Eleven finalists, selected from nearly one hundred applications from across the country, qualified for the 8th edition of the Jonasz Kofta Actor Song Contest.

The singing was assessed by a jury composed of: Wojciech Kościelniak, Marcin Zawada, Danuta Antoszewska, Konrad Imiela, Piotr Kofta, Katarzyna Chlebny, Klementyna Umer, Krzysztof Wawrzyniak and Alicja Koga.

- The first-prize winner captivated us with her exceptional sensitivity and mature interpretation. There's a certain emotion that comes with singing on stage, and the audience fall silent because the message is so moving, important, and intense. And that was the case with Julia Jaroszewska," Wojciech Kościelniak explained the verdict. The main prize – the Jonaszek statuette and PLN 10,000, co-financed by the LodzArte foundation – was won by Julia Jaroszewska, a fourth-year acting student, who sang "Walc szczęście" by Jonasz Kofta with music by Antonio Lauro and "Na kulaowej naszej barce" by Agnieszka Osiecka with music by Seweryn Krajewski.

- My professor suggested this first song to me. When I first listened to it, I thought it wasn't for me, too difficult, too jazzy. This year, something struck me and I said: "Those who don't take risks, don't drink champagne." And I felt like it could be mine after all, even if it wasn't initially. And as for Osiecka's song, it was a hit. I knew it mainly in Marcin Januszkiewicz's version, and it always touched me deeply emotionally," Julia said of the chosen repertoire.

Third place, with a prize of PLN 3,000, went to Julianna Sroka-Kierończyk, a third-year acting student, who presented the songs " Samba przed rozstaniem" by Jonasz Kofta and "Pieśń o seksualnym uzależnieniu"("Song about Sexual Addiction") by Bertold Brecht.

Congratulations for our actresses!

Complete info about the winners: e-kalejdoskop.pl/muzyka-a212/julia-jaroszewska-wygrywa-jonaszka-r14784

photos: Michał Matuszak