The Union of Polish Artists Violin Makers (ZPAL), currently associating more than a hundred members professionally engaged in the profession, was founded in 1954 under the name of the Association – in 1981, it changed to the Union.
The list of founders, next to luthiers, included the names of outstanding creators of Polish violin culture, musicians: Irena Dubiska, Eugenia Uminska, Wanda Wilkomirska, Tadeusz Wronski, composers: Andrzej Panufnik, Zbigniew Wiszniewski, Kazimierz Sikorski and Bogdan Marconi – painter, graphic designer, authority in the field of conservation of works of art, musician as well as Zdzislaw Szulc – founder of the Museum of Musical Instruments in Poznań. It was thanks to their initiative and efforts that an organization was created, whose main task was to work for the rebirth and development of Polish luthier art. Over a hundred professional luthiers who are now members of ZPAL have replaced a dozen or so amateur luthiers from the 1950s, thanks to their efforts. They defined the goals of our organization and managed the activities of the Union.
Since its creation, ZPAL has organized nationwide and international symposia, seminars, and courses. It helps its members in professional and living matters. To share information and professional experience, it collaborates with foreign luthier organizations and arranges member participation in international violin-making competitions. On the initiative of the Union, a base for the education of young adepts of violin making was created in our country. Currently, there are two secondary schools in Poland, that have luthier education in their programs: The A. Kenar High Art School in Zakopane and A. Karłowicz High School of Music in Poznań. Graduates of these schools can continue their education in violin making at the I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznan. For many years, this Academy has been conducting research into the history and theory of luthiers’ art and acoustics. In the headquarters of ZPAL, a specialized library was created, that includes the most valuable global publications in the field of violin making. It can be used not only by luthiers but also by musicologists, educators, and students of music
schools.
Since 1961, ZPAL has been running the Luthiers’ Instruments Collection, established by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Currently, the collection consists of about 300 master instruments and bows, among them dozens of children’s violins (1/4, 1/2, 3/4). The Collection is accessible to musicians, students, and music school students.
The Union is a co-organizer of H. Wieniawski International Violin Making Competitions held since 1957 by the H. Wieniawski Music Society in Poznań, as well as the W. Kamiński Polish National Violin Making Competition in Poznań.
Modern Polish luthiery has already established its position in the world. This is due to the success of individual artists in many international competitions and exhibitions, including the A. Stradivarius Competition in Cremona, the P. Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the H. Wieniawski Competition in Poznań, and many others (Mittenwald, Prague, Sofia, Nachod, Dolny Kubin). These successes have also been a result of ZPAL’s sixty years of activity.
