dr hab. Bartłomiej Kominek, prof. AMKP – HEAD
He studied with Janusz Olejniczak and graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music in Cracow. He participated in many master classes taught by the most outstanding piano tutors, such as Andrzej Jasiński, Oxana Jablonska, Lee Kum-Sing and Ryszard Bakst. He is currently a lecturer at the Academy of Music in Cracow, where he completed his habilitation in 2015.
The artist has won several awards and distinctions in piano competitions and festivals both in Poland and abroad – at the Festival of Polish Pianists in Słupsk and the Festival of Talents in Tarnów, as well as at the events held in Kil (Sweden), Glasgow and London. The concerts he has given in Poland (Festival of Polish Music in Cracow, Festival of Polish Pianists in Słupsk, Polish Radio Music Festival in Warsaw, “Bravo Maestro” Festival in Ignacy Jan Paderewski’s manor house in Kąśna Dolna, Festival of Talents in Tarnów, International Festival of Contemporary Music “Warsaw Autumn”, Warsaw Music Encounters, “Music on the Heights” Festival in Zakopane, International Days of Cracow Composers), in many places in Europe, Middle East and Japan, received excellent reviews. He has performed in Chopin Festivals in Ghent (Belgium), Valdemossa (Mallorca) and Nohant-Vic (France). He has also made numerous recordings for the Polish Radio and Television. He portrayed Fryderyk Chopin in a film produced by the Japanese Television.
In 2005 his recording of Chopin’s Etude in E major op. 10 no. 3 was selected to be a part of the CD with interpretations of the most renowned Polish pianists and winners of Chopin competitions. Later that year, together with Janusz Olejniczak, Gdańsk University Choir and eminent soloists, he recorded the infrequently presented Petite messe solennelle by Giacomo Rossini. The CD was produced by the Gdańsk University. In 2010 DUX released his album with Grażyna Bacewicz’s compositions (among others Piano Quintet no. 1 arranged for piano and chamber orchestra) which received a nomination to the “Fryderyk” award. In 2013 he recorded a monographic album for Polskie Nagrania covering the works of Croatian composers and president – Ivo Josipović. The artist has been active as a chamber musician and has collaborated with many well-known artists, ensembles and orchestras, including Sinfonia Varsovia, Cracow Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Baltica, Capella Cracoviensis, Polish Radio Orchestra, “DAFÔ” String Quartet, “Camerata” String Quartet, “Prima Vista” String Quartet, Polish Radio Choir in Cracow, Elżbieta Towarnicka, Olga Pasiecznik, Anna Radziejewska, Iwona Sobotka, Joanna Freszel, Bogusława Dziel-Wawrowska, Janusz Olejniczak, Tomasz Strahl, Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski, Wojciech Michniewski, Jonatan Mann, Daniel Smith, Magdalena Bojanowicz, Aleksander Gebert, Bartosz Koziak, Klaudiusz Baran, Anna Maria Staśkiewicz, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka and Janusz Wawrowski.
Since 2011 he has performed with pianist Anna Boczar as “Chopin Piano Duo”.
He wrote the arrangements of Fryderyk Chopin’s all orchestral works for piano and string quartet that were published by PWM (Polish Music Publishing House).
Since 2014 he performs the function of Artistic Director of International Piano Duo Festival „Duettissimo”.