Szomol

Story

Szomol is not a fictional dwarf — he is a living memory. Created in honour of Wlodzimierz Szomanski, the beloved Wroclaw musician and founder of the Spirituals Singers Band who died in a road accident in May 2014, Szomol sits with a score on his lap and a baton in hand, ready to lead a choir that only he can hear. The legend says that on quiet nights near the Philharmonic, if you listen carefully, you can catch fragments of gospel melodies drifting through the evening air.

History & Significance

Szomol was unveiled on December 5, 2014, at a ceremony outside the Wroclaw Philharmonic on ul. Pilsudskiego, followed by a memorial concert featuring the Spirituals Singers Band. He was later relocated to a low wall outside the NFM (Narodowe Forum Muzyki) on ul. Pilsudskiego 19, near ul. Krupnicza. His name comes from the beloved nickname 'Szomol' that friends used for Wlodzimierz Szomanski, himself the author of a children's musical tale titled 'Tajemnica Krasnala Szomola' (The Secret of Dwarf Szomol).

Inspiration

Wlodzimierz Szomanski was one of Wroclaw's most prominent musicians — a composer, conductor, vocal pedagogue, and the founder of Spirituals Singers Band in 1978. The group became the finest Polish jazz vocal ensemble of its era, awarded a 'Prometeusz' Prize and the Gloria Artis medal. Szomanski wrote music for over 40 productions including the sacred 'Missa Gospel's' and 'Santo Subito'. Placing his dwarf near the Philharmonic and NFM ensures his memory sits permanently at the heart of the city's musical life.

Fun Facts

• His name comes directly from the nickname 'Szomol' used by friends of real musician Wlodzimierz Szomanski — making him one of very few Wroclaw dwarfs named after an actual person's nickname.
• Szomanski himself wrote a children's musical tale called 'Tajemnica Krasnala Szomola' — so the dwarf and its real-life model are uniquely intertwined.
• He was unveiled the same evening as a memorial concert by the Spirituals Singers Band at the Wroclaw Philharmonic.
• The Spirituals Singers Band, which Szomanski founded in 1978, was voted the best Polish jazz vocal ensemble of the 1990s by Jazz Forum magazine.
• He originally sat near the Wroclaw Philharmonic and was later moved to a wall near the NFM on ul. Krupnicza — giving him an even more prominent musical address.

How to Find This Dwarf

Find the NFM (Narodowe Forum Muzyki) building at plac Wolnosci 1 in central Wroclaw. Szomol sits on the low wall on the Krupnicza street side of the building. From the Rynek, walk south-west toward plac Wolnosci — the NFM is a large modern glass building, hard to miss. Szomol is on the perimeter wall, looking toward the concert halls.

Nearby Dwarfs

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Wheelchair AccessibleGround LevelOutdoor

Szomol sits on a low wall at the perimeter of the NFM building on the Krupnicza side. Flat pavement access with no steps. The area around plac Wolnosci is well maintained and fully accessible.