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I was born 8th of November 1996 in Koszalin (Poland). I have been intrigued by music since I was a child. I finished 12 years of education as a pianist in music school in my hometown (ZPSM im Grażyny Bacewicz). I was developing my performing skills in Hanna Wiącek's and Paweł Bortnowski's piano classes . I played in a school big band for 3 years and I accompanied the vocal ensemble for one year. Throughout the high school I was actively involved as an accompanist and arranger. I completed my education in music school with a concert for the best students, where I performed with the Koszalin Philharmonic Orchestra Edward Grieg’s Piano Concerto in a minor op. 16. 

I wrote the first major composition when I was 14 and it was "Variations" on my own theme. Because of the extra lesson of piano improvisation in my music school with Izabela Jaskulska, my interest in the composition deepened. I started to take part in school reviews for composers, where my works were awarded. 

I was born 8th of November 1996 in Koszalin (Poland). I have been intrigued by music since I was a child. I finished 12 years of education as a pianist in music school in my hometown (ZPSM im Grażyny Bacewicz). I was developing my performing skills in Hanna Wiącek's and Paweł Bortnowski's piano classes . I played in a school big band for 3 years and I accompanied the vocal ensemble for one year. Throughout the high school I was actively involved as an accompanist and arranger. I completed my education in music school with a concert for the best students, where I performed with the Koszalin Philharmonic Orchestra Edward Grieg’s Piano Concerto in a minor op. 16. 

I wrote the first major composition when I was 14 and it was "Variations" on my own theme. Because of the extra lesson of piano improvisation in my music school with Izabela Jaskulska, my interest in the composition deepened. I started to take part in school reviews for composers, where my works were awarded. 

I was born 8th of November 1996 in Koszalin (Poland). I have been intrigued by music since I was a child. I finished 12 years of education as a pianist in music school in my hometown (ZPSM im Grażyny Bacewicz). I was developing my performing skills in Hanna Wiącek's and Paweł Bortnowski's piano classes . I played in a school big band for 3 years and I accompanied the vocal ensemble for one year. Throughout the high school I was actively involved as an accompanist and arranger. I completed my education in music school with a concert for the best students, where I performed with the Koszalin Philharmonic Orchestra Edward Grieg’s Piano Concerto in a minor op. 16. 

I wrote the first major composition when I was 14 and it was "Variations" on my own theme. Because of the extra lesson of piano improvisation in my music school with Izabela Jaskulska, my interest in the composition deepened. I started to take part in school reviews for composers, where my works were awarded. 

I graduated two bachelor’s degrees: in Composition (2018) as a student of prof. Olga Hans and in Theory of Music (2019) with mentoring by prof. Ewa Kowalska-Zając at the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódz (Poland). In 2020, I graduated with a distinction Master’s degree in Composition at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, mentored by Malcolm Singer. As a result of my interest in contemporary vocal composition, I am continuing my education at the Master's course in Opera Making & Writing (Composer Pathway) in Association with the Royal Opera House at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, which will result in the composition and performance of a new chamber opera.

During my studies in Poland, I collaborated with Leon Schiller’s Film School in Łódź, the Polish Film Institute and the University of Technology in Łódź in the field of music composition for animation. The first project I wrote music for was for Karolina Specht’s animation "Beside Oneself" (2015). It was displayed more than 40 times at international film festivals in 23 countries on 4 continents. I also collaborated with Damian Krakowiak, and I composed music for his animation "Strong Independent Space", which premiered at various festivals as well. The project was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. I also composed music for the Marcin Kosakowski’s "VR Performance 2.0" as a part of the exhibition “Borders of (im)materiality” organised in Art_Inkubator in Łódź.

Ever since I started my studies at the Music Academy in Łódź I regularly participated in the "Musica Moderna Sessions", where I both appeared as a composer and performer. I was collaborating with various ensembles, performers, and organisations, such as EXAUDI, Alice Purton (Plus-Minus Ensemble), students at the London Contemporary Dance School, students and professors at the Academy of Music in Łódź and "Młodzi nie.poważni" Symphony Orchestra. I have also been teaching music theory and piano since 2013. In 2019, I worked as a music theory teacher at the Primary Music School of the Educational Society “Education” in Lódź. In 2020, I participated in the CYTM Composer in Residence Scheme, where I was leading composition workshops for young composers.

My works have been premiered, among others, at the Lviv National Symphony Orchestra (Ukraine), The Place Theatre, Milton Court Concert Hall in London and the Polish Academies of Music in Łódź, Poznań and Bydgoszcz. My compositions have been premiered by the professors of the Academy of Music in Łódź. "Oniric Visions No. 2" and "Scherzo" for alto saxophone and clarinet were performed in 2018 by dr Łukasz Wójcicki and dr hab. Robert Stefański at the XVIII World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb (Croatia). Scherzo was also published on the album "DUO".  "Folk Impressions" for 3 violas were performed in 2019 by dr Dorota Stanisławska, dr hab. Róża Wilczak-Płaziuk, prof. AM and prof. dr hab. Jolanta Kukuła-Kopczyńska at the 2nd International Scholarly Artistic Conference “Contemporary Music. From Analysis to Interpretation". In 2020 my composition "SHREDS" for cello and electronics were performed by Jakub Gucik from "Spółdzielnia Muzyczna Contemporary Ensemble" during 28. Audio Art Festival in Kraków.

In 2018, I participated in composer’s workshops with Agata Zubel, organised by the Polish Composers' Union as part of the 61st International Festival of Contemporary Music “Warsaw Autumn”. In 2020 I also took part in International Composition Course SYNTHESIS with masterclasses led by Mark Andre, Juste Janulyte and Ivan Fedele. The fee was funded by the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage, and my participation was a distinction for the best composition students of Polish Conservatoires.

Since 2016, I have started to engage in scientific activities related to music theory. I took part in two scientific conferences, where I had the opportunity to present my lecture: “Ujęcie chorału gregoriańskiego oraz rola retoryki muzycznej w utworze Locus inaestimabilis Krzysztofa Grzeszczaka.” (Gregorian chant and the role of musical rhetoric in the piece Locus inaestimabilis by Krzysztof Grzeszczak”). I presented my lecture at two scientific conferences: at the 5th National Student-Doctoral Scientific Conference “Neofonia” at the Academy of Music in Poznań (2016) and at the 1st Conference of Young Scientists and Artists at the Academy of Music in Łódź (2017).

From 2018 to 2019, I was the President of the Student Research Group at the Department of Composition and Theory of Music at the Academy of Music in Łódź. One of the greatest successes in the Student Research Group activity was the organisation of the symphonic concert with fixed media "Tramwaj nr 8" (Tram No. 8), where one movement was composed by me. That was "The train from Radegast to Auschwitz Birkenau", which was dedicated to victims of the holocaust.

Vocal composition is taking a very important place in my compositional practice. After experience related to work on "Miriam" – my graduation composition, which I consider to be my greatest achievement, I was intrigued by work on vocal works using ambiguous literary texts. Vocalist – Kinga Borowska from prof. Urszula Kryger’s vocal class – under the influence of my work, has changed the subject of her doctoral dissertation, focusing in part on the essence of "Miriam" composition and the extended vocal techniques contained in my work. Since this collaboration, I have been very interested in the musical reflection of extreme emotional states and mental diseases. I noticed that a human voice is the best expressive transmitter, which is why I am studying a Master's course in Opera Making & Writing at Guildhall School. I am also a librettist for several of my pieces.

Experimental electronic music plays an important role in my compositional activity. I am also interested in interdisciplinary approaches to composition. In 2019, I composed “Presence < > Absence” for electronics and dance, which is the result of an inspiring collaboration with Bulgarian choreographer and performer – Stephanie Handjiiska – an alumna of the London Contemporary Dance School. The piece was presented at the Middlesex University London during Studio Sessions as a part of the Dance Umbrella Festival. This experience has greatly developed me, and electronics accompany most of my current compositions.

EDUCATION

PhD / DMus in Composition, Doctoral Degree

Guildhall School of Music & Drama (2022-in progress)

MA in Opera Making & Writing (Composer Pathway)

in Association with The Royal Opera House, Master's Degree (Postgraduate)

Guildhall School of Music & Drama (2020-2021)

MMus in Composition, Master Degree (Postgraduate)

with the Honorary Diploma "Primus in Artibus" Awarded to the Best Graduate

Academy of Music in Łódź (2019-2021)

MMus in Composition, Master Degree (Postgraduate)

Guildhall School of Music & Drama (2019-2020)

BMus in Theory of Music, Bachelor Degree (Undergraduate),

Academy of Music in Łódź (2016-2019) 

BMus in Composition, Bachelor Degree (Undergraduate)

Academy of Music in Łódź (2015-2018)

PRIZES

2021 – Special Mention for the composition "LOST" for the vocal ensemble during the Amsonia International Composition Contest in New York

2021 – First Prize awarded by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for the composition "LOST" for the vocal ensemble during the Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters 2020, organised by Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Philip Bates Trust

2020 – Ensemble Award (only the Grand Prize and the Ensemble Award were awarded) at the "Synchronised" International Composers' Competition in Kraków organised by the Spółdzielnia Muzyczna Contemporary Ensemble for the piece SHREDS for cello and electronics

2018 – Distinction at the 3rd Ignacy Jan Paderewski’s International Composer Competition in Bydgoszcz for "Oscillations" for piano and electronics organised by the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz

2018 – 1st Prize at The XXVI National Open Composer Competition in Sanok for the song for mezzo-soprano and piano "What is the word" to the poem by Samuel Beckett

2017 – Second Prize at The 1st Renata Gleinert’s National Composer Competition for the song in the Kashubian language for "Wiôldżi zwónk" (Big bell) for soprano and piano

2017 – Third Prize (no first prize was awarded) at The National Composer Competition ...kiedy myślę Ryszard Bukowski... organised by Academy of Music in Wroclaw for "M(ono)S(ona)(ta)1"

2015 – Second Prize at the XVI UFM National Composer Competition in Warsaw for "Struktury akustyczne" (Acoustic Structures) for flute, violin, cello, piano and percussion

2015 – Third Prize at the 3rd National Composer Competition "moja (mi)nuta" organised by Academy of Music in Lódź for "Pieśń śmierci" (Song of death) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and percussion

2014 – Distinction (only first prize and distinction were awarded) at the XV National Composer Competition during the Festival of Contemporary Children’s and Youth's Music Srebrna Szybka in Krakow for "Czym jest muzyka?" (What the music is?) to words by Ludwik Jerzy Kern for soprano, children’s choir, string orchestra and percussion

2014 – Distinction and Audience Award at the XV UFM National Composer Competition in Warsaw for "The night in the magic forest" for piano quintet

2013 – Second Prize at the Composer Competition Under the Honorary Patronage of the President of Gdynia for "Przebudzenie" (Awakening) for piano 

SCHOLARSHIPS

2024 – Guildhall School Financial Award

2024 – Witold Lutosławski Scholarship (funded by the Witold Lutosławski's heirs)

2024 – "Young Poland" Scholarship (funded by the Polish Minister of Culture)

2023 – Guildhall School Financial Award

2022 – "Pro Arte" Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Culture (funded by the Marshal of Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship)

2022 – Guildhall School Financial Award

2021 – "Young Poland" Scholarship (funded by the Polish Minister of Culture)

2020 – Guildhall School Financial Award

2019 – Scholarship of the Polish Minister of Culture for the Best Students of Artistic Universities

2019 – Guildhall School Financial Award

2019 – Artistic scholarship of the Marshal of the City of Łódź

2018 – The Principal’s Scholarship of the Academy of Music in Łódź for the Best Students

2016 – The President of Koszalin Award for Artistic Achievements in the Field of Culture

I was born 8th of November 1996 in Koszalin (Poland). I have been intrigued by music since I was a child. I finished 12 years of education as a pianist in music school in my hometown (ZPSM im Grażyny Bacewicz). I was developing my performing skills in Hanna Wiącek's and Paweł Bortnowski's piano classes . I played in a school big band for 3 years and I accompanied the vocal ensemble for one year. Throughout the high school I was actively involved as an accompanist and arranger. I completed my education in music school with a concert for the best students, where I performed with the Koszalin Philharmonic Orchestra Edward Grieg’s Piano Concerto in a minor op. 16. 

I wrote the first major composition when I was 14 and it was "Variations" on my own theme. Because of the extra lesson of piano improvisation in my music school with Izabela Jaskulska, my interest in the composition deepened.
I started to take part in school reviews for composers, where my works were awarded. 

BIOGRAPHY

MICHAŁ KAWECKI