Maria Niedbała is a Polish-born violist. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Music where she studied with Martin Outram and Yuko Inoue, gaining a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Arts degree. She is a graduate of the Zespół Państwowych Szkół Muzycznych im. Mieczysława Karłowicza in Kraków, where she was awarded a Diploma with Distinction. Maria has participated in many masterclasses with violists including Tatiana Masurenko, Roger Benedict, Hartmut Rohde, Jerzy Kosmala, Stefan Kamasa and others.
Maria is a keen chamber music player. She has played in various ensembles including string quartets, quintets and piano quartets. She has had the opportunity to perform with outstanding musicians including Bartek Nizioł, Agata Szymczewska, Niklas Sivelöv and members of the Zehetmair, Silesian and Lutosławski Quartets. With chamber ensembles Maria has toured around Europe, including Germany, Holland, Norway, Italy, Ukraine and Slovakia. It was during a concert tour to Holland in 2004 that Maria had the honour of performing for HRH The Prince of Wales and Beatrice, Queen of Holland.
Maria’s recently discovered interest is performing baroque music on period instruments. She studied baroque viola with Jane Rogers and Anette Isserlis. Since 2011 she has played in many projects with the Royal Academy of Music Baroque Orchestra and has worked with outstanding musicians such as Rachel Podger, Madelaine Easton, Elizabeth Wallfisch and Laurence Cummings. With this ensemble Maria has participated in the London Handel Festival, Kohn Foundation Bach Cantata Series and played in Wigmore Hall and Kings Place.
Royal Academy of Music
London, UK
What is your earliest musical memory?
I remember when I was coming to my parent’s workplace, was standing in the middle of corridor and singing my voice out, so everybody could hear me. Then, I remember my first audition ever – to music kindergarten.
If you weren’t a musician what would you be?
I don’t know. I was very happy when, after finishing high school I didn’t have to share my non-musician friends’ worries about what subject of study choose.