Kątski, Grzegorz (EN)

Kątski, Grzegorz, *1778?, †8 January 1844 Paris, Polish amateur violinist and composer. He was a clerk at the court in Krakow and then at the Senate of the Republic of Krakow. From 1817 he was active in the Krakow Society of Friends of Music. In 1823 he became inspector of the Warsaw Lyceum. He has devoted his entire life to educating and building the artistic careers of his children. He moved from place to place according to their educational needs and concert opportunities. He organised their performances, artistic journeys, sought scholarships and looked for qualified teachers. In 1829 he stayed in St Petersburg, where the Kątski family performed for the Tsar, and in Moscow. During his time in Vienna (from 1832), he came into close contact with the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, in which he managed to obtain titular membership for himself and active membership for his sons. This organisation provided him with assistance in organising the Kątski family concerts. After he left Krakow, Grzegorz Kątski corresponded still with the Krakow Society of Friends of Music. Grzegorz Kątski also composed some short music pieces. They were not published; their manuscripts are preserved in the Jagiellonian Library.