Wanda "Vanddi'" Zukowska a.k.a.Wanda Żukowska better known as Vanddi, is a composer-songwriter of several hit songs, author, and pianist who performs classical, jazz, pop/rock, blues, boogie/swing and stride, and is a lifelong performing artist/keyboardist, producer-mentor-writer for well established artists. Vanddi (stage name derived from Wanda) has penned several award-winning hit songs written under the name Wanda Zukowska. Several of her songs were in the Top Ten pop charts, and several won her Gold Records, title of Number One-Song of the Year, Song of the Month, Grand Prix nomination, Music Awards, and international popularity.
In 1975 she received her Master of Arts degree in Education from the University of Music in Warsaw (PWSM), where she had previously earned her undergraduate Diploma in Theory of Music. Additional study included conducting and jazz band arrangement with Jan Ptaszyn Wroblewski and classical piano study with Maria Korecka. For her Master of Arts celebration concert Vanddi composed and conducted the symphonic orchestra performing her original piece ”Droga Do Sagunto”/Road to Sagunto/; The quality of this piece was compared by professors and critics to the “compositions of Michel Legrand”. Being pianist/accompanist on the roster of State Concert Agency /Stoleczna Estrada/, she received the highest category title-license of “Pianist Soloist,” given by the Ministry of Arts, which granted her the highest honorarium for stage performances. In 1981 she received a medal and Special Recognition by the Ministry of Arts in Poland in honor of her achievements in music.
Vanddi has played shows around the US, Canada, and Europe, including: television appearances, concert tours alongside major artists, and concert performances of her original music, featuring created-live-open-form improvisation, and small venue performances of her own takes of well-known songs, jazz standards, and classical pieces in the program.
In 1986 Vanddi was selected for one of only twelve spots as a participant for BMI’s Musical Theater Workshop in NY for professional Broadway theater writers. For over two decades, using different stage names (e.g. LaBecki), she worked for Broadway theatre musicals in the NY area (Westco Production, The Hackley Drama Productions) coaching, directing the music, producing and mentoring stage artists: The Music Man, A Chorus Line, Broadway Babes on Revue, Peter Pan, Guys & Dolls, Cole Porter’s Anything Goes, and producing/playing original shows: Pianothoughts, All Gershwin, With Song Around the World, and Abercrombie.
Vanddi has written more than 300 piano and orchestral works, over 200 arrangements, piano and instrumental music, songs e.g.; ”Gwiazda Nad Tobą,” (“The Star Above You”), International Music Award, and “Tylko Mnie Popros Do Tanca” (“Just Ask Me To Dance With You”), often referred to as the Vanddi's “iconic song”, “Forgive Me, Love Is Blind” (“Kochać Cię Nie Przestanę”), winner of the TV viewers voting pool, art songs and music for TV shows and ballet, inspirational music, songs for children, commercial-marketing music, words and poetry. Her music and songs has been used in movies and for a theater.
Her songs have been released on Universal Music, Pronit, MediaWay, Musa, Tonpress, Polskie Nagrania (now Warner Bros.), Wifon, Stilon, Sonic, and on her own WGB Music Farm. Her work has been published by PWM, Synkopa, Studio Bis.
Music Awards/Recognitions/Best known songs/Arranging/Producing
Several of her hits returned to the market re-recorded by new artists .“Dancing All Night with the Stranger” /a new version of “Tylko Mnie Popros Do Tanca,”/ In 2005 it was #2 on the New York Independent station Radio Rhythm /named: RadioRytm/ Top 40 international charts. More of her songs stayed on andor climbed the charts for several months in 2004/2005.
“Not Only Mozart”- CD 2000, album design for violin solo, composed/arranged/recorded/produced by Vanddi (Karen Briggs and Janice Martin on violin and the New York Virtual Symphony.)
Commissioned marketing music for the LOT Airlines, 1998.
“Pianothoughts,” a piano album published; Vanddi c/o LaBecki Music, NY, 1998.
Several songs commissioned and composed for Irena Jarocka album, writing music and lyrics (for some lyrics using pen name Maria Maner), 2001.
Producing concerts, mentoring, providing live and recorded arrangements for Irena Jarocka. 1991-2010 US/Canada/Europe short tours.
Ballet music commissioned for Claudia Boettcher Theatre, NY, 1992 -1993.
Selected participant (receiving one of 12 spots) in BMI’s Musical Theater Workshop in NY for professional Broadway theater writers /based on her orchestral arrangements and her writing credits/1986/7.
Broadway shows performing/directing/coaching/producing artists and albums;1987-2001 N.Y.
European tours e.g. as a pianist in a Big Band orchestra, she was only female, and with her own trio, PAGART Concert Agency; 1979-1980.
Composing, producing, arranging song for a rock ensemble: “Do Tańca”/“For Dancing,” 1981.
Honored by medal presented by the Ministry of the Arts for achievements in the arts, Poland, January1981- special recognition award.
Wanda Zukowska, featured front page picture and interview and a song in January issue of sheet music magazine /“Spiewamy i Tanczymy,”/ 1979.
All-time hit (1978–2015), Number One Song at the International Music Competition and Festival in Tampere, 1978; nominated for Grand Prix, short only one point after additional voting for visual aspects of the song; “Tylko Mnie Popros Do Tanca” 1978.
Nominated GRAND PRIX at Sopot International Intervision Song Festival and Competition 1978; awarded two prizes at third place for song composition and her own full orchestra arrangement, “Gwiazda Nad Toba” /“The Star Above You.”/sung by Lidia Stanislawska.
First Place winner in TV Studio Gama viewers voting pool and “Songs of the Year,” holding continuous popularity for several years, “Forgive Me, Love Is Blind” -“Kochac Cie Nie Przestane”; 1978 sung by “Kristof”.
Long playing favorite on radio charts with “come back” in 2005—“Dwoje Ludzi z Marzeń.”
Radio networks favorites: “Nie Zabladze Przy Tobie” and “Nauczyłeś Mnie Radości”.
Song of the Month, which continued to be popular for a long time, “Kto Kocha Ten Wie”
Song composed/arranged/produced for national radio: “Co Moje To Twoje,” 1979.
Commissioned music for TV show, with Agnieszka Osiecka and performer Violetta Villas.
Long playing favorite on radio charts—“Obłoki Rozchyliła Gwiazda” (also an arrangement) and “Zupelnie Nowy Rok”
Production, arrangement, and music for PN LP, “Serce Chore Na Miłość.”
Two songs composed/arranged/produced for national radio; “Znów Nowy Dzień” & "To Miejsce Na Swiecie”
Grand Prix for Best Art-Song in competition Poznan,1978, “A Za Nami Będą Wiosny.”
Several songs for children commissioned by National Radio.
Stage show/music, commissioned by State Concert Agency /Stoleczna Estrada/,1972-1977.
Recording (also an arrangement) for Radio network; ”Komu Mogę Dać Mój Czas,” 1975- for several years remained on the Radio Stations charts.
Recognition Award for artistic quality of the song, “ Prośba Przed Snem” 1978.
TOP TEN on Radio Stations chart. Song has been popular for over decade: “Kowalem Swego Szczęścia Każdy Bywa Sam,” 1971-1986.
Song of the Year Radio Stations Award/Gold Record Sale, “Gdy Nadejdzie Taki Czas,” 1971.
Songs achieving long time radio play; ”Kto Kocha Ten Wie.”
Song of the Month, for several years remained on the Radio Stations Top charts, “Nad Głęboką Woda ,” 1970.
First Prize winner/ music and arrangement/ “Łąka Bez Kwiatów”; Fama 69.
EMI Music/POMATON - DE-7444197 “Anna Jantar”, 2010
2-0017 Media Way -Platinum Collection/“Platynowa Kolekcja”/-Irena Jarocka 2006
Paganini-LP, Irena Jarocka “Koledy Bez Granic", 2004
1283-3/WGB Music Farm -“Not Only Mozart”- Vanddi, 2000–2001
57-612-2 Universal Music Polska - “Tylko Mnie Popros do Tanca”-2000.
9188 Wia-Art TVP S.A. - Irena Jarocka “Moj Wielki Sen” -2001
WGB/c/oLaBecki Music- 83022-2 - “Pianothoughts”- Vanddi,1998
The Collection, Tylko Mnie Poproś Do Tańca, Anna Jantar - Sonic Records 1993
The Best Of Anna Jantar 2 Polskie Nagrania Muza SX 2873 1990
Publisher “Gamma”-Sheet music edition, Kochac Cie Nie Przestane, 1998
Sheet Music Magazine /”Spiewamy i Tanczymy”; 6/17.3/73,7/73,01/75,6/75,1/79,7/78,7/80.
Sheet Music Magazine; /Synkopa/; #56-1977, #39-1974, #57-1977, #37/1974
Studio Bis - 4/1995 /“Hits in Sheet Music”/
LP 0643 PN Irena Santor “Dla ciebie śpiewa Irena Santor"
LP 0832 PN “Z tobą na zawsze”
LP XL 0897 Pronit, Sława Przybylska
LP SX1395 Muza PN “Za miłością idę”
LP 1404 Muza PN Irena Santor
LP 1413 PRONIT Irena Woźniacka
LP 1430 PN Nauczyłeś Mnie Radośći
LP 1669 PRONIT Irena Santor, Pronit
LP 1697 Muza PN Greatest Hits’78/ Przeboje78/
LP 1711 PN Gwiazda nad Tobą
N-0688 Irena Santor
MUZA PN, N-0700 - Kowalem swego szczęścia każdy bywa sam
S-317 Witamy na Ursynowie
S-121 Anna Jantar
S-146 Lidia Stanisławska
SS-743 Lidia Stanisławska
SKL 1046 Muza PN - Jest Zamek, CD-266, NK-246
6865 PRadio -6827 Muza, Zupelnie Nowy Rok - A.Jantar
Nad Głęboką Wodą - Irena Santor - Z Tobą Na Zawsze Polskie Nagrania Muza SXL 0832, 1972
Między Nami Nic Nie Było - Sława Przybylska Pronit SXL 0897 1972
Irena Santor - Kowalem Szczęścia Każdy Bywa Sam, Agencja Wydawnicza RSW R-0222-II 1974
Może Jeszcze To Naprawię - Jolanta Kubicka - Za Miłością Idę Polskie - Nagrania Muza 1976
Komu Mogę Dać Swój Czas, Irena Santor* - Tonpress R-0793 1977
To Było W Lipcu, Teresa Tutinas - Nauczyłeś Mnie Radości, Polskie Nagrania Muza SX 1430 1977
Irena Woźniacka - Irena Woźniacka Pronit SX 1413 1977
Gwiazda Nad Tobą - Lidia Stanisławska - Tonpress S-146 1978
Tylko Mnie Poproś Do Tańca Tonpress, Tonpress S-121, S-122 1978
Forgive Me, Love Is Blind / Kochać Cię Nie Przestanę/, Krystof - Don't Leave Me Pronit SX 2305,1979
Gwiazda Nad Tobą Lidia Stanisławska - Gwiazda Nad Tobą, Polskie Nagrania Muza 1979 Kowalem Swego Szczęścia, Santor* / Kunicka* - Kowalem Swego Szczęścia /Daj Mi Słowo - Nagrania Dźwięku Na Pocztówkach Zapotoczny Kazimierz.
Kto Kocha Ten Wie - Various - Rewia Rytmów Nr 1 Stilon CL-092
Gdy Nadejdzie Taki Czas - B. Kłodkowski - E. Jabłoński Z Jezioran/J. Santor* - Pszczółka /
Golden Hits./Złote Przeboje/Wifon NK-546, Tylko Mnie Poproś Do Tańca, Anna Jantar
