Maria Włoszczowska

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               Polish violinist Maria Włoszczowska enjoys a varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, guest concertmaster and director. She is recognised for her versatile musicianship, having won the First Prize and Audience Prize at the XXI Leipzig International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in 2018, as well as numerous prizes at the XV International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition. In June 2021 she was appointed Leader of the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

The 2021/22 season sees engagements including projects leading and directing the RNS, guest-leading the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, violin concertos by Korngold and Bruch, a recital and chamber music concert at the Wigmore Hall, performances at chamber music festivals including Musikdorf Ernen in Switzerland, IMS Prussia Cove, Lammermuir Festival, Festival Resonances in Belgium, North York Moors Festival, Lewes Chamber Music Festival, as well as chamber concerts around Scotland.

Maria gave her debut recital at the Wigmore Hall with pianist Alasdair Beatson in 2016. She has appeared as soloist with several international ensembles since, including the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, Concerto Budapest, Pauliner Barockensemble and several of Poland’s symphonic and chamber orchestras. She regularly performs at festivals around Europe where her chamber music partners have included Jeremy Denk, Steven Osborne, Robert Levin, Philippe Graffin, Nobuko Imai, Amy Norrington, Paolo Giacometti, Bengt Forsberg, Alasdair Beatson, Dinis Sousa, Susan Tomes and the Doric String Quartet amongst others.

Recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Emily Anderson Prize, the Hattori Foundation Senior Award and Poland’s Minister of Culture and National Heritage Prize, she based herself in the UK after studying at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles with Leonid Kerbel, the Royal Academy of Music in London and completing her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Hungarian violinist and conductor András Keller. During her study years in London she also worked extensively with Sophia Rahman and eventually joining her in mentoring promising young players and chamber groups, both privately and as part of the University of Limerick Master of Music Department.

Maria plays on a violin by Tomasso Balestrieri.