My musical journey started quite early considering that I come from a non-musical family. After attending classes at an afternoon music club for children, my teacher suggested I should try learning an instrument. My mum made an executive decision and after eliminating the piano and cello (mainly due to their size), I began learning the violin at the age of six. Shortly after that I enrolled at a music school in my hometown, Kraków. My teacher at the time was a violist and she was the first person to suggest trying out the viola. I started with learning how to read the alto clef at the age of 12 and I don’t think I ever thought about picking up the violin again.
The same teacher gave me the inspiration to fly to London for an audition at the Royal Academy of Music. I was granted a place there for the undergraduate course and so I packed up my Polish life and moved to London to begin my English one. Even though it was a hard decision to move that far from home at that point in my life, it was probably one of the best choices I have ever made.
I stayed at the Royal Academy of Music to do my master’s degree where I learned from Juan Miguel Hernandez who helped me grow a lot as a musician and inspired me in every single lesson. I decided to also study baroque viola with Annette Isserlis and really fell in love with historical performance which I still try to engage with a much as I can.
During my studies I got a chance to perform with and learn from many amazing conductors and musicians, and I developed a deep and unwavering passion for orchestral playing.
At the moment I am a freelancing musician and a teacher with long-term aspirations of gaining a seat in one of London’s prestigious orchestras. I regularly perform as principal viola with various youth orchestras and have played with the Orchestra of St John’s, Britten Sinfonia and have also recently taken part in the Waterperry Opera Festival.
Royal Academy of Music
London, UK
What’s your most memorable moment as a musician?
When I was 17, I was on tour with CEI Youth Orchestra in Italy. One day the whole orchestra woke up before dawn and hiked to Rocca Maggiore in Assisi just so we could play a concert as the sun was rising. That was one of the most memorable venues I have ever played at, even until now.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
I like to think I would be an interior designer, chef in a fancy restaurant or an actress. I think I would be happy with any of those!