About
A choir without borders
Ad libitum was founded in 1999 in Wodzisław Śląski. Our singers live in towns across Silesia and share one thing: the joy of a common sound. We sing early, contemporary and multimedia repertoire, premiere works by Polish and international composers, and our voices carry from intimate churches to stadiums.
Our story
The Silesian Chamber Choir Ad libitum was founded in 1999 near Wodzisław Śląski, Poland, by Prof. Izabella Zielecka-Panek, who has conducted it ever since. For years the ensemble was associated with the Basilica in Pszów, and its core was formed by former singers of the University of Silesia Choir “Harmonia” from Cieszyn. Since 2021 the choir has been part of Fundacja Muzyka Bez Granic (Music Without Borders Foundation).
Our singers live in towns all over Silesia and include conductors, teachers, music therapists, lecturers, business people and students. What unites them is making music with passion.
Repertoire
We sing early and sacred music – from Lotti, Bach and Pergolesi to Mozart, Rossini and Fauré – as well as major 20th and 21st century works such as Orff’s Carmina Burana, Ramírez’s Misa Criolla and Arnesen’s Magnificat. We have premiered many works by Polish and international composers; Karol Pyka wrote his “Hymn o Krzyżu” for us. We also revive Silesian music, from the songs of Cieszyn Silesia to the forgotten works of Richard Kügele.
We love light-hearted programmes too: songs of the 1920s–40s, TV themes arranged by Krzesimir Dębski, and multimedia shows. We have performed at NOSPR, NFM, the National Philharmonic in Warsaw and in stadiums on sanah’s “Uczta nad ucztami” tour.
Our passion is music; our aim – making music with passion.
The choir has won some 50 awards at international competitions, released 9 albums and performed in around fifteen countries. On its 25th anniversary in 2024 it received the Polish Ministry of Culture’s “Meritorious for Polish Culture” badge.
On the same stage
Musical encounters
Artists and ensembles with whom we have shared the stage.
Invite us to performOur musical collaborations
- sanah
- Krzesimir Dębski
- Beata Kozidrak
- Andrzej Lampert
- Anna Maria Jopek
- Dawid Podsiadło
- Kayah
- Urszula
- Garou
- Aleksandra Kurzak
- Roberto Alagna
- Krzysztof i Piotr Cugowscy
- Józef Broda
- Polska Orkiestra Muzyki Filmowej
- Orkiestra Śląskich Kameralistów
From the choir archive
Our story in pictures
History
From Wodzisław to the stages of Europe
The first rehearsal
Izabella Zielecka-Panek founds a chamber choir near Wodzisław Śląski, built around singers of the University of Silesia Choir “Harmonia”.
“Z biegiem Olzy”
An album of songs from Cieszyn Silesia and a performance at the Międzyzdroje festival.
“Muzycznych Wspomnień Czar”
A programme and album of 1920s–40s hits in arrangements written especially for the choir.
Świdnica and the Philippines
Opening concert of the Nowowiejski Festival in the Church of Peace and a tour of the Philippines with “Harmonia”.
Singing apart
During the pandemic the choir records “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” remotely.
Music Without Borders Foundation
The choir becomes the foundation’s ensemble, wins a first-degree laureate diploma at “Syberiada 2021” and gives four concerts in Košice.
On stadium stages with sanah
“Bankiet u sanah” in concert halls and the “Uczta nad ucztami” stadium tour. Premiere of the TV-themes programme “Seria(l) dźwięków”.
25 years and Carmina Burana
An anniversary Carmina Burana with former and current singers, the “Meritorious for Polish Culture” badge and a Fryderyk nomination.
Gozo and Kügele
A concert on Gozo (Malta), Arnesen’s Magnificat in Katowice and a concert marking 100 years since Richard Kügele’s death.
Conductor
Prof. Izabella Zielecka-Panek
Choral conductor and Professor of Musical Arts (conducting) at the Institute of Musical Arts, University of Silesia in Cieszyn. She studied organ in Wrocław, at the Academy of Music in Katowice and at the Staatliche Musikhochschule in Stuttgart.
For many years she led the University of Silesia Choir “Harmonia”, and in 1999 she founded Ad libitum. With her ensembles she has won some 75 international competition awards, recorded 19 albums and given more than a thousand concerts. She has prepared choirs for Andrea Bocelli, “The Lord of the Rings in Concert” and sanah’s concert tours.
She is President of Fundacja Muzyka Bez Granic, director of the Prof. Józef Świder International Festival of Music in Cieszyn, a board member of the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras and Silesian regional curator of the “Akademia Chóralna – Śpiewająca Polska” programme.
Conductor's honours
- Brązowy Medal „Zasłużony Kulturze Gloria Artis” (2025)
- Złoty Wawrzyn Wodzisławia Śląskiego (2018)
- Gorzycka Perła Gminy Gorzyce (2018)
- Nagroda Rektora UŚ za wybitne promowanie Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
- Złota Odznaka „Zasłużona dla Uniwersytetu Śląskiego”
- Złota Odznaka z Laurem Polskiego Związku Chórów i Orkiestr
- Złoty Laur Ziemi Cieszyńskiej (z Chórem UŚ „Harmonia”)
- Złoty Laur Umiejętności i Kompetencji Śląskiej Izby Gospodarczej (z Chórem UŚ „Harmonia”)
For promoters
Invite Ad libitum to your stage
A cappella and orchestral concerts, ceremonies, multimedia and festival projects. Write to us and we will tailor a programme to your venue and occasion.