Roman Palester

Who was Roman Palester?

Roman Palester was a Polish composer of classical music. Palester composed his most significant work during the 1960s, and in 1964 was the first Polish musician to be awarded the Alfred Jurzykowski Prize. His work was individual in style, and not noticeably Polish in character.

Palester was born in Śniatyń, Poland, in 1907. At age seven he began to learn to play the piano and by twelve was studying at the Music Institute in Kraków. In 1925, he began to study art history at Warsaw University. Palester graduated from the Warsaw Conservatory with a degree in music theory and composition in 1931, having studied under Kazimierz Sikorski. His first recognition came in 1932 when his "Psalm V for baritone, choir and orchestra" was awarded first place in the Competition of the Singers’ Societies Association .

Palester travelled extensively during his life and lived for times in Warsaw, Paris, and Munich. He was outspoken on political matters and during the Second World War was briefly imprisoned in Warsaw's Pawiak prison.