Jan A. P. Kaczmarek facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jan A.P. Kaczmarek
Kaczmarek in 2011
Born	Jan Andrzej Paweł Kaczmarek (1953-04-29)29 April 1953 Konin, Poland
Died	21 May 2024(2024-05-21) (aged 71) Kraków, Poland
Alma mater	Adam Mickiewicz University (M.Jur., 1977)
Occupation	Composer
Years active	1977–2024
Spouse(s)	Elżbieta Bieluszko ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 2014)​ Aleksandra Twardowska ​ (m. 2016)​

Jan Andrzej Paweł Kaczmarek (born April 29, 1953 – died May 21, 2024) was a famous composer from Poland. He wrote music for over 70 movies and documentaries. One of his most well-known works was the music for the film Finding Neverland (2004). For this movie, he won an Oscar and a National Board of Review Award.

Some of his other popular movie scores include Hachi: A Dog's Tale, Evening, The Visitor, and Washington Square.

Early Life and Education

Jan A.P. Kaczmarek was born in 1953 in Konin, Poland. He started studying music when he was young. Later, he went to Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. He earned a law degree in 1977, focusing on legal ideas and the philosophy of law.

His Music Career

In the late 1970s, Kaczmarek began working with Jerzy Grotowski. Grotowski was known for his new ideas in theater. In 1977, Kaczmarek started his own group called the Orchestra of the Eighth Day. His first music album, Music for the End, was released in 1982 in the United States.

His music has been released by big record companies like Sony Classical, Decca, Varèse Sarabande, Verve, Epic, and Milan. He performed many concerts in both the United States and Europe.

In 2005, Kaczmarek won the Oscar for Best Original Score. This was for his work on the movie Finding Neverland. He also won the National Board of Review award for Best Score. He was nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award too.

Besides movies, Kaczmarek also wrote large musical pieces for special events in Poland. In 2005, he wrote Cantata for Freedom. This celebrated 25 years of the Solidarity movement. In 2006, he wrote Oratorio 1956. This honored 50 years since an uprising in Poznań against the government. Both of these performances were shown live on Polish TV.

Other concert pieces he wrote include Jankiel's Concert and The Open Window. In 2014, his opera Universa – Open Opera was performed in Kraków. This opera was written for the 650th anniversary of the Jagiellonian University. His last big work, Emigra – The Neverending Symphony, was performed in 2017.

Kaczmarek was a member of important film groups. These included the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was also part of the European Film Academy and the Polish Film Academy.

In 2007, Kaczmarek started working on a film institute in Poland. He wanted it to be like the Sundance Institute in the US. His goal was for it to be a European center for new ideas in film, theater, music, and new media. His Rozbitek Institute opened in 2005.

In 2015, he received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. This award was for his great artistic achievements. It also recognized his work in promoting Polish culture around the world.

Kaczmarek also started and directed the Transatlantyk Festival. This music and film festival is held every year in Łódź, Poland. In 2023, he received a Lifetime Achievement Polish Film Award. This was for his important contributions to Polish cinema.

Illness and Passing

In 2023, Jan's daughter shared that he was suffering from multiple system atrophy. This is a serious illness for which there is no cure. He passed away in Kraków on May 21, 2024, at the age of 71.

Works

Film Scores

Television Scores

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jan A. P. Kaczmarek para niños

• List of Polish composers
• List of Poles
• List of Polish Academy Award winners and nominees