Żywieckie Suwakowanie 

XX edition of the largest trombone and tuba
event in Poland 
 July 19-25, 2026

Prof. Jan Górny was born on June 15, 1951, in the village of Ślemień near Żywiec, Poland. He began his musical education at the age of five by studying the accordion. Four years later, the trumpet became his principal instrument, which he studied under the guidance of his father. In 1965, he was admitted to the State Secondary Music School in Bielsko-Biała, where he studied trombone with Stanisław Olkuski. After completing his secondary education, he served in the Representative Orchestra of the Warsaw Garrison from 1970 to 1972 during his compulsory military service.

In 1973, he began his higher musical studies at the State Higher School of Music in Kraków under Zbigniew Grudzień, before continuing his education in 1974 at the State Higher School of Music in Katowice in the trombone class of Prof. Roman Siwek. He graduated in 1978 with a Master of Arts degree, receiving the highest distinction.

During his studies, Prof. Górny achieved significant success in numerous national and international competitions. His most notable awards include:
 

• Fourth Prize at the International Trombone Competition in Markneukirchen, Germany (1976),
• Third Prize at the International Wind Instrument Competition in Toulon, France (1977),
• First Degree Award at the 5th National Competition for Young Musicians in Gdańsk, Poland (1977),
• First Honorable Mention at the Prague Spring International Music Competition in Czechoslovakia (1978),
• First Prize at the National Competition in Pabianice, Poland (1978).
   

On January 1, 1976, Prof. Górny joined the Great Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio and Television in Katowice (currently the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra – NOSPR), where he served for many years as principal trombonist. He also frequently performed on bass trumpet and euphonium. Throughout his artistic career, he collaborated with many distinguished musicians and conductors, including James Conlon, Plácido Domingo, Pierre Fournier, Julius Katchen, Witold Lutosławski, Jerzy Semkow, and Kurt Masur.

With the orchestra, he performed at numerous festivals and international concert tours across Europe and Asia, including appearances in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and Japan. For many years, he was also a member of the WOSPR Brass Quintet, with which he made numerous archival recordings and performed extensively both in Poland and abroad. He remains actively associated with NOSPR to this day.

Alongside his performing career, Prof. Górny developed an extensive pedagogical activity. In 1975, he began teaching at the Mieczysław Karłowicz State Music School in Katowice. Since October 1981, he has taught trombone and tuba at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. Initially appointed as Senior Assistant, he became Associate Professor in 1987. Following his postdoctoral qualification, he was appointed Professor Extraordinary of the Academy of Music in 2002. In 2014, he received the title of Professor of Musical Arts from the President of the Republic of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski.

Between 1983 and 1985, he also taught trombone at the State Music School in Bielsko-Biała, and from 2000 to 2002 at the Municipal Music School in Żywiec.

Prof. Jan Górny regularly serves as a jury member for national and international music competitions, including the Michał Spisak International Music Competition in Dąbrowa Górnicza, trombone festivals in Warsaw, and regional auditions organized by the Centre for Artistic Education. He is also a highly respected educator and clinician, conducting numerous masterclasses and trombone workshops in Poland and abroad.