The Sudeten Philharmonic (first name Wałbrzych Philharmonic) was established in 1978 on the initiative of local authorities and the musical community. Previously, the Wałbrzych Symphony Orchestra operated here, many of whose musicians joined the Sudeten Philharmonic. Director Józef Wiłkomirski was asked to create a new musical institution, and he managed to recruit musicians in a very short time. On September 1, 1978, the 69-piece orchestra began rehearsals, and on October 5 it gave its first concert in Hradec Kralove (in the then Czechoslovakia). The official inauguration took place in Wałbrzych on November 24 of the same year.
Over the 45 years of its activity, the Sudeten Philharmonic has developed a very wide repertoire based on Polish, as well as Czech and German musical traditions. The influences of these three cultures have intersected for centuries in Lower Silesia, thanks to which the works presented by the Sudeten Philharmonic Orchestra are warmly received in each of these countries.
Since the beginning of its activity, the Philharmonic has been inviting Polish and foreign artists to collaborate. Thanks to this, it had the opportunity to perform concerts with such artists as Wanda Wiłkomirska, Piotr Paleczny, Valery Oistrakh, Leszek Możdżer, Katarzyna Duda, Adam Makowicz, Atsuko Seta, Paul Gulda, Akiko Nakajima, Tomasz Strahl, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Wojciech Michniewski, Wojciech Czepiel, Tadeusz Strugała, Tadeusz Wojciechowski, Krzysztof and Jakub Jakowicz, Vladimir Kiradjiev, Beata Bilińska, Vadim Brodski, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Agata Szymczewska, Janusz Wawrowski, Andrzej Jagodziński, Markiian Ivashkevich, Marcin Zdunik, Karolina Jaroszewska, Anna Jurksztowicz, Grażyna Brodzińska, Agnieszka Rehlis, Dariusz Stachura, Adam Zdunikowski, Adam Szerszeń, Jose Torres and many others.
The Sudeten Philharmonic places emphasis on educational activities for children and young people. School and kindergarten music lessons take place in Wałbrzych and in small towns and villages in Lower Silesia, introducing listeners to the world of music during meetings whose topics change each season. These have included: “The World Painted with Music” and “Inspirations”, “Travels with Notelet” and “Musical Travels of Koszałek Opałek”, “Muse with Class”, “Classics for Young People”, “Musical Travels”, “A Coffer of Music”, “Greek Gifts”, “Musical Kaleidoscope”, “Dancing Map of the World”, “Musical Little Things”, “Spring Painted with Folklore”, “Where the Sounds Live” and many others. Children and teenagers are introduced to the sound of instruments, learn about the history and culture of various nations, and through musical fun and games, they learn about the works of composers from Europe and other continents.
For 45 years, we have achieved a very high artistic level thanks to the work of all the institution’s employees, and above all, musicians who often come to Wałbrzych “for a while”, then set down roots and now entire musical families work here. Thus, the Sudeten Philharmonic has become part and parcel of the cultural life of the city and the region. Having such rich experience and 45 years of practice in organising all kinds of concerts big and small, we can be confident about its future, because we know that it will continue to write its history in this city.
By resolution No. XXIII/558/20 of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Assembly of October 29, 2020, the Philharmonic changed its name to Józef Wiłkomirski Sudeten Philharmonic in Wałbrzych.
Directors of the Sudeten Philharmonic:
- Józef Wiłkomirski – January 1, 1978 – November 30, 2005 – General and Artistic Director of the Sudeten Philharmonic
- Dariusz Mikulski – September 1, 2005 – December 31, 2010 – Director of the Sudeten Philharmonic
- Stanisław Rybarczyk – October 1, 2010 – December 19, 2010 – Director of the Sudeten Philharmonic
- Jerzy Kosek – December 20, 2010 – August 31, 2014 – Director of the Sudeten Philharmonic
- Elżbieta Łaganowska – September 1, 2014 – August 31, 2022 – Director of the Sudeten Philharmonic
- Agnieszka Franków-Żelazny – from September 1, 2022 – Director of the Sudeten Philharmonic
