THE FNAM FACULTY
OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Dean of the Faculty of Instrumental Music
Mariusz Klimsiak
Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Instrumental Music
Katarzyna Rajs
Dear young musicians, our prospective students,
The Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music may not be the biggest institution of higher artistic education in the country, but the homely atmosphere of its premises along with its staff of distinguished teachers will give your creative potential abundant opportunity to develop, helping you achieve success in competitions and professional life.
Welcome to FNAM, welcome to the Faculty of Instrumental Music!
We are an exclusive educational institution that has had its role in creating some of the most prestigious world-class events such as the International Chopin Piano Competition, held in Warsaw every five years, with our teacher, Professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń being Head of the Jury, or the International Paderewski Piano Competition, held in Bydgoszcz every three years, which we co-organize.
Our professors are renowned musicians who not only excel artistically in public performance, but are also here to help you boost your creativity and make the best of your abilities. Among our graduates are such acclaimed instrumentalists as Mariusz Patyra (1st Prize in the International Violin Competition ‘Premio Niccolo Paganini’, 2001), Rafał Blechacz (1st Prize in the International Chopin Piano Competition, 2005), or Szymon Nehring (1st Prize in the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, 2017).
Our strength lies in individualized methods and creative solution making in both our pedagogical and artistic activities. The city itself boasts one of the best concert halls in Europe, the acoustically outstanding Pomeranian Philharmonic Hall, and an excellent opera house, Opera Nova, both of which we have strong ties with. Bydgoszcz is also famous for its jazz and film festivals. And it is in our region that none other than Fryderyk Chopin himself spent his holidays, and it is also here that his genius was affected by the folk music the composer found so inspiring. Perhaps, with us, you will also find your inspiration.
PIANO
Our Piano Department is among the best in Europe. Established on the initiative of the Geneva International Piano Competition winner Jerzy Sulikowski, and subsequently headed by Jerzy Godziszewski, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, and, presently, Ewa Pobłocka.Our Piano Department is among the best in Europe. Established on the initiative of the Geneva International Piano Competition winner Jerzy Sulikowski, and subsequently headed by Jerzy Godziszewski, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, and, presently, Ewa Pobłocka.
STRINGS
The Strings Department is unique in the world of music pedagogy in that among its teachers it has two winners of the International Paganini Violin Competition: Vadim Brodsky and Mariusz Patyra (Brodsky being also the winner of the International Wieniawski Violin Competition), and the ARD International Music Competition winner Andrzej Bauer.
EARLY MUSIC
The city of Bydgoszcz boasts a well-established tradition of historically informed performance. It was here that the year 1960 saw the emergence of the first Polish early music ensemble playing genuine historic instruments. The Academy has occupied a vital role in ensuring this fantastic tradition has been kept alive.
CHAMBER MUSIC
Here, at the Academy, chamber music has always been among our educational priorities, which is why, besides the multitude of opportunities for performing with others, we offer those doing their master’s degree specialized courses in chamber music.
PIANO CHAMBER MUSIC
Most pianists dream of a solo career, yet, music is quintessentially a collective endeavour, intended to be performed ensemble. A skilled pianist proves invaluable to any other musician wishing to engage in piano-accompanied repertoire.
WIND INSTRUMENTS
Our Department of Wind Instruments, Percussion and Chamber Music is where we engage the students in a great number of artistic projects, some of which expand into collaborative ventures undertaken by students and teachers from the Academy’s other departments and faculties.
GUITAR
The Academy’s guitar class is more than a group of students. It is a unique space in which the students may acquaint themselves with the newest trends in guitar performance.
ACCORDION
Our accordion students are ambitious and creative, eager to collaborate with contemporary composers, the fruit of such collaboration being new and original accordion literature.
PERCUSSION
Our timpani and percussion class is taught by a member of the Bydgoszcz Opera Nova orchestra, Prof. Grzegorz Jurczyk.
