Orlow Tomasz
Born 17 September 1974 in Jasło. During the years 1993–98 he studied at the Karol Szymanowski Music Academy in Katowice, in the organ class of Juliusz Gembalski, graduating with distinction and achieving top marks for his diploma recital. During 1999–2000, as a recipient of a scholarship of the Culture Foundation, he worked on perfecting his improvisatory skills at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf, in the organ improvisation class of Wolfgang Seifen. Tomasz Orlow was a winner at the 3rd J. P. Sweelinck International Organ Competition in Gdańsk (1997), where he was awarded the 2nd Prize (the 1st Prize was not awarded). He also won a distinction at the 1st International Organ Competition in Warsaw (1997). In 2005 he was awarded the title of Doctor of Musical Arts by the Karol Szymanowski Music Academy in Katowice. He is actively involved in concerts both in Poland and abroad, primarily in popularising the art of organ and piano improvisation (live CD recordings of improvised concerts). He also interprets contemporary organ music, and participates in first performances of the most recent works. He collaborates with the ensemble Camerata Silesia in musical and musical-theatrical projects.
Tomasz Orlow works at the Music Institute of the Silesian University (Faculty of Arts) in Cieszyn. He teaches interpretation of organ literature, improvisation and knowledge of the organ. He also devotes time to work as an organmaster and organologist (research and documentation), carrying out conservation and reconstruction projects on antique instruments.
