On 11th November 2008 on the 90th anniversary of regaining of independence by Poland a solemn concert of patriotic songs took place in the Sanctuary of the Gracious Holy Mother the Duchess of Wieliczka. The performers were the joined choirs of the First Degree Music School in Wieliczka and “the Camerata” directed by Izabela Szota, along with an instrumental ensemble made of the pupils from Paweł Gajewski’s class of trumpet,Ignacy Stojek’s class of saxophone,Oskar Gut’s class of accordion and Artur Ciborowski’s percussion class.

In reference to the words of John Paul II saying that “there is no way to understand the nation who’s had so glamorous a past, yet so difficult – without Christ and Mary…”,the concert was commenced with the oldest Polish song, “the Bogurodzica”.

Then the Wieliczka sanctuary resounded with the most beautiful Polish songs, including:”We, the first brigade”, “The National Army Anthem”, “So long my girl” etc.,performed together with the numerously gathered public.

The concert was accompanied by a presentation of paintings related to the patriotic subject-matter – by Matejko, the Kossaks, Grottger,Malczewski, Brandt, Suchodolski and Gierymski, prepared by Lucyna Grochal, the history teacher from the Wieliczka Grammar School.