ABSOLWENT SPECJALNOŚCI „MUZYKA KOŚCIELNA” WOBEC ZAWODOWEJ RZECZYWISTOŚCI

Each year an increasing interest in university studies leading to a degree in church music can be observed. Students of both Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes demonstrate profound knowledge and skills. Their music profile is characterized by four dispositions: an organist, a conductor, a cantor and a music animator. A question arises, however, whether these studies face up to the expectations of both the students themselves and their future employers. A survey carried out among seventeen graduates of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław aims to provide an answer to questions concerning their professional paths. A few aspects have been analysed: terms of employment, working hours and working conditions, the graduates’ contribution into the cultural activity of the parish and, last but not least, the relevance of various elements of their education in their professional life. As well as that, the article also presents some observations regarding the solutions to the problems disclosed by the survey, focusing on broadly defined education, on promoting good standards and the necessity of cooperation between the Church and the laity. The Author of the article – inspired by the words of Pope John Paul II – is trying to outline a perspective which even individual musicians need to attempt to work towards. She proceeds to conclude that the “world we live in needs beauty so as not to slip into hopelessness. Beauty, just like truth, pours joy into human hearts.” (John Paul II “A Letter to Artists”)