The audience award was granted to Ms Barbara Misiaszek- Szymanska. She has a very significant vocal potential, a great personality on stage and we see her as a future great Polish singer
Romuald Tesarowicz- opera singer (Trubadur, 2003)

This year’s edition of the contest was accompanied by performances of Barbara Misiaszek-Szymanska and Jakub Oczkowski, students of Warsaw’s Music Academy whose voices delighted all.
(Gimwizjer, 2005)

Ms Barbara Misiaszek-Szymanska has been endowed with a valuable vocal material of a warm and rich colour. During the final exam taken upon completion of her scholarship in Vienna at the Universitat fur Musik und Darstellende Kunst she was awarded a very good, (i.e. the best possible) mark by Professor Leopold Spitzer which was supported by his opinion on her significant progress in the vocal and artistic development
(Dean of the Vocal Faculty in Fr.Chopin Academy of Music, 2006).

As a talented person, Ms Barbara Misiaszek-Szymanska attracted my attention from the first years of her university studies. The original virtues of her voice intrigued me to such an extent that I suggested that she took part in the “Warsaw’s Children” spectacle which was then being devised. The spectacle was to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Uprising and was prepared for Chicago’s ex-pats from Poland having been largely successful. Ms Misiaszek-Szymanska performed her vocal and acting part in an outstanding manner, presenting high qualities both with respect to her vocal as well as acting skills
(The artistic director of R. Traugutt Philharmonic in Warsaw, 2006).

Her stage appearance is quite nice…there is something operetta like in the colour of her voice, something operetta charming and light and something very much girlish. In the program of her performance, I found arias of Weber’s Anna where playfulness and coquetry are quite necessary. It is a great part for her! She is very credible in it… in contrast, I truly enjoyed her somber and atmospheric performance of R. Strauss’ song
(from Adam Rozlach’s review journal, 2007)

Ms Barbara Szymanska is a very talented singer of good prospects for the future. She has been endowed with a beautiful lyrical voice. The sensitivity, musicality and first and foremost the interesting personality of Barbara Szymanska are features which will allow her to achieve a significant artistic position in the profession of the opera singer.
Izabela Kłosińska -opera singer (2007)

Despite their young age, the two artists can be proud of their recognition and their gift of winning liking of audiences. They proved it during the musical gala. (…) For several dozen minutes, Barbara Szymanska and Jakub Oczkowski transferred the enchanted residents of Busko into the magic world of opera arias, ball gowns and great passions.
Barbara Szymanska impressed the audience enormously. The beautiful woman and her great voice constituted a mix which did not remain indifferent to anyone.
The concert proved masterly and its ending seemed like a final of a true opera gala. The Szymanska-Oczkowski duo, the ovations and the cheers created an outstanding atmosphere. The stars glittered with their full glamour.
(Echo dnia, 2007)

Hohepunkte der musikalisch bestens programmierten Matinee waren die Stücke “Niebo w nocy” (Nachtlicher Himmel) von Krzysztof Penderecki, gesungen von der ausdrucksstarken Sopranistin Barbara Misiaszek
(22. August 2004. Schloss Reichenau- Austria)
Musica Poloniae