Janina Garścia

Janina Garścia was born in Krakow in 1920. She was a prominent music teacher and composer. In 1945 she graduated from the Władysław Żeleński State Secondary School of Music in Krakow (piano), in which she later taught between 1945–50. At the same time, she studied composition with Stanisław Wiechowicz and conducting with Artur Malawski at the State Higher School of Music in Krakow. From 1951, she taught piano at the 1st degree State Music School in Krakow. She was a laureate of awards and distinctions for works for children, in 1975 she received the Gold Badge of the City of Krakow, and in 1979 – the Medal of the National Education Commission. In 1983 she was awarded the Knight’s Cross Order of Polonia Restituta. Janina Garścia’s numerous compositions enriched children’s school literature. Her pieces gained international fame and place in repertoire mainly due to perfect adaptation to school needs and interesting tonal colors, going beyond the limits of major-minor tonality. The composer gave the most attention to the piano, writing works intended for primary schools. She died in Krakow in March 2004.