The ”Scherzo” Choir (”joke” in Italian) was founded in 1987. It is mixed-choir gathering youth from Nowy Sącz’s Schools.  There are about 60 persons at the age of 15-18 in it.  The group works in two forms: as a vocal group which performs madrigals and chansons and cameral choir singing ancient music.  The group repertoire embraces mainly Renaissance and contemporary Polish music, among others the fragments of ”Carmina Burana” C. Orff and ”Misa Criolla” by A. Ramirez.   The choir won a lot of prizes in All-Polish Competitions. It recorded and issued two cassettes with its own repertoire.  It gave concerts abroad, for example in Germany, Italy, France, Belgium and in England. In 1993 and in 1997 it gave concerts to the Pope John Paul II. Moreover it gave public concerts in Nowy Sącz Town Hall and some churches, it took part in many municipal and voivodship celebrations, in presented music broadcasts for schools.  In the years: 1991-95 the choir was under the auspices of Cultural Youth Centre.  In the year 1996 special Association supporting the organisation of the choir was established. The ensemble improves its level et holiday recreation-practising camps. The choir work is supported by the Ministry of Education, the Cultural Department of the Town Hall Office, the District Educational Department, the School Board and many private sponsors.

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

• ”Silver Camerton” at the School Choir Competition final in Bydgoszcz,
  
  
• The Cup and the Prize of Department of Education at All-Polish Ancient Music Groups Competition ”Schola Cantorum” in Kalisz,
• recording the song ”Return to Nowy Sącz” for the film about the town,
• tourney to Germany, concerts in Hamm, Allagen and Düsseldorf,
• The Medal of 700 Anniversary of Nowy Sącz for the choir Jubilee,
  
  
• recording and issuing the cassette ”Return to Nowy Sącz”,
• The Prize of the President of Ostrów Wlkp. at the competition ”Schola Cantorum” in Kalisz,
• ”Silver Camerton” at the School Choir Competition final in Bydgoszcz,
• participation in Stary Sącz Ancient Music Festival,
• the journey to Italy and general audience with the Pope John Paul II in Vatican, the Polish Mass
  and private audience in Castel Gandolfo,
• participation in ”Eurotreff Music” Festival in Schwäbisch Gmünd in Germany, concerts in Hamm
  and in Schwerte,
  
  
• ”Braun Eol Harp” at the competition ”Schola Cantorum” in Kalisz,
• performance in TV Cracow,
• ”Silver Camerton” at the School Choir Competition in Bydgoszcz,
• the performance in Stary Sącz at ”Ancient Music Festival”,
• cultural exchange with the ”Aristide Briand” choir in Saint-Nazaire in France,
• concerts in Schwerte and in Schwäbisch Gmünd in Germany,
  
  
• ”Silver Eol Harp” at the competition ”Schola Cantorum” in Kalisz,
• Award at All-Polish Choir Competition ”Legnica Cantat”,
• concerts in Allersberg and Hilpoltstein in Germany,
• participation in the festival ”Jubilaei Cantus” in Nowy Sącz,
  
  
• ”Golden and Silver Eol Harps” and prizes of the Ministry of Culture and the Major of  Kalisz
  at the ”Schola Cantorum” competition,
• ”Silver Camerton” at the School Choir Competition in Bydgoszcz,
• the 3rd place at the International Choir Competition in Neerpelt in Belgium,
• the journey to England, concerts in Bristol,
  
  
• the journey to Italy and private audience with the Pope in Castel Gandolfo.
  

Andrzej Citak - musician, educator, choirmaster, the founder and director of the choir „Scherzo”. He was born in 1959. He completed the Academy of Music in Cracow and Postgraduation Choirmaster Studies in Bydgoszcz. He is a teacher in the State Music School in Nowy Sącz.

TheFirst Jan Długosz Grammar School in Nowy Sącz is the oldest school in the region. It was founded in 1818. During 180 years over 10 000 graduates left school. Nowadays over 1500 pupils is educated by 85 teachers.

Nowy Sącz    is the town in the south region of Poland. It was founded in 1292 by the Czech King Waclav II. It lies at the old trade route to Hungary, near the Tatra Mountains, among two rivers: The Kamienica and the Dunajec. The town has 80 000 inhabitants employed in several establishments and trade and craft service. It is an excellent place for tourism and recreation.