Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club Board Of Directors

Dr. Maja Trochimczyk is an outstanding musicologist, author and editor of seven books on Polish music and dance (Routledge, Columbia University Press, Moonrise Press), as well as a publisher of books on Polish history and culture, and volumes of poetry through her small publishing house, Moonrise Press (from 2008 the press issued 20 books). As a poet, she published five volumes of poetry and edited four anthologies.  As a music historian, Dr. Trochimczyk published 22 chapters in  academic books (Oxford UP, Indiana  UP, Cambridge Scholars, etc.) and 27 peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journals on Chopin, Szymanowska, Paderewski, Bacewicz, Lutosławski, Górecki and others. She presented  research at 90 scientific conferences in Europe and America. For scientific, creative and promotional contributions to Polish culture, she received many awards and medals from Polish, American, and Canadian government and other organizations.   She is also a promoter of knowledge about Polish culture in the USA. She served the President of the Modjeska  Club in 2010-2012, and since 2018. During that time, she prepared over 50 meetings and events, organized the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the Club, introduced the Helena Modjeska Prize for outstanding Polish actors, began working with many American institutions, and nominated for medals "for the promotion of Polish culture abroad" 19 former members of the Club Board. A former  secretary of the board of the Polish American Historical Associations, Dr. Trochimczyk is a member of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in America and the American Musicology Society. In 1996-2004 she led the Polish Music Center at USC. Dr. Trochimczyk concurrently serves as President of the California State Poetry Society (since 2019), founder and president of Moonrise Press (since 2008), and Senior Director of Planning and Development for Phoenix House California (since 2007). Since 2010 she has been managing several blogs that together reached over 916,000 readers: Poetry Laurels, Chopin with Cherries, Modjeska Club, Village Poets, and others.

Sometimes acting as Kasia A. Leconte, she is a Polish actress who has worked for many years in Poland and the USA. Katarzyna began her artistic path as a teenager under the guidance of many excellent teachers. Initially she planned her future in ballet and then theater, although time has shown that film and television have become closest to her heart. Katarzyna has been writing scripts and working in dubbing for many years. She is president of the Film and Television Studio "Kasia Films", which aims to create international productions. She is also known for her charitable work for the sick and those in need. Katarzyna has continuously supported and promoted Polish culture in the US. In Los Angeles since 2000, she studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and Margie Haber Studio. She has appeared in more than 30 feature films and television shows working with directors such as Steven Spielberg, Krzysztof Krauze, Jacek Bromski, Tomasz Konecki, Andrzej Saramonowicz, and Olaf Lubaszenko. In addition to film and television, she has played many great roles on stage, including Katharina in Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" and Rose in Juliusz Słowacki's "Lilla Weneda." Kasia's American debut in the theater was the lead role of Carrie in "Cafe Hollywood." In addition to her many critically acclaimed roles, Smiechowicz is a screenwriter and voiceover artist. With homes on both continents, and a husband in the US, she spends most of her time in Los Angeles, but works in both Europe and the States. Her husband Dominic J. Leconte is an executive at Sony Pictures. Her multi-talented 10-year-old sons are gaining recognition as child actors and models.

Anna Sadowska has lived in the US for 30 years, 20 of them in Southern California. She graduated from CLC in Chicago earning an Associate Degree in Finance. Later, Anna and her identical twin sister moved to Poland and attended Jagiellonian University in Krakow. Upon return, Anna started her professional career in banking. For many years she worked for mega lenders such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo eventually earning underwriting and lending authority. In 2001 she visited Southern California and fell in love with the region. She moved immediately and pursued her further career in Los Angeles in the mortgage and real estate industry. She is involved with many human services, mainly focusing and volunteering at Midnight Mission in Los Angeles, an organization that helps with self-care, drug addition and homelessness.   Anna strongly believes in living by certain principals to always help others. In addition, she is a professional athlete with medals in triathlons, swimming and running.  She loves skiing, scuba diving, hiking and yoga. Anna also rides a Harley and loves to travel around the world with her sister. 

Beata's talents are as rich as her interests. She is a strong and charismatic woman with a sharp and analytical mind, but with a deep appreciation for the arts. With over 30 years of experience managing art organizations and businesses, she feels and operates equally well in both worlds. From the very beginning, Beata's education focused on artistic and business aspects. Born in beautiful Wrocław, Poland, she studied piano, acting and management, performed in theaters, travelled all over the world and learned everything that interested her. She worked in independent productions, as an accompanist, singing teacher, impresario, insurance broker, manager in her own travel agency, or consultant-advisor. She has worked for the Wrocław Opera and the Grand Theatre in Warsaw, TVP Wrocław (TV station) and Radio. She is a founder and managing director of  EWELINEB®, owner of a consulting company that specializes in fashion, art, opera and business, and is also a licensed life, career and business coach. As a coach Beata holds following titles and certifications: Master Certified Coach; Life, Personal, and Business Coach Certificate, Motivational Coach Certificate. She has been a board member since June 2018.