Wojciech Waleczek
Wojciech Waleczek is recognized internationally as a pianist with uncompromisingly high standards in performance. Artist, born in 1980, has been pursuing a robust concert career playing as soloist with symphonic orchestras, solo piano recitals and chamber music concerts in the 27 countries of Europe as well as in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Tunesia, Palestina, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Guyana, Suriname, Canada and the USA.
He has appeared as a soloist with the orchestras of the following philharmonics: Kalisz, Karlovy Vary, Kielce, Koszalin, Lublin, Łódź, Opole, Pomeranian, Rzeszów, Toruń, Szczecin, Wałbrzych, Wrocław, Zabrze, Sinfonia Iuventus, Polish Chamber Philharmonic Sopot, Capella Bydgostiensis, Beethoven Academy Orchestra in Cracow, Polish Radio Orchestra in Warsaw, Elbląg Chamber Orchestra, Kaposvar Symphony Orchestra, National Chamber Orchestra of Moldova, Amman Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra of Academic Theatre in Briest, Symphonic Orchestra of the National Theatre in Brazil, Parana Symphonic Orchestra, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, State Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan. He co-operated with many conductors, including: M. J. Błaszczyk, Ł. Borowicz, K. Bumann, G. Chmura, S. Chrzanowski, M. Diadiura, M. Dworzyński, M. Fromanger, Chang Joon-Gun, M. Gawroński, Cz. Grabowski, I. Hobson, G. Kerenyi, V. Kiradijev, J. Kosek, M. Lebel, U. Makhmudov, M. Metelska, N. Morozowicz, M. Nesterowicz, O. Palymsky, D. Pavilionis, M. Pijarowski, P. Przytocki, W. Rajski, J. Rogala, Z. Rychert, J. Salwarowski, M. U. Sidiq, R. Silva, M. Smolij, A. Sosnovsky, M. Sugar, P. Veneri, T. Wojciechowski, M. Wolniewski, J. M. Zarzycki, A. Weiser, M. Żółtowski, B. Żurakowski.
Discography:
• F. Liszt - Violin and Piano Music (Voytek Proniewicz - violin), Naxos (2014),
• F. Liszt - Grandes études de Paganini, Transcendental études de Paganini, Capriccio (2017),
• F. Liszt - Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, Naxos (2019),
• F. Schubert - Rarities and Short Piano Works, Naxos (2021),
• F. Liszt - Weihnachtsbaum, Naxos (2024).
Awards:
- The 3rd prize and the Arthur Rubinstein Prize at The 2nd International Competition for Young Pianists "Arthur Rubinstein in memoriam" in Bydgoszcz, Poland (1996),
- The 1st prize and the prize for the best performance of a concerto at the 4th F. Liszt Piano Competition in Wrocław, Poland (1997),
- The 3rd prize at the 7th F. Liszt International Piano Competition "Premio Mario Zanfi" in Parma, Italy (2000),
- The 2nd prize at the Young Musicians` Festival in Gdansk, Poland (2002),
- The 3rd prize at the 6th International Piano Seiler Competition in Palermo, Italy (2005),
- The 3rd prize at the 3rd F. Liszt International Piano Competition in Wrocław, Poland (2005).
Wojciech Waleczek has graduated with a distinction from the Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland in a piano class of Prof. Zbigniew Raubo in 2003. He continued his studies with Prof. Lee Kum-Sing in the Vancouver Academy of Music, Canada. He received the degrees of Doctor of Arts and Habilitated Doctor of Arts from the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, Poland (2014 and 2017) as well as the tittle of Professor of Arts from the President of the Republic of Poland (2022).
Pianist was awarded by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Science and Higher Education and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Poland, by the presidents of Katowice and Gliwice as well as by the Regional Council of the Silesian Province and many other private and public institutions.
Beside concert activity he works as a Professor at the University of Silesia in Katowice.
He was awarded the Decoration of Honor „Meritorious for Polish Culture” in 2017 and Bronze Medal for Merit to Culture – “Gloria Artis” in 2023 by the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage, the Honorary Badge for Merits for the Silesian Voivodeship from the Silesian Council in 2018 as well as the Bronze and Silver Cross of Merit by the President of Poland (2019 and 2023).