Błażejczyk, Wojciech

Born in 1981, he graduated from the composition class of Zygmunt Krauze and the sound engineering class of Andrzej Lupa at the Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw as well as in journalism and political sciences from Warsaw University. Since 2010 he has been a junior lecturer at the Sound Engineering Department and the Computer Music Studio of the Fryderyk Chopin Music University. In 2015 he became a member of the Polish Composers’ Union.

His works have been performed at festivals in Poland and abroad, including the New Music Concerts in Toronto, Polish Modern: New Directions in Polish Music Since 1945 in New York, Visegard Portraits in Budapest, Musica Moderna in Łódź, Musica Electronica Nova and Musica Polonica Nova in Wrocław, Poznań Music Spring, Warsaw Music Meetings, and AudioArt in Cracow, by ensembles and orchestras such as the Gorzów and Kalisz philharmonics, New Music Concerts Ensemble, Wratislavia Orchestra, Radom Chamber Orchestra, Kwadrofonik, Sinfonia Iuventus, and Hashtag Ensemble. In 2014–15 he was a composer-in-residence to the Jan Szyrocki ZUT Academic Choir in Szczecin (as part of the Institute of Music and Dance residency programme). He writes both acoustic and electroacoustic music, as well as works for the theatre and film.

His accolades include the 3rd Prize at the 1st Arboretum Krzysztof Penderecki International Composers’ Competition, 1st Prize at the Tadeusz Baird Competition for Young Composers (2011, for Exhorta), and 2nd Prize in the Tadeusz Baird Competition (2010, for Apnea). He has held scholarships from the Polish Ministry of Culture and the Keimyung Research Foundation (twice). In 2014, he received the Magna cum Laude medal for the best graduates of the Fryderyk Chopin Music University. In 2013, he participated in the IRCAM Forum Workshops in Paris.

In 2013, the For Tune label released an album entitled Loopovisations, containing Wojciech Błażejczyk’s works for electric guitar playing solo, in chamber ensembles and with electronics; the composer also contributed to this album as a performer. Wojciech Błażejczyk is an active guitar player, performing new music on the electric guitar. He has appeared as a performer at festivals such as Musica Polonica Nova, AdLibitum, Musica Moderna, Audio Art, Ankunft: Neue Musik, Olympus Jazz Festival, Visegard Portraits, Meridien, Poznań Music Spring, as well as concerts of the Polish Composers’ Union’s Youth Circle (fringe events of the Warsaw Autumn festival). He plays with the Hashtag Ensemble, performs improvised music with the Sonofrenia ensemble, live music for silent films with Niemy Movie, and progressive rock with Demer Di.

As a sound engineer, he has cooperated since 2008 with Warsaw Autumn and Musica Electronica Nova, as well as creating sound designs for films and audiobooks.

Selected works: Gazes for classical guitar (2000), Schizophrenia for chamber orchestra and tape (2002), Madness for 2–3 classical guitars (2002), The Cave (Captive Calling) for three guitars (2003), Crime and Punishment for electric guitar, string quartet and piano (2004), String Quartet (2006), Sirens for flute and harp (2006), MAD–Mutual_Assured_Destruction for chamber orchestra (2007), Seica for ten instruments (2008), Hysteresis Loop for saxophone and tape (2007), Postlude for seven brass and piano (2007), Rozedrganie (Quivering) for three violins and piano (2008), Interlunium for classical guitar (2008), Haas Spaces for trumpet, harp, electric guitar, piano and computer (2008), Loopovisations.1 / .2 / .3, cycle of improvised works for electric guitar and live electronics (2008–9), Involutio for trumpet, recorder, electric guitar, piano and computer (2009), Pur for mixed choir (2009), Arrhythmia for two electric guitars, vibraphone, marimba and percussion (2009), Lśnienie (Shimmer) for two pianos and two percussions (2009), Wild Hunt for clarinet, electric guitar and piano (2009), Hora iudicii for choir and chamber orchestra (2009), Apnea for two percussions and two pianos (2010), Protocol for actor, ensemble and electronics (2010), Music 4 Four for electric guitar, cello, bass clarinet and accordion (2010–12), Exhorta for tape and reciter (2011), Penal Colony for actor and symphony orchestra (2011), Chicken Run for electric guitar (2011), Hole in the Head for three flutes and double bass (2012), Lyddit for chamber orchestra (2012), Introjection for string orchestra (2012), Concertino per strumenti antichi e suoni moderni for early instruments ensemble (2013), LoPassHiCut for double bass and live electronics (2013), Dipole for two flutes (2013), Guitar Sculptures for electric guitar and live electronics (2013), Bethlehem for choir, soprano, baritone, duduk, percussion, organ and electronics (2013), A Concise History of the Death of Jean Calas for baritone, choir and symphony orchestra (2014), Objectophony 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, cycle of improvised works for objectophones and voice (2014–15), Trash Music for voice, instrumental ensemble, voice and objectophones (2014), Terra for choir (2014), Particle Horizon for electric guitar, bass guitar, objectophones and live electronics (2014), Warsaw Music for instrumental ensemble, voice and live electronics (2015), Music of Strings for electric guitar, piano and string trio (2015), Sonnet 46 to words by William Shakespeare (2015), Concerto for Electric Guitar and String Orchestra (2016).