Employees

prof. dr hab.

Leszek Sokołowski

double bass

Leszek Sokołowski began to study the double bass at the secondary state music school in Białystok with Ryszard Kukiełka. He continued his music studies at the Białystok Branch of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw (now the Department of Instrumental and Educational Studies in Białystok). He initially studied in Michał Stadnicki’s class and then studied with Professor Andrzej Mysiński under whose supervision he graduated in 1985. He continued to perfect his skills at the Salzburg Mozarteum with Professor Klaus Stoll, first double bass at the Berlin Philharmonic. Currently he is Professor of double bass at the Department of Pedagogical and Instrumental Studies in Białystok of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw; bassist (primary) of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic, and teacher at the Music School Complex in Białystok. In the period of 2008–2012 he held the function of Deputy Dean of the Department of Pedagogical and Instrumental Studies in Białystok.

Leszek Sokołowski gives solo performances and also plays in chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras. He co-operates with the Camerata Quartet, the Polish Chamber Philharmonic in Sopot and the Polish Radio Orchestra in Warsaw. He is also founder and leader of the “Sinfonia Academica” chamber orchestra.

He has been a very successful teacher. His pupils and students are laureates of several double bass competitions:

• Robert Zadykowicz won 3^rd prize at the Polish National Auditions in Elbląg;
• Kamil Łomasko received honourable mention at the 7^th Adam Bronisław Ciechański Double Bass Competition in Poznań (2002) and the 1^st Polish National Double Bass Competition in Łódź (2006); he also won 2^nd prize at the Polish National Auditions for Cello and Double Bass Class students in Elbląg;
• Krzysztof Sokołowski twice won 2^nd prize at competitions in Elbląg (2002) and Łódź (2004 — 1^st prize was not awarded);
• Franciszek Słomka won 2^nd prize (1st prize was not awarded) at the Polish National Auditions for Cello and Double Bass students in Łódź (2004).

One of Leszek Sokołowski’s former students, Bartosz Sikorski, is now a member of the Wiener Philharmoniker. Several more are either students or graduates of Hochschule für Musik and UdK in Berlin. Many of his pupils and students are members or former members of the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Gustaw Mahler Orchestra.

Professor Leszek Sokołowski teaches workshops, seminars and master courses in Vilnius, Łańcut, Olsztyn and Janowiec.