Andrzej Panufnik

Sir Andrzej Panufnik was a Polish composer and conductor, born on 24 September 1914 in Warsaw. As one of the leading Polish composers, he played a pivotal role in re-establishing the Warsaw Philharmonic orchestra after World War II. Feeling constrained by the regime's demands, he defected to the UK in 1954 and acquired British citizenship. He briefly served as the chief conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra but later devoted his time solely to composition. Panufnik's early interest in music was bolstered by his grandmother's piano lessons, despite his father's initial resistance to a musical career. He studied composition and conducting at the Warsaw Conservatory, excelling academically and supplementing his learning with studies under Felix Weingartner in Vienna. His compositions blend a unique style, avoiding dodecaphonic music but striving for artistic unity within his works.