THE BRITISH SCHOOL Warsaw, Poland

www.thebritishschool.pl

Ritchie Palczewski - guitar teacher

The ability to play the acoustic, electric and classical guitar, composing, arranging, gaining self-confidence, dealing with stage fright, developing teamwork in the studio and on the stage. These are all the valuable things you can learn with me. My knowledge comes from 20 years of music experience in the studio and on stage.

I have been working as a peripatetic music teacher at The British School, Warsaw since 2005. I specialize in teaching guitar to children and teenagers between the ages of 6 and 18. In 2004, I received a Master’s degree in Philosophy at the Jagellonian University and I completed additional pedagogical studies, which provided me the skills to work with children and teenagers. Besides teaching the guitar, I also teach philosophy in middle school and high school.Visit me on: www.facebook.com/ritchie.palczewskiKeep rockin‘ ;)Ritchie Palczewski

Karina Gorka - piano teacher

Karina Gorka has been playing the piano since the age of 7. She spent 12 years in ZPOSM im. G.Bacewicz no.3 in Warsaw before attending the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. Karina studied the piano under the guidance of prof. J.Romaniuk and prof.E. Wolanin.

Karina has a passion for chamber music and was a student of prof. K. Borzykowska – Jankowska. She is still an active pianist and soloist. She has played as a member of the orchestra with Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra and twice won the 1st price in IV and

V “Spotkania Kamerlne w Sochaczewie” in duo with clarnettist P.Zawadzki. Karina is also interested in playing with double bass and has preformed with the most popular polish contrabassists, D.Mizera (the 1st double bassist in Opera in Zurich),

Karina has been teaching music for several years. She has worked with a variety of age groups ranging from 5 to 30 years old. She currently works at a primary school in Warsaw. Karina recognizes that students learn differently and tailors her methods depending on the student’s needs. She also employs the use of a new method “The color notes” – which is an alternative way to learn notes, especially for the beginners.

Instrumental and Vocal Teaching Programme, staff biographies

THE BRITISH SCHOOL Warsaw, Poland

www.thebritishschool.pl

Arkadiusz Aries Niezgoda - guitar and piano teacher

Arkadiusz Aries Niezgoda is an experienced guitar and piano teacher, composer with many years of experience in teaching. Arkadiusz graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Musicology at the University of Warsaw and then went on to teach music at aprivate music school in Los Angeles for three years. He has been teaching guitar and piano for the last 2 years in Warsaw. His main teaching philosophy is to support students in reaching their goals by having fun and developing a passion towards music. Arek (short for Arkadiusz) offers lessons on : electric guitar, classical guitar, acoustic guitar and piano.

Arkadiusz Aries Niezgoda is a composer whose music has been released on albums, broadcast on TV stations (Opener for Business Information on Polsat News) and in print as musical scores.

Roberto Cura - piano teacher

Roberto Cura has been playing the piano since the age of 11. As an ex-student of The British School, he passed both GCSE and IB Music.

Roberto is currently a student at Warsaw Politechnica, and although classically trained with a particular love of Chopin, Roberto is an accomplished jazz pianist. As a result he can teach in a variety of styles. Roberto is keen to pass on his love of piano playing to others.

Rafal Krauze - trombone teacher

Rafal Krauze is a talented trombone player of many years’ experience. He is a Principal member of the Filharmonia Warminsko-Mazurska in Olsztyn and has appeared as a soloist with Torun Symphony Orchestra. He graduated at the Academy of Music in Cravoc with prof. Stolarczyk. Krauze is a laureate of several international competitions and the winner of a number of :Polish music competitions including; 2nd Price on Brass Competition in Brno (Czech Republic), 2nd Price on International Brass Festival in Mielec, 1st Price on Festival in Torun, 2nd Price on International Etuda Festival in Szczecin.

Rafal is an active member of the Philharmonic, his work also includes collaborations with : Sir Neville Marriner, Krzysztof Penderecki, Gabriel Chmura, Antoni Witt, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Christian Lindberg.

THE BRITISH SCHOOL Warsaw, Poland

www.thebritishschool.pl

THE BRITISH SCHOOL Warsaw, Poland

www.thebritishschool.pl

Antonina Golachowska - oboe teacher

Antonina Golachowska is a student at the Frederic Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. She graduated from the Gra-zyna Bacewicz Music School in 2011 and has played the oboe for eight years. She is also an

experienced piano player. Antonina currently works with several orchestras and ensembles including ‘The Witold Lu-tosławski Płock Symphony Orchestra’ and ‘The Band of the Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of Warsaw University’. Play-ing the oboe is Anotonina’s passion and she cannot imagine

life without her instrument. She hopes to encourage children to play the oboe and teach them how to create amazing music on this instrument.

Jolanta Pawlik - piano teacher

Ms. Pawlik is a graduate of J. Elsner Secondary School of Music and the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. She studied in the de-partments of piano and chamber music. Ms. Pawlik is the recipient of the F. Chopin Scholarship five years in a row. She is currently a lecturer-pianist at the F. Chopin University of Music in Warsaw and a piano teacher at The British School since 1993. Her specialisation is in the ABSRM piano examination system. Her pupils have obtained 23 ABSRM certificates. As an active concertpianist, her album with F.Schubert’s songs was nominated for the “Fryderyk 2013” award.

Filip Rakowski - drum teacher

Filip Rakowski is a drummer, educator, composer, arranger and lyricist. Filip graduated from music schools with diplomas certifying his thor-ough education in the piano and the classical drums classes. So far Filip has recorded and published two solo albums. His debut album titled “Autorytet” (released by Bertelsmann Music Group in year 2000) con-taining the hit single “Przesilenie” was nominated for Fryderyk 2000. His playing can be heard on over thirty albums of various Polish artists. During his artistic adventures Filip has cooperated as a session musi-

cian with major Polish artists such as Maryla Rodowicz, Kasia Kowalska, Natalia Kukulska, Wo-jtek Pilichowski, Urszula Dudziak, Reni Jusis, Kaja Paschalska, Sidney Polak, Krzysztof “K.A.S.A.” Kasowski, Halina Mlynkowa, Kuba & Maciek Molęda, Paweł Mykietyn or Super Girl & Romantic Boys. He has also been involved in a number of advertising campaigns for some of the biggest mar-ket giants, such as McDonald’s, Nestlé or Coca Cola. He composed the music and wrote lyrics for the theme song used in the Polish commercial of Koral ice cream. Filip has given his performance at several prestigious national festivals, and as a popular “session musician”, is frequently invited to collaborate in a variety of artistic projects.

THE BRITISH SCHOOL Warsaw, Poland

www.thebritishschool.pl

THE BRITISH SCHOOL Warsaw, Poland

www.thebritishschool.pl

Jan Harasimowicz - trumphet teacher

Jan began playing the trumpet at the age of ten. He soon decided to dedicate his life to music and trumpet. After graduating from secondary school, Jan moved to United Kingdom where he studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire. During his studies, Jan worked with numerous orchestras and ensembles from the West Midlands, such as City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Royal Shakespeare Company. After graduating in 2007 from Birmingham Conservatoire , Jan moved to Warsaw where he finished his Master Degree and began working with a number of major Polish orchestras as well as started his teaching career. In 2010 Jan became a soloist of the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra. Teaching and working with children gives him satisfaction and pleasure.

Dorota Jankowska - cello teacher

Dorota Jankowska has played cello for 18 years, after being inspired by her parents who are also musicians. She completed her secondary studies at a spe-cialist music school and has since been playing in a string quartet for the past 5 years. She enjoys playing classical music, film music, jazz and pop, but par-ticularly likes chamber music. She has recently completed a degree in Cultural Studies at The University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Rubén López Fernández - saxophone teacher

Rubén López Fernández was born in 1988 in Seville. He started to play the saxophone at the age of 8 and later from 2000 until 2006 he studied at the Conservatory of Music Cristobal de Mo-rales in Seville. He has participated in many masterclasses with distinguished saxophone players including Jose Antonio Santos Salas, Alfonso Padilla López, Miguel Garrido, Jesús Javier Librado, Miguel Romero Morán, Antonio Torres Zamora. From 2001-2006 he was a saxophonist in Wind Orchestra The Red Cross in Seville and from 2006-2009 he was conductor of this orchestra performing concerts in Andalusia and also Portugal.

From 2009-2012 he was a saxophonist in the distinguised Banda de Música del Maestro Tejera and played a number of concerts throughout Spain with huge repertory from classical music, march’s to popular music like pasodoble.

THE BRITISH SCHOOL Warsaw, Poland

www.thebritishschool.pl

Anna Kowalik - piano teacher

Ms. Anna Kowalik is a piano and harpsichord player. She graduated from the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and went on to study at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy. She was also awarded the Fondation des Treilles scholarship, in France and has received awardes at Festival of Polish Piano Music in Słupsk.

Ms. Kowalik is an experienced and competent piano teacher. She has completed post-graduate studies in piano pedagogy at the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. She says: “My work at the British School began in 1999. With my students I put emphasis on mastering good piano technique and developing mu-sical imagination and sensitivity. I successfully employ the Oxford Piano Method for beginners. I prepare my students for the ABRSM examinations (more than 20 diplomas have been obtained under my guid-ance).”

Ms. Kowalik is a certified music teacher. She works at the Warsaw Ballet School and at a primary music school. Her great passion is early music and Renaissance and Baroque dances.

Magdalena Lapinska - flute teacher

Magdalena Lapinska is a graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. She has participated in numerous masterclases led by eminent flutists including Prof.P-LGraf, Prof.B Garner, S.Louvion and Dr.M Nastasi. Magdalena is the laureate of a number of nationwide and regional contests including the Nationwide Flute Festival in Sochaczew, Woodwinds Musical Meetings in Warsaw and the Nationwide Young In-strumentalists Contest in Jaslo. She appears regularly as a soloist and chamber musician in Poland and abroad and she regularly collaborates with the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Piotr Zawadzki - clarinet teacher

Piotr has been playing the clarinet for 15 years and he is eager to install the same passion for music to his students. He graduated from ZPOSM im. G.Bacewicz no.3 in Warsaw with diplomas in both clarinet and piano. He went on to study at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Univer-sity of Gothenburg (Sweden) and Music Conservatory of Nice (France). He has also worked with prominent professors from around the world during summer courses.

He now performs as a soloist, for the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra and teach at several schools. Piotr am particularly fond of playing in chamber groups (duos, trios). In private, he loves listening to jazz and contemporary classical music, learning new languages and reading shelves of books.