Katarzyna Budnik-Gałązka
The artist graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw after studies in the violin class of Mirosław Ławrynowicz, Andrzej Gębski and Janusz Wawrowski as well as the viola class of Piotr Reichert. She is now on the faculty of the University of Music in Warsaw as a teaching assistant in Piotr Reichert’s viola class. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she received scholarships from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as well as the 8th „Young Poland“ Scholarship Programme (2011).
She has participated with success in numerous competitions, such as: the 47th International “Beethoven’s Hradec” Music Competition (The Czech Republic, 2008, 1st prize), the 15th International Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach (Austria, 2008, 1st prize), the 8th National Jan Rakowski Viola Competition (Poznań, 2008, 1st prize), International Max Rostal Competition in Berlin (2009, 2nd prize), International Max Reger Chamber Music Competition in Sondershausen (2009, 2nd prize and the special prize for the best performance of Max Reger’s Suite for solo viola) as well as the 4th Michał Spisak International Competition in Dąbrowa Górnicza (2010, 2nd prize and the special prize for the best performance of a compulsory piece).
As a soloist and chamber musician she has given concerts in Poland and other European countries (e.g. in the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, France and Russia). In 2010 she participated in the “Chamber Music Connects the World” project, organized by the Kronberg Academy, where she performed along with such distinguished musicians as Gidon Kremer, Tatiana Grindenko, at many prestigious festivals, including the Music Festival in Łańcut, the International Chamber Music Festival „Music on the Heights“ in Zakopane and the Kammermusikfest Lockenhaus (she was specially invited to the latter event by Gidon Kremer).