Social Programme & Tours

Social Programme

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Piano recital at the opening of the 23rd WCDT Congress

Date: 3rd September, 2026

Marek Bracha – pianist, Poland

Marek Bracha

A versatile Polish pianist educated in Warsaw and London. As an active artist performs piano repertoire on modern and historical instruments in Europe, both Americas and Asia.
A soloist, a chamber musician, a winner of many piano competitions, a teacher, a period pianos performer, musical and cultural events media commentator, promoter of Polish music and culture worldwide.

An author of lecture recitals, introducing non-musical contexts and historical background of given piano works. His recent lecture recitals covers Ballads and Romances (inspired by the 200th anniversary of Polish Romanticism and based on the piano ballad genre), Jewish Mazurkas (dedicated to mazurkas by composers of Polish-Jewish origins) and Chopin-Tellefsen project commemorating the 150th death anniversary of the great norwegian piano composer.

Television and radio commentator, covering the International Chopin Piano Competition for Polish Radio and Television (TVP Kultura, Polskie Radio Program II, Polish Radio Chopin). A hosts of weekly radio broadcast “Musicians about Chopin” in Polish Radio Chopin.

A head and jury member of domestic and international music competitions, the most recent being International Chopin Competition in Hannover, Germany (2023) and Young Musician of the Year competition organized by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and broadcast by Polish Television (2022, the head of the jury).

Co-founder and curator of the chamber music festival WarszeMuzik, held in pre-war public spaces in Warsaw, Poland and commemorating musicians and music life of Warsaw Ghetto period. The festival resulted in two albums with works by M. Weinberg.
The pianist’s phonographic achievements also include a solo album with works by Fryderyk Chopin, published by Chopin Institute and “Modern Soul” recorded with the violinist Agata Szymczewska.

A lecturer at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw and a teacher at the music secondary school at ZPSM No. 1 in Warsaw. Marek regularly gives workshops and masterclasses in Poland and abroad, including: in Japan, China and Taiwan, both on modern and period pianos.

He first studied with Marzena Jasinska and prof. Teresa Manasterska. A graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland (prof. Alicja Paleta-Bugaj and prof. Joanna Ławrynowicz-Just class (2012), Masters of Music at the Royal College of Music in London (Kevin Kenner class) and postgraduate studies in piano with Vanessa Latarche and in period instruments with Geoffrey Govier (2012).

Tours Programme

Below tours will be available for purchase soon.

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Warsaw Walking tour

Dates:
3rd September, 2026
5th September, 2026

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Tour details

Start time: 9:30 am at the Hilton Hotel
Duration: 2,5 hours
Type: walking tour
Number of places on the trip: 25
Price: free of charge – reservation required

Included: the private English speaking local guide

Sightseeing tour of Warsaw includes the Castle Square, where you can see the statue of King Sigismund’s Column and the 15th century Gothic Castle expanded throughout centuries, the seat of kings of Poland. It was where the May 3rd Constitution was promulgated in 1791, the second constitution in the world, next to the US. Admire St. John’s Cathedral and walk through the Market Square full of finest restaurants, gift shops or galleries. Finally pass the late-Gothic structure by John Baptist of Venice – the Barbican which leads into the New Town. At the Krasinski Square stop by the Monument of Warsaw’s Uprising. Drive via Royal Route with its aristocratic residences, Tomb of Unknown Soldier, building of Warsaw’s Grand Opera and National Theatre House erected by Antonio Corazzi and the 17th century Baroque church with the urn with ashes of Frederic Chopin’s heart brought from Paris and placed here.

The end of the tour in the Old Town Market Square.

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Wilanow Palace and Park private half day tour - on request

Date:
3rd September, 2026

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Tour details

Start time: 9:30 am at the Hilton Hotel
Duration: 3 hours
Minimum number of persons: 5
Price: EUR 75

Included: private transportation, the private English speaking local guide, private visit to the Palace, entrance fee

Wilanow Palace is one of the most interesting Baroque structures in Warsaw. What makes it even more

valuable is the fact it was not destroyed during the WW II. Originally it was the home of Leszczynskich Family whose most illustrious member was Stanislaw Leszczynski’s daughter Maria, married to Louis 15th, King of France. Starting from 1667, the estate served as the royal summer residence of king Jan III Sobieski, the famous conqueror of Turks in the Battle of Vienna in 1683. The beautiful interiors consist of dozens of rooms fitted out with period furniture and decorations in various styles including the Grand Dining Room and Gallery of Polish Portraits, which boasts an extensive collection from the 16th to 19th century. Wilanow Palace is beautifully surrounded with two-level Baroque-Italian Garden and Anglo-Chinese Park that were listed in top 10 on the European Route of Historic Gardens (ERHG) by “El Mundo”.

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Chopin Countryside Tour - half day tour

Date:
4th September, 2026

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Tour details

Start time: 9:30 am at the Hilton Hotel
Duration: 5 hours
Minimum number of persons: 5
Price: EUR 80

Included: private transportation, English speaking tour escort/guide, entrance fees

This exciting tour will guide you along the old Kampinos Forest, former battlefields, charming villages and farms, and noblemen’s palaces and manor houses — the most fabulous sites of the Mazovian countryside, which inspired Chopin’s works.