Gabriel Chmura

Gabriel Chmura, one of the best Polish conductors, was born May 7 1946 in Wrocław. He started learning music with Adam Kopyciński, former director of Wrocław Opera. In 1957 he emigrated with his family to Israel, where he continued his musical education. In 1964 he started studying conducting, composition and piano at Music Academy in Tel Awiw. In 1986-69 he continued his conducting studies at École Normale de Musique in Paris with Pierre Dervaux and in 1969-71 at Vienna Music Academy with Hans Swarovsky.
He is the laureate of many prestigous rewards in main conducting contests in the world including the first prize at Conductiong Competiton w Besançon, Gold Medal at Concorso Cantelli in Milano and the first prize at Hebert von Karajan Competition in Berlin.
In 1974-1991 he was the artistic director of Aachen Opera (Germany), Symphony Orchestra, Bochum (Germany), National Orchestra in Ottawa (Canada). He has conducted such orchestras as: Berliner Philarmoniker, Orchestre National de France, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic and NHK Tokyo. He has regularly cooperated with Berliner Symphonie Orchester and Liège Philharmonic. He is also the principal guest conductor of OFUNAM Orchestra in Mexico City. In Poland he has colaborated with Cracow Philharmonic Orchestra, Poznań Philharmonic and National Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2001–2007 he was the artistic director of National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio in Katowice.
Gabriel Chmura has recorded with London Symphony Orchestra for DG and with radio orchestras in Berlin and Munich for CBS. Lazar by Franz Schubert under his baton was awarded Grand Prix du Disque Mondial de Montreux. The recordings of Joseph Haydn symphonies done with National Arts Centre Orchestra for CBS was acknowledged Best Choice by American Record Guide and was nominated to Juno Canadian award.