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Katowice in race for UNESCO City of Music title

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 07.12.2015 12:55
The Silesian capital of Katowice has applied for membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of music, with the decision due to be announced on Friday, 11 December.
The Seat of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) in Katowice. Photo: wikimedia commons/Bartłomiej BarczykThe Seat of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) in Katowice. Photo: wikimedia commons/Bartłomiej Barczyk

The list of other of candidates competing for the title has not been disclosed, but according to the spokesman for the Katowice bid Łukasz Kałębasiak, the competition is undoubtedly strong.

He told the Polish Press Agency that by applying for the Cities of Music Network Katowice wants to highlight its status as a major European music centre, boasting such prestigious ensembles as the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra with its recently-opened concert hall, the Silesian Philharmonic, the Silesian Quartet, and the Camerata Silesia Choir. Katowice is also the venue of thirty music festivals and has a long-standing tradition of amateur music-making, with over a hundred choirs and miners’ orchestras.

The title of the UNESCO City of Music is currently held by nine places: Bogota (Colombia), Bologna (Italy), Seville (Spain), Glasgow (United Kingdom), Ghent (Belgium), Brazzaville (The Congo), Hamamatsu (Japan), and Mannheim and Hanover in Germany. Katowice would be the first Central European city on the list.

The only other Polish city in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is Kraków. In 2013 it was named a UNESCO City of Literature. (mk/nh)

tags: Katowice, UNESCO
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