The history of the Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz University of Music in Lodz goes back to the early years of the 20th century. At this time Helena Kijeńska-Dobkiewiczowa founded a Music Conservatory, where she gathered a team of outstanding musicians and teachers. After WW II, the school was reactivated, first as State Music Conservatory which was given on March 1, 1945 – according to a document of July 30, 1945 - a palace of Łódź factory owner, Izrael Kalmanowicz Poznański, situated at 32 Gdańska St. From April 1, 1946 – by the Decision of the Ministry of Culture and Art of Feb 1, 1946 (Journal of Regulations of Min. of Culture and Art No 2 of Jul 8, 1946) – the State Music Conservatory became the State Higher School of Music. From December 1, 1981 the School changed its name to University of Music (Journal of Laws No 31 of Dec 12, 1981), and on July 2, 1999 it adopted the name of Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz (Journal of Laws No. 62 section 683 of December 29, 1981). Under the decision of December 1, 1992, the University was given the second building at 79 Kilińskiego Street, where the Main Library, together with the Record and Tape Library and reading room, has been situated since Oct 1, 1993. Some classes, for students of art education, music therapy, eurhythmics and others, take place there as well.
The first rector of State Music Conservatory, and later of State Higher School of Music was Prof. Kazimierz Wiłkomirski (1945-1947), and Prof. Helena Kijeńska-Dobkiewiczowa was a Vice-rector.
The following professors were rectors of the University:
- Kazimierz Sikorski (1947-1954),
- Mieczysław Drobner (1954-1957),
- Kiejstut Bacewicz (1957-1969),
- Zenon Płoszaj (1969-1981),
- Zygmunt Gzella (1981-1987),
- Aleksander Kowalczyk (1987-1993),
- Bogdan Dowlasz (1993-1999),
- Anna Wesołowska-Firlej (1999-2005)
- Antoni Wierzbiński (2005-2012)
- Cezary Sanecki (2012-2020).
Prof. Elżbieta Aleksandrowicz has been a Rector of the University since 2020. The Vice Rectors are: Prof. Agata Jarecka (for scholarly and didactic affairs) and Prof. Urszula Kryger (for student and artistic affairs). Agnieszka Grochulska, M.A. is a Chancellor of the University.
The previous and current Senates of University of Music awarded the title of honorary doctor of musical arts to the following outstanding artists – significant figures if musical life of both Łódź and the University: Aleksander Tansman (1986), Prof. Kiejstut Bacewicz (1993), Prof. Zenon Płoszaj (1996), Prof. Franciszek Wesołowski (1999), Prof. Teresa Kubiak (2005), Prof. Wanda Wiłkomirska (2006), Jerzy Semkow (2013), Prof. Zygmunt Krauze (2015), Prof. Stanisław Firlej (2015), Prof. Teresa Żylis-Gara (2016), Irena Santor (2017), Jan Krenz (2018), Prof. Kevin Kenner (2018).
