Zofia Czajkowska
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zofia Czajkowska (4 August 1905, Tarnów – April 1978, Tarnów) was a Polish musician chosen to be the first conductor of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz.[1][2]
Czajkowska had been a music teacher, prior to her arrest as a political prisoner.[3] According to Susan Eischeid, author of The Truth about Fania Fénelon and the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Czajkowska was regarded by many as an "unexceptional musician", which caused problems with the development of the orchestra.[4] Like the other musicians in the orchestra, Czajkowska was a captive, whose service in the orchestra helped prevent them from being murdered. In July 1943 Alma Rosé, a talented musician, and niece of Gustav Mahler, arrived in the camp and took over leading the orchestra.[1][2] Czajkowska served as Rosé's lieutenant.[3]
