prof. Mieczysław Szlezer
Mieczyslaw Szlezer was born July 26. 1955 in Krakow, Poland.
He has started his musical education at age of six under the tutorship of his father Zbigniew, renowned violinist and teacher himself. He was graduated with honors from the Academy of Music in Krakow and continued his postgraduate studies at “Indiana University School of Music” in Bloomington, Indiana (USA) with Joseph Gingold and Tadeusz Wronski. Among his teachers were also such famous violinists like Henryk Szeryng and Franco Gulli.
He is a multiple laureate of the international and national Violin competitions.
As a soloist, member of chamber ensembles and concertmaster of the orchestras “Capella Cracoviensis” (1978-87) and “The State Philharmonic Orchestra K.Szymanowski”” (1987-2000) he has given over two thousands performances in more than 30 countries on four continents. Since 2012 he came back to active Viola performing.
He did also numerous recordings for:”PRiTV”, “RAI”, “Yugoton”, “France Musique”, “Equant”, “STEBO” ,”Amadeus Records” ,”Moderato”and „OkoArt”. Between 1995 and 2005 he was a founding member of the Piano Trio „Artemus”.
His teaching career started in 1978 at the Academy of Music in Krakow where he is now holding the titular professorship in Violin and the Chair of the Violin and Viola Department (since 2008). Between 1996 and 2008 he was entrusted duties, respectively the Vice – Dean of the Instrumental Faculty and the Deputy Rector in charge of the International affairs (two terms each) . His graduates are continuing their career as independent soloists, members of symphony and chamber orchestras and university teachers. He did a guest teaching and lecturing in the USA, South Korea, Japan, China, Germany, Austria, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, Island and Finland.
The Juror of the International Violin Competitions: “Enescu” in Bucharest (Romania) ,”D.Tugemann” in Jerusalem (Israel) , “Yaniewicz” in Reikyavik (Island), “Lipizer” in Gorizia (Italy), “Telemann” in Poznan, Serwaczynski, Lipinski and Wieniawski in Lublin, “Wronski” in Warsaw (Poland) and all-Poland competitions in Krakow, Bydgoszcz, Sochaczew, Kutno , Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and Trzciana.
To date (2019), he has raised 57 graduates and promoted 11 doctors of art. He is passionate about the history of violin and violin making and regarded as an expert in these fields. He published five books on the above subjects.