Culled from the extensive collection of materials held at the Polish Music Center at the USC Thornton School of Music, this exhibition chronicles the life and career of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the musician?statesman who received an honorary doctorate from USC in 1923. Throughout his musical career Paderewski was actively lobbying for Polish independence; he collected funds to benefit the country, its soldiers and the victims of the war. His campaign resulted in Poland returning to the map of Europe; he then became the first Prime Minister of Poland and the first Polish delegate to the League of Nations. Paderewski's compositions include songs and piano pieces, an opera Manru (1901), and a Symphony in B minor, Polonia (1907). He also edited a 20-volume anthology of music by other composers, and Chopin's complete works. However, his main title to fame was his talent as a virtuoso pianist: Paderewski gave thousands of concerts around the world, traveling from Europe to North and South America, Asia, and
Australia. He repeatedly toured the U.S. where he became an "icon" of the classical pianist, popularized through his recordings on piano rolls and 78's discs, later transferred to LPs and CDs.

The exhibition presents the composer's historical photographs from 1890-1930s, manuscripts, piano-roll recordings from 1910s, early editions of his music, concert programs from his American tours in 1920-24, advertisements for Steinway, Victor-Victrola, and the piano rolls by the Aeolian Company, as well as books and recordings on LP and CD. Californian material linked to Paderewski includes documentation about his honorary doctorate from USC, programs from his performances and the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles. The Exhibition is illustrated with excerpts from period writings, including poetry and music criticism. Materials from the collections of the Polish Music Center, USC Thornton School of Music. The Paderewski collection includes gifts from Teresa Domanska, Henry Stojowski, Annette Strakacz-Appleton, Maja Trochimczyk and Wanda Wilk. Items on loan from Marek Zebrowski and Katarzyna Smogorzewska. Exhibition curated by Maja Trochimczyk and Ljiljana Grubisic.