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ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Unforgettable celebration of the art of lutherie
The Włodzimierz Kamiński Art of Violin Making Festival is a unique international cultural event that brings together luthiers, musicians, and enthusiasts from around the world, offering them the opportunity to exchange experiences and delve into the intricacies of crafting string instruments.
The centerpiece of the festival is the Włodzimierz Kamiński International Violin Making Competition, which serves as a platform for young talents to showcase their work. The competition attracts students and graduates from prestigious violin making schools, challenging them to create the finest violins. It provides a space for exchanging ideas, networking, learning, and honing skills under the guidance of experienced masters and artists.
The festival also serves an educational purpose through its workshops, masterclasses, and conferences. The Art of Violin Making Masterclass allows participants to learn from top experts, while the International Violin Making Conference features lecturers from across Europe sharing their insights on the history, style, and current trends in artistic violin making.
In addition, the festival boasts a rich concert program, where audiences can hear instruments crafted by contemporary makers. This unique opportunity showcases the diverse styles of luthiers from around the globe.
Exhibitions held during the event offer luthiers a platform to present their creations, creating a space for and fostering dialogue between luthiers and their primary audience — musicians.
The Włodzimierz Kamiński Art of Violin Making Festival is, above all, a space for creativity, intellectual exchange, and cultural growth. It attracts numerous visitors eager not only to admire the beauty of instrument making but also to gain a deeper understanding of the art of their creation.
FESTIVAL 2023
Summary of the first edition of the festival
The inaugural edition of the Włodzimierz Kamiński Art of Violin Making Festival took place on October 25–28, 2023, in Poznań. The festival featured the Włodzimierz Kamiński International Violin Making Competition, aimed at students and graduates of violin making schools, the Art of Violin Making Masterclass focusing on the sound qualities of instruments, the Polish Violin Makers Exhibition showcasing works by Polish instrument makers, and the International Violin Making Conference with a discussion panel dedicated to violin making education and international collaboration.
The festival also included a variety of side events that enriched the main program. Among them were workshops titled "A day in the life of a luthier: be like Marcin Groblicz", offering participants hands-on experience in the art of violin making. Additionally, Lunchtime Concerts provided a platform for young musicians to perform on instruments crafted by contemporary Polish luthiers. The festival culminated with the Festival Gala, featuring the Laureates’ Concert, where the highest-rated competition instruments were showcased on the concert stage.
COMPETITION
International Włodzimierz Kamiński Violin Making Competition
The event is dedicated to students and young graduates of violin making. The competition attracted 28 participants from Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, the United States, Italy, and South Korea. Each participant was allowed to submit two violins, resulting in a total of 35 instruments being showcased.
The competition unfolded in two stages. In the first, luthiers from the Jury assessed the technical and aesthetic qualities of the instruments, while musicians focused on their acoustic and ergonomic features. The second stage took place in a concert setting, where only the sound qualities of the instruments were evaluated, with the visual stimuli eliminated by a partition. The sound presentations were open to the public and livestreamed online.
The festival culminated in a spectacular Laureates’ Concert, where the highest-rated instruments were performed by the renowned violinist Celina Kotz, accompanied by pianist Grzegorz Skrobiński. This event not only celebrated the skills and passion of young luthiers but also served as a culmination of their hard work and talent, highlighted by a virtuosic performance from outstanding instrumentalists.
JURY
International Jury of luthiers and violinists
Jury:
Peter Beare (The United Kingdom)
Roman Barnaś (The United States)
Jarosław Nadrzycki (Poland)
Dominique Nicosia (France)
Ulrike Rempel (Germany)
Honorata Stalmierska (Poland)
Agata Szymczewska (Poland)
Jury Secretary:
Marta Panfil
Competition Director:
Jan Bartoś
WINNERS
The jury awarded 3 main prizes and 3 honorable mentions, as well as several non-statutory awards
Competition winners:
Martyna Reske – 1st prize 15.000 zł
(Poland, Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań)
Janusz Bryniarski – 2nd prize 11.000 zł
(Poland, Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań)
Seoyeon Kim – 3rd prize 8.000 zł
(South Korea, Istituto d’Istruzione Superiore A. Stradivari Cremona)
Kwang Hoon Lee – honorable mention 2.000 zł
(South Korea, Istituto d’Istruzione Superiore A. Stradivari Cremona)
Klemens Siatkowski – honorable mention 2.000 zł
(Poland, Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań)
Martyna Reske – honorable mention 2.000 zł
(Poland, Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań)
SOUND PRESENTATIONS AND THE GALA CONCERT
In the second stage, the sound evaluations took place behind a partition in the concert hall to ensure objectivity in the assessment and to focus the jury's attention solely on the sound quality of the instruments. The anonymity of the instruments allowed for a fair and transparent evaluation of the acoustic qualities of the presented violins. The Laureates' Concert, featuring violinist Celina Kotz accompanied by pianist Grzegorz Skrobiński, was the highlight of the festival, showcasing exceptional musical skills on the highest-rated instruments, creating a true celebration of the art of violin making and sound expression.
Both the sound evaluations and the Laureates' Concert were streamed live. We invite you to watch the recordings of these events.
Photos credits: Bartosz Seifert, I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
MASTERCLASS
Sound adjustment in an instrument and effective collaboration with musicians
The Violin Making Masterclass, held during the festival, was led by the eminent British luthier, Peter Beare. This intensive session focused on advanced acoustic techniques and sound adjustment in string instruments. Peter Beare shared his profound knowledge and experience, particularly emphasizing resonance optimization and sound quality, which are crucial in perfecting instruments at the highest level.
Participants of the masterclass included international students and competitors, as well as experienced luthiers from various countries. The session not only offered the opportunity to learn under a master's guidance but also provided a platform for exchanging experiences and techniques among professionals, making these workshops an invaluable source of knowledge and inspiration.
Photos credits: Bartosz Seifert, I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
ACCOMPANYING EVENTS
The workshop was aimed at the local public, anyone who wanted to feel like maestro Antonio Stradivari or the great Polish master of violin making, Marcin Groblicz, even just for a moment. Participation in the workshop did not require any prior knowledge of lutherie, opening the doors to anyone interested in this art form.
During the workshop, participants learned about the history of violin making and visited a luthier's workspace, where they familiarized themselves with basic tools needed to create instruments. Under the watchful eye of experienced master Marcin Krupa, they also had the opportunity to independently create a part of a violin. This hands-on experience not only helped them understand the process of making stringed instruments but also allowed them to feel the true passion and precision required in this artistic profession.
A day in the life of a luthier: be like Marcin Groblicz
POLISH ARTIST VIOLIN MAKERS EXHIBITION
Showcase of Polish violin making in the heart of Poznań
The Polish Artist Violin Makers Exhibition, showcasing the works of members of the Polish Union of Artist Violin Makers, was one of the key elements of the festival. Taking place in the open space of the Aula Nova at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań, this exhibition offered the audience the opportunity for direct dialogue with the violin makers, providing a chance to delve into the knowledge of the artists' daily work and techniques used in instrument making. Musicians also had the opportunity to compare and evaluate instruments, which allowed them to discover new instrument builders and their artworks.
Exhibition Coordinator:
Marek Pielaszek
ACCOMPANYING EVENTS
The exhibition was enriched by concerts held during lunchtime, where instruments submitted to the exhibition were presented. These musical interludes enhanced the visit and allowed the audience to hear the sound of each exhibit, which is an integral part of assessing the quality and skill of each violin maker.
During the concerts, the following performers appeared:
Urszula Jarosz – cello
Joanna Jasiak – violin
Marianna Kowal – guitar
Anna Kubiak – viola
Jakub Staszel – violin
Lunchtime concerts
Photos credits: Bartosz Seifert, I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN MAKING CONFERENCE
Integration of tradition and modernity in violin making education
During the Festival, an International Violin Making Conference was held, serving as a platform to showcase prominent luthier centers from across Europe. The event featured Polish luthier achievements, from historical figures like Groblicz and Dankwart to the legacy of Włodzimierz Kamiński, presented alongside introductions to the luthier traditions of Newark, Mirecourt, Cremona, and Mittenwald. These lectures allowed participants to explore the diverse methods, history, and stylistic nuances unique to each presented school.
The conference featured presentations by:
Daniele Renzi (Istituto d'Istruzione Superiore Antonio Stradivari Cremona),
Dominique Nicosia (Ecole Nationale de lutherie à Mirecourt),
Ulrike Rempel (Staatliche Musikinstrumentenbauschule Mittenwald),
Floriane Forconi i Ludivine Broulliet (Newark International School of Violin Making),
Marta Panfil (Akademia Muzyczna im. I.J. Paderewskiego w Poznaniu).
EXPERT PANEL
The highlight of the conference was the expert panel, chaired by Honorata Stalmierska, the artistic director of the festival, which initiated a discussion on the creation of an international agreement and collaboration between European violin making schools. This initiative aims to facilitate cooperation and exchange of experiences among future generations of violin makers on the international stage, opening up new opportunities for education and development in the field of violin making. The agreement significantly accelerates the flow of knowledge and skills between European violin making centers, which is crucial in an increasingly globalized world, addressing the needs for continuous improvement and international integration of the violin making community.
Representatives from violin making schools across Europe participated in the expert panel:
Akademia Muzyczna im. I.J. Paderewskiego w Poznaniu (Poland)
Conservatorio Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga de Bilbao (Spain)
Ecole Nationale de lutherie à Mirecourt (France)
Istituto d'Istruzione Superiore Antonio Stradivari Cremona (Italy)
Newark International School of Violin Making (The United Kingdom)
Staatliche Musikinstrumentenbauschule Mittenwald (Germany)
Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau (Germany)
Vision of the future: international agreement of violin making schools
Photos credits: Bartosz Seifert, I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
FESTIVAL TEAM
Honorata Stalmierska – festival artistic director
Jan Bartoś – competition artistic director
Mateusz Smól – executive manager
Marek Pielaszek – exhibition coordinator
Marta Panfil – competition secretary, organizational support
Marta Zuzanna Huk – conference coordinator
Aldona Berdyszak – senior specialist for fundraising and project implementation
Malwina Kunc – senior specialist for promotion and branding
Filip Pietrowicz – promotion specialist
Lena Baranowska – executive assistant
Joanna Szurka-Baranowska – support for competition jury organization work
NON-STATUTORY PRIZES
Special thanks to:
Krzysztofa Pawikowskiego and Nell i Romualda Henglewskich for sponsoring the non-statutory prizes.