SPÓŁDZIELNIA MUZYCZNA CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE

In 2014 a group of Cracow-based musicians who performed together during the European Workshop for Contemporary Music took part in the International Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt, where they decided to continue their inspiring collaboration as a regular ensemble: Spółdzielnia Muzyczna (the Music Cooperative).

Their interests include music from Poland, Europe, and beyond, both established and undiscovered. The ensemble performs broadly conceived chamber music, from solo works to those involving more than a dozen performers. Out of their separate artistic personalities, members strive to form a new whole, based on the principle of partnership and equal participation, hence the name of Music Cooperative.

In November 2014 members of the Music Cooperative worked with Helmut Lachenmann on the interpretation of his Trio fluido, which was successfully presented at the Brand New Music festival in Katowice. In April 2016 the ensemble appeared at the Musica Moderna festival in Łódź, premiering works by Marta Śniady and Tomasz Szczepanik. Individually, ensemble members took part in workshops conducted by Musikfabrik and Ensemble Modern.

The Music Cooperative’s repertoire comprises compositions by Helmut Lachenmann, Simon Steen-Andersen, Artur Zagajewski, Wojciech Ziemowit Zych, Jagoda Szmytka, Johannes Kreidler, Michael Beil, Francisco Concha Goldschmidt, Piotr Peszat, Kazimierz Serocki, and others.

The ensemble’s regular members are Mateusz Kras (clarinet), Barbara Borowicz (clarinet), Małgorzata Mikulska (flute), Mateusz Rusowicz (trumpet, conducting), Krzysztof Guńka (saxophone), Barbara Mglej (violin), Paulina Woś (violin), Gabriela Biel (viola), Jakub Gucik (cello), Weronika Krówka (piano), Martyna Zakrzewska (piano), Aleksander Wnuk (percussion), and Bartosz Sałdan (percussion). Regular non-performing contributing supporters include Katarzyna Feiglewicz and Piotr Peszat.