Dear ACPC Members and Friends,
In this Month of Polish Heritage, when many of our members are organizing events which celebrate Polish culture and traditions, I want to mention a program in which I participated at the end of September and with which I had a personal connection.
The annual Chopiniana, hosted by our member, the American Polish Cultural Society (ACPS) in Troy, Michigan, was a brainchild of my friend Noreen Śmałek Sinclair, a respected violinist and great lover of Polish music, whose dream was to host a program with a live audience and great artists in a salon-like setting, reminiscent of those in Paris where Fryderyk Chopin would sit at the piano and play his music. From the dream and an enterprising spirit came an enduring reality and for thirty-two years now, in late September or early October, music lovers gather at the American Polish Cultural Center to share food and drink and enjoy listening to the music of the greatest Polish composer performed by outstanding pianists and other musicians. Noreen carried on her dream for years until her passing fifteen years ago. The uncertainty about the future of Chopiniana didn’t last lang as Jacqueline Kolowski took over as chair of the event. Better known as Jackie or Jadzia, she was a force to behold that not only made sure that the program continued but at times increased attendance. Notably, in 2017, over 400 guests filled the ACPC for the Chopiniana’s 25th Anniversary at which the Macomb County Symphony Orchestra performed. During and after the pandemic, the attendance declined a bit but it still was sizeable and grew again thanks to Jackie’s perseverance (some would say stubbornness) and tireless promotion. And she made sure that the artists were always top notch. Beautiful music, exquisite dining, wine and friends… almost like in Paris two centuries ago. That’s Chopiniana.
My sister Jackie died on July 11, less than three months before this year’s concert for which she was making preparations since last year. There was no question that it will go on as planned; the artists were already lined up and a committee was quickly formed to pick up the work and make the event a tribute to the person who put her soul into making it a true celebration of the beauty of Polish music. About three hundred people came to this year’s Chopiniana, one of its largest audiences. Nothing will replace our sister to her family and friends but it’s comforting to know that her work was so much appreciated and that it will be carried on for years to come.
In this Polish Heritage Month, enjoy the beauty of Polish music and celebrate Polish culture!
Celia Larkin
President, ACPC
April – May 2025: A Hearty Welcome to New Member Organizations
The ACPC is very proud to welcome the following new member organizations, the Polish Club of San Francisco, the Polish-American Club of the Triangle, Raleigh, North Carolina; the Polish American Society of Charleston, Charleston, SC; the FORUM of Polish Teachers of the US West Coast, Los Angeles, California, and the Polish American Society of Greenville, Greenville, SC. Serdecznie witamy!
Several other organizations are in the process of confirming their applications. Please reach out to Board member and Membership Chair John Cebrowski to explore membership for your organization, 603-785-0879
The American Council for Polish Culture continues to grow and flourish.
Join us on Facebook
Dear Organization Members:
The ACPC wants to share its online Facebook calendar with its affiliates and supporting organizations.
To have your event featured on our Facebook listing please go to the ACPC Facebook and click on the Message button to send your information, photos, and/or link.
Please provide the text you would like posted in a Word or pdf format. Please provide photos in a jpg format. The ACPC is looking forward to spreading awareness of Polish cultural and historic celebrations with your help.
