Stefan Rachon
Stefan Rachon was a Polish conductor and composer, born in Ostrow Lubelski on January 4, 1906. He studied violin at the Warsaw Conservatory from 1929 to 1934 with Józef Jarzębski and Irena Dubiska. After graduating, he studied conducting for three years with Grzegorz Fitelberg.
Rachon performed in Warsaw cinemas between the two world wars. During World War II, he led a small orchestra in Warsaw and later in Lublin. In 1945, he initiated the creation of the Polish Radio Orchestra and led it until 1976; he continued performing with it as a permanent conductor until 1980. He recorded several albums with the orchestra, mainly of light music, and took part in Polish song festivals, including the Sopot International Song Festival.
His honors included the Commander's Cross with Star, Officer's Cross, and Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, as well as the Gold Cross of Merit. He died in Olsztyn on August 3, 2001.