Artists 2011
Tomasz Strahl
Tomasz Strahl graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in 1989 where he studied the cello under Professor Kazimierz Michalik. As a holder of an Austrian Government scholarship he completed one-year post-graduate studies at the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende in Vienna under Professor T. Kühn. He perfected his chamber music skills under Krzysztof Jakowicz, the outstanding violinist with whom he has been performing for many years. Tomasz Strahl has won many national and international competitions in Poznań and Warsaw and also won first prize at the 5th International N. Music Competition in San Sebastian, Spain, in 1991. The Polish-Japanese JESC Foundation awarded him a scholarship in 1994. He has played with many conductors including M. Błaszczyk, Ł. Borowicz, T. Bugaj, H. Czyż, A. Duczmal, Ph. Entremont, J. M. Florêncio, C. Grabowski, J. Kosek, J. Maksymiuk, W. Michniewski, M. Nałęcz-Niesiołowski, K. Penderecki, M. Pijarowski, P. Przytocki, Z. Rychert, J. Salwarowski, T. Strugała, J. Svoboda, T. Wojciechowski and S. A. Wróblewski. For many years now he has been a very active performer, playing with such orchestras as: Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Polish Chamber Orchestra, the Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra "Amadeus", the Polish Radio Orchestra, Sinfonietta Cracovia, Concerto Avenna and nearly all other philharmonic orchestras in Poland. He also co-operates with distinguished soloists, the Silesian Quartet and the Wilanów Quartet. Tomasz Strahl’s most important concerts include his performances at Tel Aviv Art Centre, L’Auditoria Barcelona, Brucknersaal Linz, the National Philharmonic and the Moniuszko Auditorium at Teatr Wielki — National Opera Warsaw, Schauspielhaus Berlin, St. John’s Smith Square London and Toppan Hall Tokio. He has completed many tours in Japan, Canada and Spain (with the Silesian Philharmonic). His rendering of Witold Lutosławski’s Cello Concerto in the composer’s presence in 1993, conducted by M. Błaszczyk, was an important event as was his participation with Krzysztof Jabłoński in "Fortepianissimo", a spectacle staged by Teatr Wielki — National Opera in Warsaw. Tomasz Strahl gave the Polish first performance of Piotr Mossa’s 2nd Cello Concerto with the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra at the "Premiere" Festival in 2005. Tomasz Strahl is a frequent guest at such music festivals as: "Bravo Maestro", the Bydgoszcz Music Festival, Festivals in Gaudix (Spain) and Busko Zdrój, the F. Chopin Festivals in Duszniki Zdrój and Antonin, the Organ Festival in Kamień Pomorski, the Polish Piano Festival in Słupsk, "Music in Ancient Cracow", "Warsaw Autumn" and "Warsaw Music Encounters". In 2006 he took part in the prestigious International Cello Festival in Caracas (Venezuela). Tomasz Strahl and the pianist Krzysztof Jabłoński founded the Chopin Duo. Tomasz Strahl has made many archival recordings for Polish Radio (e.g., concertos by Maklakiewicz and Stojowski with the Polish Radio National Orchestra conducted by Sławek A. Wróblewski and Łukasz Borowicz) and Polish Television. He has also recorded for CBC Radio in Canada. His discography contains many records published by such record companies as: Acte Préalable, CD Accord, Gema Stereo, Pavane Records, Pol-Music, Pony Canyon and Sonny Classics. His records have twice been nominated to the "Fryderyk" Award which the artist won in 2003. Tomasz Strahl leads many master courses in Poland, Finland, Holland, Japan (Kyoto University of Arts) and Germany and he also teaches a cello class at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw and the G. and K. Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź. In 2005 the artist gave a series of lectures and several concerts during the prestigious "Wienersommerakademie ’05". Tomasz Strahl recived his titular professorship from the President of the Republic of Poland in 2001 and was awarded a Gold Cross of Merit in 2002. In 2008 he was elected deputy dean of the Department of Instrumental Studies at the FCUM in Warsaw for term 2008–2012.
Krystyna Makowska-Ławrynowicz
Krystyna Makowska-Ławrynowicz began to learn the piano with Professor Hanna Lachertowa at the age of six. In 1971, she graduated with honours from the Szymanowski High School of Music in Warsaw (Professor Lachert’s class). She studied the piano with Professor Maria Wiłkomirska at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music and graduated with honours in 1971. In the years 1971–1973 she was awarded artistic fellowships from the Polish and Austrian governments. She also participated in international piano and chamber master courses in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Professor Makowska-Ławrynowicz has received awards from several international piano competitions such as the Robert Schumann Competition in Zwickau (1969), Festwochen in Vienna (1972), Ludwig van Beethoven Competition in Vienna (1973) and Bayerischer Rundfunk in Munich (1974). She has performed as a soloist and as a member of chamber ensembles in Austria, Bulgaria, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Yugoslavia, and in the USA (Carnegie Hall). She has also participated in numerous festivals, e.g., the George Sand Festival in France, and the Steirischer Herbst in Austria. Professor Krystyna Makowska-Ławrynowicz has made numerous recordings as a soloist and chamber musician for Polish and foreign companies, e.g., Bayerischer Rundfunk und Fernsehen, Österreichische Runfunk, Radio Cuba, Polish Radio and Television. She has recorded several CDs, giving special attention to works by Polish composers: F. Chopin, H. Moniuszko, K. Lipiski, L. Różycki, J. Zarębski, A. Zarzycki H. Wieniawski, J. Wieniawski, K. Szymanowski, and H. Swolkień. Since 1973 she has been employed at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, first at Professor Maria Wiłkomirska’s piano class and later at the Chair of Piano Chamber Music under professor Jerzy Marchwiński. She was nominated a lecturer in 1979 and assistant professor in 1990, when she obtained her second level degree in music. She has been an associate professor since February 1992. She has reviewed and supervised many qualification procedures for first and second degrees in music at Academies of Music in Łódź, Poznań and Warsaw, In period 1999–2005 she was a prorector for International Affairs of the AMFC in Warsaw. For many years, Professor Krystyna Makowska-Ławrynowicz has been a co-organiser of the International Musical Courses in Łańcut and has given lectures and concerts during the courses. She has also acted as a juror at the Polish Chamber Music Competitions in Stalowa Wola, Koszalin, and Bydgoszcz several times. In 1995 she was appointed a Consultant to the Polish Artistic Education System and still holds this function.
Andrzej Gębski
A violin soloist and chamber music performer. He completed his violin studies in the Warsaw Music Academy in Prof. Miroslaw Lawrynowicz’s class with distinction. Prizewinner of international music competition in Lodz, Krakow and Paris. Since 1997 he has been a member of the Polish Music Ensemble ‘Camerata Vistula’, conducted by Andrzej Wrobel; since 2002 as the first violinist. As a soloist and chamber music performer Andrzej Gebski has taken part in many music spectacles performing in England, Germany, France, Switzerland, Turkistan, China and Venezuela. As a soloist he has performed with orchestras such as: Lodz Philharmonic, AMFC Symphony Orchestra, Zielonogorska Philharmonic Orchestra, Rzeszow Philharmonic, Olsztyn Philharmonic, Koszalin Philharmonic, Hanover Kammre Orchester, Polish Military Chopin Academy and others. He promotes Polish music; he has recorded many Polish contemporary compositions for Polish radio and television and has also recorded 13 CDs of Polish music (10 for Acte Prealable) which are phonographic premieres. Andrzej Gebski began teaching in 1998 and since 2008 has been lecturing at Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw. Since 2000 he has been leading a violin class in the elite secondary school of music Z. Brzewski in Warsaw. Since 2002 he has been the leader of a string orchestra he started in the school called the Zenon Brzewski String Orchestra of Warsaw. He also teaches at the International Music Course in Lancut, the String Academy in Goch in Germany and also on music courses run by the Polish Foundation for Children for the most talented children in the country. Andrzej Gebski at present plays a violin made in 2005 by a Polish violin maker Wojciech Topa.
Soyeon Lim
She completed Gimcheon High School of Arts in the class of Prof. Myeong-Hee Lee. She graduated from Keimyung University of Music in Korea in the class of Prof. Jung Yeon Kim and Prof. Andrzej Dutkiewicz and also from the F. Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw in the class of Prof. G. Sterczyński. She also completed post graduate studies in chamber music in Prof. K. Makowska – Lawrynowicz’s class. Participated in master music courses in Zamość in the class of Prof. E. Wolanin. In 2009 she won the Grand Prix prize in the 6th Edition "Polish Forgotten Music" organized by the producers Acte Prelable. Winner of 2nd prize and special award for the best performance at ‘XII International Competition of Contemporary Music’ in Kraków (2008). Winner of 2nd prize in a Korean piano competition in Daeg (South Korea). At the age of 16 years she performed as a soloist the 5th piano concerto by Beethoven with the Gimcheon High School of Arts orchestra. In 2006 she worked as a pianist and accompanist with ‘Opera na Zamku’ in Szczecin preparing for the musical ‘My Fair Lady’ in Schwedt (Germany). Since 2007 she has worked as a pianist, chamber musician and accompanist with the national philharmonic, giving a series of concerts for young people throughout Poland. In 2006 she recorded the music for the new theatre play ‘Romans z Czechowem’ in Łódź. She played music for the international theatre – musical performances of ‘Łasztownia-Lastadie’ (2006) and ‘Recycling’ (2009) created by Kana Theatre in Szczecin. As a soloist and a chamber musician she participated in many festivals, for example. International Festival for Contemporary Music in Daeg (2005), 10th International W. Lutosławski Festival of Contemporary Music in Szczecin (2007), 4th and 5th International Chamber Music Festivals in Wałbrzych (2007, 2008), 4th Summer Festival ‘W Krainie Chopina’ in Warsaw (2008), 4th Autumn Festival ‘Sacrum et Musica’ in Łomża (2008), Polish Music Festival ‘Swego nie Znacie’ in Koszalin (2009). Since 2009 she has worked as a pianist at the international Music Courses in Łańcut in the classes of Prof Helen Brunner and Prof. Dariusz Smolarski.
Warsaw Wind Ensamble
The Warsaw Wind Ensemble is a group which popularizes music played on wind instruments. It is made up of musicians of the Warsaw Philharmonic, the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Grand Theatre – Polish National Opera. The mission of the WWE is to present the possibilities of the wind instruments ensembles, from a reed trio to a nonet, and familiarize the listeners with their sound and expression. The ensemble started originally as a student quintet, which was awarded, among others, at the Polish Chamber Wind Ensembles Competition in Warsaw (2000), where it won 1st prize and the special prize of the Polish Radio 2. In the same year the ensemble was invited to take part in the prestigious Fishoff National Chamber Music Competition in South-Bend (the US), where it reached the final. The group’s successes were followed by the idea to expand into an octet or even a nonet in order to be fully able to present the possibilities of a wind ensemble. The first concerts met with enthusiastic reception of the audience. The Reed Trio WWE will perform during the Artelier Festival with the following musicians:
Urszula Januchta - oboe,
Krystyna Sakowska - clarinet,
Katarzyna Piotrowska - bassoon
Chopin-Harmonia Soloist Ensamble
The Chopin & Harmonia Soloists Choir consists of ten vocalists and three pianists studying at the Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. The Chopin & Harmonia Soloists Choir was established in March 2010 out of love and respect for Polish music. The artists hope that their activities will help to strengthen the friendly ties between Poland and South Korea.
Gustaw Ciężarek
Was born in Poland. Graduated from the State Music School in Szczecin where he studied with Prof. Roman Wolf, and the Feliks Nowowiejski Secondary Music School where he studied with Prof. Michał Cebrij. Continued his studies at the Frederic Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw with Prof. Mirosław Ławrynowicz, Prof. Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Prof. Roman Lasocki and Dr. Andrzej Gębski. For many years participated in Master Classes of String Instruments in Łańcut, Zakopane and Frombork, mastering his skills with Marina Yashvili, Wolfgang Marschner, Roland Baldini, Robert Szreder, Helen Brunner. Awared a scholarship for Masterclasses in Goch in Germany (twice). A prizewinner of violin competitions in Poznań and Elbląg (Poland). In 2009 has been laureate of Grand Prix in 6th International "Forgotten Polish Music" Competition organized by Acte Prealable label. In 2008 has been laureate of 2nd prize and special prize for best performing netherland composer's work in "12th International Contemporary Chamber Music Competition". Performed Tchaikovsky, Wieniawski and Mendelsohn’s violin concertos as a soloist with the Szczecin Philharmonic Orchestra, Szczecin Opera House Orchestra and International Youth Orchestra Pomerania. Awarded scholarships by the Major of Szczecin and "TPS - Friends of Szczecin Society". From 2008 is Concertmaster of Lomza Philharmonic.
Grzegorz Berniak
Born in 1976 in Krakow. He graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy in Warssaw in the symphony-opera conducting class directed by prof. Ryszard Dudek. In 1999 he took part in lessons in the Nikolaj Rymski-Korsakov Music Conservatoire in St.Petersburg, Prof. Ilii Musin’s class. His work with the Great Theatre-National Opera started in 2004 with the preparation of Richard Strauss SALOME. From 2004 to 2006 he worked with Jack Kasprzyk as his assistant preparing operas: Puccini`s Tosca, Verdi`s Aida, Giordano`s Chenier, Penderecki`s Ubu Rex and Berg`s Wozzeck. With the Great Theatre and Jack Kasprzyk he toured Japan, Spain and Norway (as an assistant conductor). He was commissioned by Bergen Opera Vest to prepare the premiere of the opera ‘Salome’, cooperating with the Bergen Symphony Orchestra. In the National Opera he directed performances: Via Sancta (2007), Pan Twardowski(2008) and Swan Lake (2009).
Gwidon Ciężarek
A secondary school student at OSM II degree in Szczecin in the class of Prof. Malgorzata Makulec. Former pupil of PPSM in Szczecin in the class of Michal Cebrij. Participant in many of the International Music Courses in Łańcut where he has workjed with Prof. Helen Brunner, Prof. Mirosław Ławrynowicz, Prof. Andrzej Gębski, Prof. George Michel. Participant in music courses in Szczecin where he worked with Prof. Wanda Wiłkomirska, Prof. Joe Wawrowski, Prof. Michal Grabarczyk, Prof. Bartosz Bryla, Prof. Marcin Baranowcki, Prof. Jan Stanięda. Prize winner in Polish and international violin competitions:
- O. Rieding Polish Violin Competition in Warsaw – distinction (2004)
- Young Polish violinists in Plock – distinction (2006)
- 1st competition ‘Violin for Best’ in Szczecin - 3rd place (2007)
- 2nd competition ‘Violin for Best’ in Szczecin – distinction (2008)
- M. Lawrynowicz International competition in Plock – distinction (2009)
- Ph. Telemann International contest in Poznań – Finalist (2010)
- Tadeusz Wroński Polish Violin Competition in Tomaszow Mazowiecki – 2nd (2010)
President of Szczecin Scholarship, Friends of Szczecin Society and Children Fund Scholarships.