About us

The Choir was founded in 1990 by Joseph A. Herter, with assistance from Ryszard Gieros and Alfred Stefankiewicz. Almost since they very beginning, it has been affiliated with St. John’s Basilica in Warsaw, initially as a boy’s choir. It has performed with many Polish and foreign symphony orchestras. Foreign tours have taken the choir to over twenty countries. It has won numerous awards at international choral competitions. In 2016, Franciszek Kubicki succeeded Joseph Herter as conductor of Cantores Minores.

In recent years the choir has scored several notable successes, including:

– Grand Prix and Gold Diploma at the 7th National Sacred Music Competition „Hope in the Choir” in Tykocin (2024).
– Golden and silver diploma at the 5th 'Cantu Gaudeamus’ Choir Competition in Białystok (2021).
– First Prize at the ‘Sacrosong’ International Festival of Religious and Patriotic Songs in Otwock (2018).
– First Prize (Golden Diploma) in the chamber choir category at the 27th Festival of Advent and Christmas Songs in Prague (2017).
– Grand Prix and First Prize at the 4th ‘Carmen Fidei’ International Choral Competition in Łomża (2017).
– Second Prize at the ‘Cracovia Cantans’ International Competition (2017).
– Grand Prix and First Prize at the Sacred Song Festivals in Grójec (2017,2018, 2019).
– First Prize at the 12th ‘Varsovia Cantat’ International Competition (2016).

The choir has a broad repertoire including Gregorian chant, a cappella sacred works (for Lent and Advent, Passion songs, Christmas carols), as well as patriotic and popular songs. It also performs at religious ceremonies in other churches and at various cultural events. The choir sings at St. John’s Basilica during Mass every fourth Sunday of the month as well as during major church holidays. Cantores Minores is a co-founder of the Polish Section of the International Federation of Pueri Cantores. In 2018 the choir has released a CD featuring a selection of Christmas carols (CM 001) and in 2020 a special anniversary album Cantores Minores – 30 years (CM 002).

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Members

Board

Joseph A. Herter Late Honorary Conductor - Founder of the Cantores Minores Choir
Michael J. Oczko Late Pianist, Organist and Composer
Ryszard Gieros Honorary Chairman and Founder of Cantores Minores Choir
Franciszek Kubicki Conductor
Henryk Grocholski Chairman of the Board and Chorister
Michał Ossowski Vice President and Chorister
Jarosław Smolarz Treasurer
Tomasz Praczyk Secretary and Chorister
Jakub Caban Board Member and Chorister
Jakub Kopryk Chairman of Revision Committee and Chorister
Adam Lorenc Revision Committee Member and Chorister
Marcin Krzeczunowicz Revision Committee Member and Chorister