Born 1st January 1927 in Brzeźnica near Radomsko; died 17th October 2020 in Kraków. In 1947-52 he studied musicology with Zdzisław Jachimecki at the Jagellonian University. Simultaneously, in 1947-56, he studied theory of music with Aleksander Frączkiewicz (degree in 1955), composition with Stanisław Wiechowicz (degree in 1956), piano with Sergiusz Nadgryzowski and Jan Hoffman and organ with Józef Chwedczuk at the State Higher School of Music in Cracow. He continued his training in Paris in 1958-59 studying composition with Nadia Boulanger and Max Deutsch as well as participating in Olivier Messiaen’s seminars. He also took part in the International Courses for Composers in Darmstadt in 1959. Since his graduation, he had been solely occupied with composition.
He received numerous awards for his compositions, including: in 1958 – 1st prize for Szkic symfoniczny nr 4 [Symphonic Sketch No.4] for orchestra (1957) and 2nd prize for Allegro symfoniczne [Symphonic Allegro] for orchestra (1957) in the Competition for Students Graduating in Composition; in 1960 – Silver Medal in the International Competition for Composers in Vercelli for Sen kwietny [Floral Dream – version 1] – five songs to words by J. Przyboś for voice and piano (1959); in 1962 – the Netherlands Radio Award in the International Competition for Composers in the Netherlands for Pour un Ensemble for reciting voice and 24 string instruments (1961); in 1968 – 2nd prize in the Grzegorz Fitelberg Competition for Composers for Poème de Loire – five French songs for soprano and symphony orchestra (1968); in 1972 – an honorable mention in the same competition for Skrzydła i ręce [Wings and Hands] for baritone and symphony orchestra (1972); in 1974 – Prix de Composition Musicale Prince Rainier III de Monaco in the International Competition for Composers in Monaco for Portraits Lyriques for mezzo-soprano, 2 violins, violoncello and piano (1974); in 1982 – 2nd prize in the Competition for an Organ Work in Gambaronyo Lago Maggiore for Preludia Maryjne [Marian Preludes] for organ (1982).
Juliusz Łuciuk was also granted the Prime Minister’s Award for piano works for children (1976), the City of Cracow Award (1983), Friar Albert Award for achievements in the field of sacred music (1983), the Cracow Province Governor’s Award (1992), the Minister of Culture and Arts Award (1995), the Prize of the President of the City of Częstochowa (1997), the Award of the Polish Composers’ Union (1998), the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross (2001), the Special Award of the Minister of Culture (2004), the Medal of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (2004), the MERENTIBUS Medal of the city of Częstochowa (2015), the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis(2015), the „Polonia Minoris” Medal (2016). In 2019 he was made an honorary member of the Polish Composers’ Union.