Henryk Mikołaj Górecki (1933-2010) - composer. Graduated from the Katowice Academy of Music, where he later lectured, before becoming professor there and rector (1975-1979). In the 1960s, alongside Krzysztof Penderecki and Wojciech Kilar, he created the Polish avant garde school and a new direction in modern music known as Sonorism. Górecki's greatest success is his Third Symphony (ther Symphony of Sorrowful Songs: more than 700, 000 copies have been sold). His musical achievements are impressive. His compositions include his mazurkas for the piano (1980), the First String Quartet 'The night has come' (1988), his Flute Concerto (1992), and 'Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit) for a cappella choir (1993). He received many awards and titles, e.g. the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2003) and the Order of the White Eagle (2010).
