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The Polish-born soprano singer, violinist, violist and music
teacher, Anna Kwiatkowska, obtained her Master of Music degree in Viola from the Faculty of Instrumental Studies from the Music Academy in Lodz, Poland (2004), in the class of Professor Mieczysław Szlezer; and her Master of Music degree in Voice from the Faculty of Vocal and Acting Performance at the Academy (2005). After completing her studies in Poland, she continued her education at the University of California in Los Angeles, California (UCLA) at the Faculty of Opera Performance. She has participated in numerous master-classes and perfected her skills at the Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt and at the International Ensemble and Composers Academy Impuls in Graz. For many years now she has specialized in performing chamber and solo contemporary violin music.
In 1998-2008, as the leader of the Violarium string trio, Anna Kwiatkowska gave many concerts in Poland and abroad (Germany, Italy, Austria, Lithuania, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Mexico). She is a co-organizer of educational contemporary music workshops for young people as part of the “Harmonies and Noises” series and the “Dźwiękowisko” (“Sound Playground”) educational series in cooperation with the Institute of Music and Dance. She also co-organized the first Summer New Music Courses for Performers in Bydgoszcz, where she also acts as lecturer. She held scholarships from Poland’s Minister of Culture Culture and National Heritage. She has collaborated repeatedly with Ensemble Musikfabrik, one of the world’s leading contemporary music groups. She performs on a regular basis with Warsaw-based Chain Ensemble, with Flow Unit, in a duo with cellist Mikołaj Pałosz, and in the trio Flow Unit 3 with pianist Adam Kośmieja.
Anna Kwiatkowska performs as a soloist performing both outstanding pieces of contemporary violin repertoire (including Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, Carter, Haas, György Kurtág, Nono, Saariaho, Sørensen), as well as pieces written especially for her by leading Polish composers (including Wojciech Blecharz, Wojciech Ziemowit Zych, Jagoda Szmytka, Sławomir Wojciechowski, Sławomir Kupczak, Artur Kroschel, Rafał Zapała, Wojciech Błażejczyk, Dominik Karski). She has performed at numerous festivals, including: Days of New Italian Music and Days of New Danish Music in Krakow, Summer Music Festival in Copenhagen, Bendigo Intenational Festival of Exploratory Music in Australia, International Chamber Music Festival in Beijing, International Festival of Conemporary Music “Warsaw Autumn,” Audio Art, Festival of Musical Tradition and Avant-garde KODY, Audio Art Festival in Cracow, NeoArte - Synthesizer of Art, Musica Privata, Musica Polonica Nova festival in Wrocław, Poznań Music Spring, Lutosławski “Łańcuch” (“Chain”) Festival in Warsaw, TRZY-CZTE-RY Context, Contrast, Confrontation. She collaborated with the MusikFabrik ensemble in Cologne, performing at important events and in prestigious venues, such as the Musikfest in Berlin or Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum. She also works with the magazine “Ruch Muzyczny” as author of texts discussing new music.
Anna Kwiatkowska’s achievements include the album “Eidos” recorded together with pianist Joanna Opalińska, shortlisted for the Phonographic Award “Fryderyk” 2017 in the chamber music category, “Aure” recorded with Mikołaj Pałosz, and “Incorporate” - a monographic album presenting works by Kuba Krzewiński.
In 2009, Anna Kwiatkowska moved to Canada, where she performs mostly vocal music. Her operatic roles include: Tytania in Benjamin Britten’s Midsummernight’s dream, (UCLA), Rosine in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Despina in W.A. Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, Sandrine in La Cecchina by Piccini (Musiakademie Rheinsberg). Apart from her work as a soloist, she has always had a strong interest in choral singing. From early childhood she regularly participated in choral courses in Poland and abroad (Landesakademie Ochsenhausen) and performed in professional settings (Philharmonic in Lodz, Poland, Grand Theatre in Lodz, Poland). In 2008, as a member of Wroclaw Philharmonic Choir, she had the privilege of joining the famous Gabrieli Consort & Players (Director: Paul McCreesh). The concert tour with Gabrieli Consort included performances at Salle Pleyel in Paris, Barbican Centre and Albert Hall in London (BBC Proms festival).
In Canada, Anna Kwiatkowska's has appeared with Opera Atelier (including chorus member in W.A. Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito), Ottawa International Chamber Festival (selection of Frédéric Chopin songs accompanied by Mr. James Parker from Gryphon Trio) and Tafelmusik Chamber Choir’s performance of L.v. Beethoven's Mass in C conducted by Kent Nagano. She is also a soprano soloist/section leader at St. Paul’s Bloor Street church in Toronto, with the Toronto Chamber Choir directed by Lucas Harris, Trinity Bach Project, and with St. James Cathedral Choir. Besides performing, she enjoys teaching and has had 9 years of teaching experience in Canada as a violin, viola, voice and piano instructor, successfully preparing children and youth for various auditions, exams, and performances. |
