Short bio
Piotr Szewczyk is an award-winning violinist and composer. He has been a violinist in the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in Florida since 2007, and is the Winner of the 2008 Jacksonville Symphony Fresh Ink - Florida Composers’ Competition. Before joining JSO Mr. Szewczyk completed a three year fellowship at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach under Michael Tilson Thomas where he served as a rotating concertmaster and was a winner of the 2006 New World Symphony Concerto Competition.
Mr. Szewczyk is an active performer and proponent of new music and is the creator and performer of the critically-acclaimed Violin Futura Project, a series of recitals comprised of new, short, exciting and innovative solo violin pieces written and dedicated to him by over 40 renowned composers from USA, Germany, England, Japan, Australia and Mexico.
As a composer, Mr. Szewczyk has received numerous awards including those from American Composers Forum, Society of Composers, British Trombone Society, VoxNovus 60x60 Project, Fauxharmonic Adagio Contest, UPBEAT Hvar - Croatia and ACCENT Competition at Music X Festival.
Mr. Szewczyk’s music has been performed by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Ensemble GREEN (Los Angeles), ALIAS Ensemble (Nashville), Sybarite Chamber Players (NYC), Juventas Ensemble (Boston), Atlanta Chamber Players, Trio Archetto (Poland), Degas Quartet, ACCORD Quartet, International Double Reed Conference, OWU/NOW Festival, Santa Fe New Music, Colorado Music Festival and many others, and was featured on NPR Performance Today and CBS Early Show.
Piotr Szewczyk holds a double Masters degree in violin and composition from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he studied violin with Kurt Sassmanshaus, Piotr Milewski and Dorothy Delay and composition with Joel Hoffman, Michael Fiday, Henry Gwiazda, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon and Darrell Handel.
More information at: www.VeryNewMusic.com
Mr. Szewczyk is an active performer and proponent of new music and is the creator and performer of the critically-acclaimed Violin Futura Project, a series of recitals comprised of new, short, exciting and innovative solo violin pieces written and dedicated to him by over 40 renowned composers from USA, Germany, England, Japan, Australia and Mexico.
As a composer, Mr. Szewczyk has received numerous awards including those from American Composers Forum, Society of Composers, British Trombone Society, VoxNovus 60x60 Project, Fauxharmonic Adagio Contest, UPBEAT Hvar - Croatia and ACCENT Competition at Music X Festival.
Mr. Szewczyk’s music has been performed by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Ensemble GREEN (Los Angeles), ALIAS Ensemble (Nashville), Sybarite Chamber Players (NYC), Juventas Ensemble (Boston), Atlanta Chamber Players, Trio Archetto (Poland), Degas Quartet, ACCORD Quartet, International Double Reed Conference, OWU/NOW Festival, Santa Fe New Music, Colorado Music Festival and many others, and was featured on NPR Performance Today and CBS Early Show.
Piotr Szewczyk holds a double Masters degree in violin and composition from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he studied violin with Kurt Sassmanshaus, Piotr Milewski and Dorothy Delay and composition with Joel Hoffman, Michael Fiday, Henry Gwiazda, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon and Darrell Handel.
More information at: www.VeryNewMusic.com
FULL BIOGRAPHY
Violinist and composer Piotr Szewczyk is a violinist in the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in Florida since September 2007. He is also the Winner of the 2008 Jacksonville Symphony Fresh Ink - Florida Composers’ Competition and was commissioned by JSO to write a new orchestra piece for JSO. First Coast Fanfare was premiered under Music Director Fabio Mechetti in April 2010. Before joining the Jacksonville Symphony Mr. Szewczyk completed a three year fellowship at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, under Artistic Director Michael Tilson Thomas where he served as a rotating concertmaster and was a winner of the 2006 New World Symphony Concerto Competition.
As a violinist, Piotr Szewczyk has won prizes at international competitions including: a winner of the 2006 New World Symphony Concerto Competition, First Prize Winner at the 2002 Young Artist String Competition in Lima, Ohio and a winner of the 1994 Interlochen Concerto Competition among others. Mr. Szewczyk performed as soloist with the Lima Symphony, New World Symphony, Coastal Symphony of Georgia, World Youth Symphony Orchestra, Queen City Virtuosi-Cincinnati, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, CCM Philharmonia Orchestra, CCM Concert Orchestra among others. Mr. Szewczyk’s extensive orchestral experience includes positions as a rotating concertmaster of the New World Symphony, violinist in the Jacksonville Symphony, Colorado Music Festival orchestra, Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra and Opera, concertmaster of the CCM Philharmonia, Concert, Chamber and I.N.T.Y. Contemporary Orchestra among others.
Described as a “mature virtuoso”, with “stellar technique and constantly ringing tone“, “gifted violinist with remarkable facility” and as a“superb violinist” and “an excellent young violinist with a beautiful musical taste” Szewczyk has given solo and chamber recitals in the USA, Poland, Germany and Austria. Chamber music groups he’s played in include Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, FAZA String Quartet, Roggero Trio and performed as soloist and chamber musician in the Spoleto Festival Music in Time series, Santa Fe New Music Festival, Friday Musicale-Jacksonville, EMMA Concert Series – St. Augustine, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, New World Symphony Chamber Music Series, Xchange concerts and Musican’s Forum concerts, Colorado Music Festival Chamber Music Series, St. Augustine Chamber Music Festival, Flagler College, University of Florida, University of North Florida, Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles and other.
A few of the 2009-2010 season highlights include Mr. Szewczyk appearance as soloist with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia performing his own violin concerto, recital at the Friday Musicale series in Jacksonville, recital at EMMA Concert Series in St Augustine, solo recital at Berklee College of Music in Boston and many others.
Mr. Szewczyk is the creator and performer of the critically-acclaimed Violin Futura Project, a recital of brand new, short, exciting and innovative solo violin pieces written and dedicated to him by renowned composers from USA, Germany, England and Japan. Mr. Szewczyk’s project was described by critics as "bold and ambitious" and "a triumph for Szewczyk." Mr. Szewczyk performed Violin Futura at numerous festivals and universities including Spoleto Festival USA, Berklee College of Music in Boston, University of Florida, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Santa Fe New Music Festival, University of Cincinnati, University of North Florida, EMMA Lecture Series at Flagler College, Bavarian Academy of Arts in Munich, Germany, New Museum of Art and Design in Nuremberg, Germany and many others. Currently in its second edition, Violin Futura project expands into a new set of pieces written especially for Mr. Szewczyk.
As a composer, Mr. Szewczyk’s music has been featured on NPR Performance Today, CBS Early Show, NPR - Live from Studio C and and has been described as “exquisite”, “hautingly beautiful”, “exciting”, “dramatic”, “full of fierce rhythms” and “filled with energy, melody, and sophisticated sense of harmony that is his own”. Mr. Szewczyk’s music has been performed by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Ensemble GREEN (Los Angeles), ALIAS Ensemble (Nashville), Sybarite Chamber Players (NYC), Degas Quartet, Quarteto Latinoamericano, ACCORD Quartet, Juventas New Music Ensemble, Jacksonville University Orchestra, I.N.T.Y. Contemporary Orchestra, Young Musicians’ Orchestra of Miami, CCM Philharmonia Orchestra, Queen City Virtuosi-Cincinnati, Trio Archetto (Poland), members of the Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony and others.
Mr. Szewczyk’s music has been performed in festivals such as Aspen Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Colorado Music Festival, American Composers Forum, NOW/OWU Festival of New Music at Ohio Wesleyan University, UPBEAT-Hvar Festival in Croatia, Music X New Music Festival in Cincinnati, Santa Fe New Music, Bavarian Academy of Arts in Munich, Germany, British Trombone Society, University of Florida-Gainesville, University of North Florida, University of Northern Kentucky, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire among others. Mr. Szewczyk’s music was performed live on the NPR radio and on the American Symphony orchestra League Conference by ALIAS Ensemble in Nashville. Mr. Szewczyk’s string quintet The Rebel was performed live on the CBS Early Show by the Sybarite Chamber Players and in Lincoln Center and was recently published by Wizard Sleeve Publishing.
Piotr Szewczyk received numerous composition awards including Winner – Jacksonville Symphony Fresh Ink – Florida Composers’ Competition, American Composers Forum Competition, Society of Composers Inc. Competition, finalist- British Trombone Society Composition Competition, Honorable Mention on the 2007 Fauxharmonic Orchestra Adagio Composition Contest, Winner - 2005 Vox Novus 60x60 Project, Winner - 2004 University of Cincinnati Orchestral Composition Competition, Second Prize at the 2004 ACCENT Composition Competition at the MUSIC X New Music Festival in Cincinnati, 1st Prize Winner – 2003 Composition Competition UPBEAT-Hvar in Croatia. Mr. Szewczyk’s solo violin piece Cadenza I has been chosen as the compulsory contemporary work for the UPBEAT-Hvar violin competition. Mr. Szewczyk’s composition Apparitions will be released on Society of Composers Inc. CD in 2010.
Mr. Szewczyk studied violin and composition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he was awarded full undergraduate and graduate scholarships and earned degrees of Bachelor of Music and Master of Music. Mr. Szewczyk also was awarded the Starling Foundation Scholarship and studied violin with prof. Kurt Sassmannshaus, Piotr Milewski and Dorothy Delay and composition with Darrel Handel, Joel Hoffman, Henry Gwiazda, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon and Michael Fiday. Mr. Szewczyk is a member of the following organizations: American Federation of Musicians Local 444, American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), American Composers Forum, National Association of Composers, Society of Composers.
For more information visit: www.VeryNewMusic.com and www.ViolinFutura.com
As a violinist, Piotr Szewczyk has won prizes at international competitions including: a winner of the 2006 New World Symphony Concerto Competition, First Prize Winner at the 2002 Young Artist String Competition in Lima, Ohio and a winner of the 1994 Interlochen Concerto Competition among others. Mr. Szewczyk performed as soloist with the Lima Symphony, New World Symphony, Coastal Symphony of Georgia, World Youth Symphony Orchestra, Queen City Virtuosi-Cincinnati, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, CCM Philharmonia Orchestra, CCM Concert Orchestra among others. Mr. Szewczyk’s extensive orchestral experience includes positions as a rotating concertmaster of the New World Symphony, violinist in the Jacksonville Symphony, Colorado Music Festival orchestra, Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra and Opera, concertmaster of the CCM Philharmonia, Concert, Chamber and I.N.T.Y. Contemporary Orchestra among others.
Described as a “mature virtuoso”, with “stellar technique and constantly ringing tone“, “gifted violinist with remarkable facility” and as a“superb violinist” and “an excellent young violinist with a beautiful musical taste” Szewczyk has given solo and chamber recitals in the USA, Poland, Germany and Austria. Chamber music groups he’s played in include Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, FAZA String Quartet, Roggero Trio and performed as soloist and chamber musician in the Spoleto Festival Music in Time series, Santa Fe New Music Festival, Friday Musicale-Jacksonville, EMMA Concert Series – St. Augustine, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, New World Symphony Chamber Music Series, Xchange concerts and Musican’s Forum concerts, Colorado Music Festival Chamber Music Series, St. Augustine Chamber Music Festival, Flagler College, University of Florida, University of North Florida, Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles and other.
A few of the 2009-2010 season highlights include Mr. Szewczyk appearance as soloist with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia performing his own violin concerto, recital at the Friday Musicale series in Jacksonville, recital at EMMA Concert Series in St Augustine, solo recital at Berklee College of Music in Boston and many others.
Mr. Szewczyk is the creator and performer of the critically-acclaimed Violin Futura Project, a recital of brand new, short, exciting and innovative solo violin pieces written and dedicated to him by renowned composers from USA, Germany, England and Japan. Mr. Szewczyk’s project was described by critics as "bold and ambitious" and "a triumph for Szewczyk." Mr. Szewczyk performed Violin Futura at numerous festivals and universities including Spoleto Festival USA, Berklee College of Music in Boston, University of Florida, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Santa Fe New Music Festival, University of Cincinnati, University of North Florida, EMMA Lecture Series at Flagler College, Bavarian Academy of Arts in Munich, Germany, New Museum of Art and Design in Nuremberg, Germany and many others. Currently in its second edition, Violin Futura project expands into a new set of pieces written especially for Mr. Szewczyk.
As a composer, Mr. Szewczyk’s music has been featured on NPR Performance Today, CBS Early Show, NPR - Live from Studio C and and has been described as “exquisite”, “hautingly beautiful”, “exciting”, “dramatic”, “full of fierce rhythms” and “filled with energy, melody, and sophisticated sense of harmony that is his own”. Mr. Szewczyk’s music has been performed by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Ensemble GREEN (Los Angeles), ALIAS Ensemble (Nashville), Sybarite Chamber Players (NYC), Degas Quartet, Quarteto Latinoamericano, ACCORD Quartet, Juventas New Music Ensemble, Jacksonville University Orchestra, I.N.T.Y. Contemporary Orchestra, Young Musicians’ Orchestra of Miami, CCM Philharmonia Orchestra, Queen City Virtuosi-Cincinnati, Trio Archetto (Poland), members of the Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony and others.
Mr. Szewczyk’s music has been performed in festivals such as Aspen Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Colorado Music Festival, American Composers Forum, NOW/OWU Festival of New Music at Ohio Wesleyan University, UPBEAT-Hvar Festival in Croatia, Music X New Music Festival in Cincinnati, Santa Fe New Music, Bavarian Academy of Arts in Munich, Germany, British Trombone Society, University of Florida-Gainesville, University of North Florida, University of Northern Kentucky, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire among others. Mr. Szewczyk’s music was performed live on the NPR radio and on the American Symphony orchestra League Conference by ALIAS Ensemble in Nashville. Mr. Szewczyk’s string quintet The Rebel was performed live on the CBS Early Show by the Sybarite Chamber Players and in Lincoln Center and was recently published by Wizard Sleeve Publishing.
Piotr Szewczyk received numerous composition awards including Winner – Jacksonville Symphony Fresh Ink – Florida Composers’ Competition, American Composers Forum Competition, Society of Composers Inc. Competition, finalist- British Trombone Society Composition Competition, Honorable Mention on the 2007 Fauxharmonic Orchestra Adagio Composition Contest, Winner - 2005 Vox Novus 60x60 Project, Winner - 2004 University of Cincinnati Orchestral Composition Competition, Second Prize at the 2004 ACCENT Composition Competition at the MUSIC X New Music Festival in Cincinnati, 1st Prize Winner – 2003 Composition Competition UPBEAT-Hvar in Croatia. Mr. Szewczyk’s solo violin piece Cadenza I has been chosen as the compulsory contemporary work for the UPBEAT-Hvar violin competition. Mr. Szewczyk’s composition Apparitions will be released on Society of Composers Inc. CD in 2010.
Mr. Szewczyk studied violin and composition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he was awarded full undergraduate and graduate scholarships and earned degrees of Bachelor of Music and Master of Music. Mr. Szewczyk also was awarded the Starling Foundation Scholarship and studied violin with prof. Kurt Sassmannshaus, Piotr Milewski and Dorothy Delay and composition with Darrel Handel, Joel Hoffman, Henry Gwiazda, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon and Michael Fiday. Mr. Szewczyk is a member of the following organizations: American Federation of Musicians Local 444, American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), American Composers Forum, National Association of Composers, Society of Composers.
For more information visit: www.VeryNewMusic.com and www.ViolinFutura.com