"Sound of Freedom" - Polish Classical Music Concert in Cape Town - Poland in South Africa

"Sound of Freedom" - Polish Classical Music Concert in Cape Town

23.04.2026

To commemorate the 235th anniversary of the adoption of the 3 May Constitution and the 32nd anniversary of the first democratic elections after apartheid and the introduction of the new constitution in South Africa (Freedom Day), the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria, in cooperation with the Holocaust and Genocide Centre in Cape Town, organized a concert of Polish classical music.

A performance of two artists: Karolina Mikołajczyk stands on the left in a long black dress, playing the violin; Iwo Jedencki sits on the right, playing the accordion.

The concert, brilliantly performed by Polish artists Karolina Mikołajczyk and Iwo Jedencki, featured works by Fryderyk Chopin, Grażyna Bacewicz, Karol Szymanowski, Aleksander Tansman, and Szymon Laksman. The Karolina & Iwo duo is one of the most interesting chamber ensembles of the younger generation, winners of the prestigious "Polityka Passports" in the classical music category. The musicians draw on well-known works of chamber literature, arranging them for a violin-accordion duo. The ensemble also performs contemporary music and collaborates with leading Polish composers.

The event was moderated by Jakub Nowakowski, director of CTHGC.

The concert, which broke all stereotypes regarding instrumentation and defied established repertoire patterns, was met with great interest and appreciation from the audience.

After the concert, all interested parties had the opportunity to participate in the regular meeting of the Polish Success Club. The organization, an independent platform for Polish professionals from various industries operating in South Africa and southern African countries, was founded last year. The Club's goal is to integrate professionals and support each other in their professional challenges. During the meeting, Jakub Nowakowski, director of CTHGC, and Dominique Gawlowski, managing director of the South African independent development studio Free Lives, shared their experiences in adapting to new conditions and learning about local realities.

We sincerely thank all participants for their attendance, and we hope to hear the Karolina & Iwo Duo perform again in South Africa in 2027.

Photos: Grażyna Koornhof/ Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria

Photos (5)

A poster - an invitation to the concert. The photo shows the Karolina Mikołajczyk and Iwo Jedencki duo. The concert title is Sound of Freedom; in the background, the interior of the synagogue.

A concert hall; a large audience is seated on both sides of the aisle; in the background, artists – Karolina Mikołajczyk is talking to the audience about the conductors; Iwo Jedencki is sitting on the right side of the stage with an accordion, listening to the artist's speech.

A large audience is gathered; a spectator is applauding in the foreground.

Participants are seated with their backs to us, listening to the lecture; a monitor is in the background; on the monitor screen is a photo of Dominique Gawlowski, who is entering the stage to deliver her lecture; the room lights are dimmed.