Maciej Frąckiewicz – accordion (Poland)

Maciej Frąckiewicz – classical accordion

Winner of the 20th ‘Arrasate Hiria’ International Accordion Competition in Spain (2012), one of the most prestigious competitions in this category. In 2013 he received the “Polityka” magazine “Passport” award for “very mature and diverse interpretations of contemporary music and other music genres. For courage, daring and consistency. For enriching the musical repertoire. For his concert creations and stimulating our imagination, as well as his persuasive strength”.

He is also a laureate of prestigious international accordion competitions in Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Italy and Spain – he won GWK Competition in Münster (2015), Folkwang Preis in Essen (2017), Deutsche Musikwettbewerb in Bonn (2018), he received 2nd prize at the 42nd International Accordion Competition in Klingenthal, Germany (2008); Grand Prix at the 8th Competition of 20th- and 21st-century Music for Young Performers in Radziejowice ISCM (2009); 1st award and two extra-curricular awards at the 3rd Michał Spisak International Music Competition in Dąbrowa Górnicza (2009); 1st prize at the 13th ‘Carlo Civardi’ International Accordion Competition in Val Tidone, Italy (2010); special award at the 14th International Contemporary Chamber Music Competition in Cracow; 1st prize at the 3rd Andrzej Krzanowski International Accordion Competition in Czechowice-Dziedzice (2010). In 2008 he was chosen as one of 7 finalists of the Polish eliminations to the Eurovision Young Musicians International Competition.

In 2010 he represented the Polish Radio at the ‘New Talent’ International Forum of Young Performers  organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

He studied at the UMFC in Warsaw (Poland) (Klaudiusz Baran), HFM in Detmold (Germany) (Grzegorz Stopa), ESMUC in Barcelona (Spain) (Inaki Alberdi), UdK in Essen (Mie Miki) and attended mastercourses in MUK in Vienna (Austria) (Teodoro Anzellotti), Landesakademie in Ottweiler (Germany) (Stefan Hussong, Geir Draugsvoll), Mozarteum in Salzburg (Austria) (Julius Berger) and masterclasses with Paolo Pandolfo and Krystian Bezeidenhout, as well as numerous classes with Yuri Shishkin and Claudio Jacomucci.

In 2012 he was laureate of a DAAD award for the best foreign student at HFM Detmold. He received a number of scholarships, including the Minister of Culture’s prestigious “Young Poland” scholarship for his CD recording of Polish contemporary music (in a duo with Magdalena Bojanowicz). This Sarton label release was nominated to ‘Fryderyk’ award (Polish Phonography Academy award) in two categories: Best Contemporary Music Album and Best Polish Music Recording. In 2014 he released his debut solo CD (DUX) with pieces by Bach, Gubaidulina, Franck, Tuchowski and a premiere recording of Sinfonietta for accordion solo by Krzysztof Penderecki which was nominated to ‘Fryderyk’ in category „Best Solo Recital”.

In June 2012 he was the first solo accordionist in history to appear with the Polish National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (Chopin University diploma concert). He also performed with symphony orchestras (including the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra) under the baton of Łukasz Borowicz, José Maria Florêncio, Jacek Kaspszyk, Michał Klauza, Marek Moś, Renato Rivolta, Ruben Silva, Lukas Vis, Young Chill Lee etc. He appeared in festivals in Poland and abroad (including the Warsaw Autumn,, Polish Music Festival in Cracow, La Folle Journée, Farinelli Festival in Adria (Italy), Neue Horizonten in Hannover, Two Days and Two Nights in Odessa and Musique au Leman in Thonon-les-Bains in France).

Recently he has performed recitals during Folefest in Lisbon, Latvian New Music Days in Riga, Moscow Autumn, Classical Series in Cleveland (USA), Daegu Contemporary Music Festival in South Korea. He has been invited as a jury member in Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo in Italy, in Lisbon in Portugal and in Harbin in China. He has recorded for the Polish Radio, the Polish Television, LR3 Latvijas Radio, Radio de Portugal, DeutschlandRadio Kultur und WDR3 (recently they did also his Radio Portrait). During his China Tour 2016 he performed recitals at the concerts halls like: Qintai Concert Hall in Wuhan, Changsha Concert Hall, Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, Beijing Children’s Palace, Harbin Grand Theatre and Harbin Music Hall.

Important part of his career is cooperation with such composers as Krzysztof Penderecki, Zygmunt Krauze, Paweł Szymański, Dariusz Przybylski, Cezary Duchnowski, Wojciech Blecharz, Jagoda Szmytka, Piotr Tabakiernik; he has premiered over 80 pieces. In November 2016 he recorded and did a polish premiere of Under the Sign of Scorpio by Sofia Gubaidulina. In January 2018 he premiered Accordion Concerto by Krzysztof Penderecki.

His next major activities included a newest CD with Mozart’s pieces, Gubaidulina’s and Penderecki’s accordion works.

Maciej Frąckiewicz plays on a Pigini Nova, an instrument considered one of the best accordions in the world.