Scholares Minores pro Musica Antiqua to Perform at Galeria at Orchard Lake Schools on July 10
ORCHARD LAKE, Mich. — The Polish Institute of Culture & Research at Orchard Lake (PICROL) is honored to welcome forty young musicians from Poniatowa, Poland, near Lublin, for a special concert by the internationally acclaimed Scholares Minores pro Musica Antiqua on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Galeria at the Orchard Lake Schools.
This family-friendly evening will feature Renaissance and Baroque sacred music performed on historical instruments and accompanied by authentic period costumes and traditional dances. A complimentary reception and family activities will follow the performance.
Founded in 1975 by distinguished musicologists Danuta and Witold Danielewicz, Scholares Minores pro Musica Antiqua has spent five decades preserving and sharing Europe’s rich musical heritage. Together with associated choirs and ensembles, the organization brings together nearly 200 children and young people and recently celebrated the Golden Jubilee of both the ensemble and the artistic careers of its founders.
Over the past fifty years, the young artists of Poniatowa have performed more than 3,000 concerts and completed 127 artistic tours throughout Europe and around the world, including appearances in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Turkey, Mexico, Ecuador, and nearly every country in Europe. Their work has been featured in more than 100 radio and television productions and documented through numerous recordings.
The ensemble’s performances combine vocal music, historical dance, and faithful reproductions of early instruments, including violins, viola da gambas, shawms, crumhorns, cornamuses, Gothic harps, hurdy-gurdies, and recorders. Their colorful costumes and extraordinary musicianship transport audiences back centuries while preserving traditions for future generations.
“This journey to Michigan is about much more than music,” said Anna Karwat, Director of Scholares Minores pro Musica Antiqua. “It is an opportunity for our young people to encounter new friends, deepen their appreciation of their heritage, and share with audiences the beauty and joy of the musical traditions that have been entrusted to us. We are grateful for the warm welcome that awaits us and look forward to strengthening the bonds between Poland and the Polish-American community.”
The July 10 concert marks the first stop of the ensemble’s Michigan-only tour and begins several days of cultural exchange made possible through the generosity of local organizations and volunteers.
“We are deeply honored to welcome these remarkable young ambassadors from Poniatowa to Orchard Lake,” said Ania Bieciuk, Associate Director for Polonia Affairs at the Polish Institute of Culture & Research. “For more than 50 years, Scholares Minores pro Musica Antiqua has safeguarded a priceless musical and spiritual tradition. Their visit reminds us that culture is not merely inherited. It is entrusted to each generation. We are grateful for the opportunity to introduce these gifted young people to Michigan and to share with our community an experience that will inspire families, strengthen ties with Poland, and create memories that will last a lifetime.”
Special thanks are extended to the Polish Scouting Organization of Michigan, Srodek’s Campau Quality Sausage Company, Irena’s Pastry & Bistro, Orchard Lake Schools, and the Polish Cavalry Reenactors for their generosity and support in making this visit possible.
Admission is free, but reservations are requested.
Friday, July 10, 2026
7:00 p.m.
Galeria at the Orchard Lake Schools
3535 Indian Trail
Orchard Lake, Michigan 48324
Reserve your spot at www.picrol.org.
SUPPORT THE YOUTH TOUR
Community members who wish to support the visit of the forty children and their chaperones are invited to contribute to the official GoFundMe campaign, which helps offset transportation and hospitality costs associated with the Michigan tour.
Support Polish Youth Concert Tour in Michigan
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-polish-youth-concert-tour-in-michigan
About the Polish Institute of Culture & Research at Orchard Lake
Founded in 1885, the Polish Institute of Culture & Research at Orchard Lake preserves and promotes Polish and Polish American history, culture, faith, and traditions through exhibitions, lectures, concerts, educational programs, and archival collections. Located on the campus of Orchard Lake Schools, PICROL is one of North America’s leading centers dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the Polish experience.