaria), and Vienna (Austria). International Music Festivals in which he has participated include those in Barcelona (Catalonia), Loreto (Italy), Lincoln Center (New York), Kennedy Center (Washington), Culture Center (Philippines), St. Petersburg (Russia), and Poznan (Poland). In the Soviet Union, he conducted the first performance of the Passion according to St. Matthew in that country.

By special invitation on four separate occasions, Prof. Lukaszewski has performed with his choirs for His Holiness Pope John Paul II in the Vatican during private audiences.

Prof. Lukaszewski has published articles and a manual for conductors about vocal technique and choral arts. He has presented master’s seminars for conductors. Several prominent universities have invited him as a guest lecturer and he has served as juror for choral competitions. His teaching career has spanned 25 years in Poland and over 20 years in the United States.

As a vocal soloist, he has performed on radio programs and in recitals in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

His compositions include hundreds of vocal, choral, and choral-instrumental music. Many have been commissioned for special occasions, such as the visit of Pope John Paul II to Poland in 1987 and 1999, and the Ignacy. Paderewski anniversary celebration. His compositions have been recorded and performed by ensembles in America and abroad.

His skill as organizer of International Festivals and Choral gatherings has brought excellent choirs, conductors, and ensembles together. He has arranged artistic tours that promote worldwide fellowship, artistic cooperation, and cultural exchange.