Dear Friends, as promised, as of February 15, 2023 we are accepting applications for the “Vistula Sounds” International Vocal Festival & Competition (2nd edition) in Ciechocinek. Per the Festival Regulation, we will close accepting applications on May 1, 2023. All details concerning the Festival have been published in the “Vistula Sounds” tab of the SSCE Agency at www.ce.sarsargsyan.com ; you will find the application form there, too. All relevant information is available in Polish and English.

Another edition of the Christmas Talent League, an international music competition, was held on 7-8 January 2023 in Vilnius. Thanks to SSCE Poland was represented by 3 contestants who competed in different age and genre categories. Here are the results: Julia Markowska – 1^stprize, Kinga Linkiewicz – 1^stprize, the duo Kinga Linkiewicz and Paweł Jarocki – 2^ndprize. Congratulations to the winners! Wishing you continued success.

The artistic director of SSCE, Sar Sargsyan, was one of the judges of the competition in Vilnius.

The event was organized by Ars Festa and SSCE is the sole official representative of all ARS FESTA competitions. Sincere thanks to the organizers for the high quality of the event and top-notch professional organization. Thank you for a very warm welcome.

Dearest Friends, we are about to leave 2022. Many things have happened over the year in Sar’s artistic career, including performances, festivals, competitions, and recordings. The most prominent event of the year, however, was the initiation of the “Vistula Sounds” International Festival and Singing Competition in Ciechocinek – a dream come true for the founder and artistic director. To show the gratitude for the city, the local authorities and residents, Sar has come up with a New Year surprise – his own interpretation of the iconic Ciechocinek song, “Na deptaku w Ciechocinku” (or “Walking the Streets of Ciecocinek”). The song turned out to be a major challenge for Sar due to a distinct style adopted. All in all, we hope listening to it will be a pleasure to all those who cherish Ciechocinek and like Sar’s singing. According to the lyrics, one that laughs is not a sinner, but gets healthier and better. We are wishing you all much laughter and joy in 2023!

Lyrics by Tadeusz Stanisławski, music by Urszula Rzeczkowska, arrangements by Alexandra Maghakyan, mix and mastering by Stephan Berudzanyan; recording made at the “Spox music” studio in Warsaw; photograph by Michał Ignar.

Dear Friends, this year has been special for us because it saw the premiere of the “Vistula Sounds” festival in Ciechocinek. The event proved to be a huge success, making us extremely happy. Since the first edition held in August we have undertaken significant efforts in preparation of the 2023 edition, and we would like to share some specific information on the work already completed. We have made some modifications to the Regulation and the Programme. Both documents are now available for download from the official “Vistula Sounds” website: Vistula Sounds. By popular demand from coaches and contestants we have created a separate “Bands” category covering three age groups. In the International Song Competition contestants will be allowed to sing one song only, with foreign contestants asked to perform a second piece in their native language during the special “Guests for Hosts” concert to be held on the banks of the Vistula river. This musical event will not be subject to evaluation by our judges, but will enable the foreign contestants to present their language, culture, and stage singing achievements. Although taking part in the Polish Song Competition is not mandatory in the 2023 edition of the Festival, we would like to urge all international contestants to get a better understanding of the Polish song repertoire and prepare a selected piece for presentation during the Polish Song Competition. We are very much looking forward to it. Some other changes to the 2023 edition include the following:

• the overall age bracket: 8-38 years;
• the tours program: we will offer the option to choose between a tour of Torun and the other capital of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, i.e. Bydgoszcz – a beautiful and historic city;
• the judges: 14 music professionals from Poland and abroad have been invited for the 2023 edition; each competition will be evaluated by 10 judges (9 in 2022); please see all judges and their bios on the Festival website: Judging Panel;
• the prizes: in addition to the Grand Prix and the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prizes, 3 special prizes will be awarded: the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivode Prize (certificate and trophy), the Mayor of Ciechocinek Prize (certificate and trophy), and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Marshall Prize (EUR 1,000); each of the Grand Prix will also come with a monetary prize of EUR 1,000; the Polish Song Competition prize will be sponsored by the SAWP Association in Poland.

Applications for the 2023 edition of the “Vistula Sounds” Festival will be accepted between February 1, 2023 and May 1, 2023. We are looking forward to hosting you in Ciechocinek on August 14-18, 2023!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year 2023! 

Merry Christmas! We wish you that this special time brings you joy, long-awaited moments of rest and closeness to your families and friends. May the New Year be a time of accomplishments and living out your dreams!

Thank you all for being and working with us over this year. We hope we can come together again in 2023.

50 hours! That's how long the day lasted for Illaria who returned yesterday to Poland from the emotional Junior Eurovision finals in Yerevan to sing a charity concert in Warsaw. This is how she is raising funds to buy a power generator for the children's hospital in Kharkiv where blackouts are frequent. Yesterday's concert was intimate, but also extremely emotional – after all it is all about the well-being of children in a war-torn country. Thank you so much for yesterday's donations! Much appreciated! During this special time of the year let’s put on a light of hope for the children!

Join ILLARIA during her “Світло надії”/ “Light of Hope” benefit concert on 12 December 2022, Monday, at 7pm, at the “Łowicka” Cultural Centre in Warsaw, ul. Łowicka 21. Admission is free. The concert will be a fundraiser dedicated to the purchase of an electric generator for the Regional Clinical Centre of Medical Rehabilitation and Palliative Care for Children in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

On 7-9 October 2022 the Lithuanian seaside resort of Palanga was host to the 1st International Singing Competition for Children and Youth - the Palanga Talent League. The event was organized in a beautiful concert hall by Ars Festa (managed by Asta Bagdonaviciene), represented in Poland by the SSCE Agency.
Poland was represented by Julia Markowska who won the Grand Prix and the 1st prize for her wonderful performance. Julia was invited to sing during the Finalists' Gala Concert, fully covered and to be soon aired by the Lithuanian LRT television. Congratulations, Julia! Expecting to see more of your talent soon! 

5 days of musical experiences, 12 judges and almost 100 participants from 15 countries – the Vistula Sounds presented the best vocalists and winners of the international and Polish song competitions. The gala concert held yesterday in the 100-years-old Summer Stage (Muszla Koncertowa) in Ciechocinek’s Park Zdojowy gathered honourable mention recipients, finalists and Grand Prix winners.

This major distinction went to the Polish participants: the DUO Performance in the international song contest for the amazing performance of the great hit "Time to Say Goodbye", as well as the young vocalist, Julia Rydelek, for the lyrical presentation of "Dancing Eurydices". The gala concert was opened with an atmospheric performance of "Besame Mucho" by the head judge, Grażyna Brodzińska. This was followed by other judges performing on stage: the charismatic Illaria from Ukraine and the dazzling Aldegunda from Lithuania. These were followed by performances by honourable mention recipients and award winners.

Congratulations, thank you, see you next year!

The “Vistula Sounds” Festival and Competition is an annual international musical event with the participation of contestants, jury members and guests from Poland and abroad. The event is characterized by the highest quality of artistic performance and organization. Although the Festival combines different activities of cultural, entertainment and educational nature in the fields of vocal and stage performance, the overall concept is nothing short of harmonious.
The Festival will feature 2 competitions, 3 concerts and 2 trips promoting the cities of Ciechocinek and region Kuyavia, 2 meetings providing space for international cultural exchange, as well as several masterclasses conducted by international jurors. “Vistula Sounds” is not a commercial undertaking – the goal is to promote Poland, its culture and traditions among the younger generations of Polish and international contestants and other guests. Being open to thousands of potential spectators, the festival has been developed to enrich the extensive cultural and entertainment offering of the city of Ciechocinek with an attractive, multicultural event for spa visitors, residents and tourists.
We make every effort to ensure that contestants, guests and spectators impatiently await the next edition of the “Vistula Sounds”.
More details concerning the Festival and its organization are to be found in the following tab: Vistula Sounds