On 21 November 2025 at the Henryk Wieniawski Philharmonic Hall in Lublin the significant cultural event happened in the region: the Jubilee Gala “Roots and Wings”, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Medical University of Lublin.
The gala brought together university leadership, faculty, physicians, students, alumni, and distinguished guests, offering not only a moment of reflection on the university’s scientific achievements but also a celebration of the humanistic values at the heart of medical practice. The evening’s artistic centerpiece was the world premiere of Symphony A.D. 2025 (Medical), a large-scale symphonic work by Polish-American composer and pianist Jakub Polaczyk.
Symphony A.D. 2025 (Medical) was commissioned by Prof. Wojciech Załuska, Rector of the Medical University of Lublin, and initiated by Dr. Henryk Cioczek, a New York–based physician and longtime supporter of Polish artists and cultural initiatives abroad. In this work, Polaczyk draws inspiration from the history, philosophy, and ethics of medicine. The composer has spoken about engaging with ancient medical writings, including ideas rooted in the Hippocratic tradition, with the timeless principle primum non nocere (“first, do no harm”) serving as a conceptual point of departure. Through a contemporary symphonic language, the work explores the relationship between scientific progress, moral responsibility, and human compassion. The premiere was performed by the Henryk Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra in Lublin, joined by the Choir of the Medical University of Lublin under the direction of Monika Mielko-Remiszewska, with Wojciech Czepiel conducting. Together, they delivered a powerful and deeply symbolic interpretation, highlighting the intersection of medicine, humanity, and art. In addition to the symphony, the gala concert featured several recent compositions by Polaczyk,. The program also included shorter piano and orchestral pieces by the composer: Flemish Wind, American Blue Horses, and (G)reen Bu(g)atti Tan(g)o (written in memory of Tamara Łempicka whose artworks are displayed in Lublin). These works showcased the composer’s stylistic breadth, ranging from richly textured European soundscapes to American-influenced colors and avant-garde rhythmic vitality.
Symphony A.D. 2025 (Medical) unfolds as a multi-movement work in which each section reflects a different dimension of medical thought, history, and practice.
The opening Prelude is purely instrumental, establishing the ethical and emotional landscape of the symphony. Through a restrained yet expressive orchestral language, Polaczyk evokes the tension between fragility and responsibility that defines the medical profession.
The second movement, Invocazione, introduces voices for the first time. Rather than a traditional text, Polaczyk selected ten sentences drawn from medical thought across world history, forming a symbolic set of “commandments” for medicine. These statements reflect ethical principles articulated across cultures and centuries, beginning with a concept attributed to Aristotle—“Do not harm”—and extending through foundational ideas that have shaped the moral framework of medical practice. Sung by the choir, these texts create a universal invocation, linking ancient wisdom with contemporary medicine.
The third movement takes the form of a litany. Here, Polaczyk pays tribute to Nobel Prize laureates in Medicine, acknowledging scientific breakthroughs that have transformed human health. Interwoven with these references are imaginary letters from patients from around the world, expressing gratitude for care received and lives changed. These texts were created with the assistance of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the dialogue between modern technology and deeply human experience. The movement becomes a meditation on discovery, healing, and the human stories behind medical progress.
The symphony concludes with a powerful and affirmative gesture: a hymn dedicated to the physicians of the Medical University of Lublin, composed especially for the jubilee. This final section serves both as a tribute and a collective statement of values—honoring generations of doctors, educators, and students whose work embodies the university’s mission.
Together, the movements form a coherent musical narrative that connects ethics, science, compassion, and institutional identity, reinforcing the idea that medicine is not only a discipline of knowledge, but also a calling rooted in humanity. Delivered in multiple languages and culminating in the universal wish of “good health,” the moment underscored the human dimension of medicine and echoed the emotional core of Polaczyk’s symphony.
Living and working in New York is engaged in cultural life and musical exchange. He calls his music as sursytesis art where musical thinking is grounded in the deliberate synthesis of heterogeneous materials, combined with a distinctly surreal, transgressive imagination. The term can be understood as a hybrid of surreal art and synthesis, pointing toward a practice that not only integrates diverse elements but also exceeds simple stylistic combination.
Symphony A.D. 2025 (Medical) has already received recognitions, winning the Golden Award at the Brahms Online Competition, First Prize at the Beethoven Online Competition, and First Place at the Swiss Online Competition. The symphony is published by Donemus. Beyond the Lublin premiere, Polaczyk continues an active international career as a composer and pianist. His works were featured again recently at Carnegie Hall and at the Musikverein in Vienna. His compositions are published by Donemus and Universal Edition. In February 2026, his new violin work was premiered in Toronto where he also was a guest speaker at the University of Toronto New Music Festival. Upcoming engagements include a lecture at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, a concert of Polish music at the Polish Consulate in Chicago, and a lecture at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he will speak about his music. In May, his choral work for children and toy glockenspiel premiered at Carnegie Hall last year will represent Polish music at the ISCM World Music Days in Bucharest. Among his recent compositions is also "Postcard from the Avenue of the Righteous" written for the Holocaust Center at the Wagner College in New York and Trio Chodok No.3 “Gliders”. He is also currently working on a few vocal works and some of his works are going to be heard during the New York Composers Circle concerts in the city.
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