Aleksander Zarzycki

As a pianist, Zarzycki had studied with Viole in Berlin and gave concerts in Poznan, Krakow, Warsaw, Germany and England. He also studied composition in Paris with Reber and Reinecke. In Poland Zarzycki helped to establish the Warsaw Music Society and the Musical Institute with Paderewski as one of its teachers. In education Zarzycki was instrumental in elevating the standards of the school by improving its teachers and developing a number of the string classes along these same lines. He not only conducted the student orchestra but took some classes as well. Compositions by Zarzycki included songbooks that were at best derivative from Moniuszko and instrumental works for chamber or salon performance also influenced by a composer, Chopin. ~ Keith Johnson