Rafał Żurakowski – tenor (Poland)

Pianist and teacher leading comprehensive concert and pedagogical activity. He began his musical education at the age of 6 playing piano in music college in Opole.
He graduated piano at the conservatory of Wrocław under the direction of Prof. Włodzimierz Obidowicz. Once Rafał Żurakowski studied voice in Prof. Eugeniusz Sąsiadek class. He cultivated his vocal art in master classes of Prof. Gerhard Kahry and Prof. Sebastian Vittucci in Vienna. Singing became his passion. He made his professional opera debut in 1998 at the Wroclaw State Opera as Alfredo in Traviata G. Verdi.

Rafał Żurakowski is a laureate of 5th International Singing Competition in Duszniki Zdrój (Poland).

He took part in many international music festivals such as Wratislavia Cantans, Eurosilesia, Church-Music Festival Gaude Mater in Częstochowa, Viennese Music Festival in Wrocław, International Festival Days of Music – Herceg Novi, Ochrid Summer Festival, Fondi Music Festival and Stagione Concertistica Villa Rospigliosi receiving many accolades (e.g. public award in Kudowa Zdrój in 1998).

He has also appeared in concerts in Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republik, Macedonia, Montenegro, Ukraine and Thailand.

With his interpretations of different kinds and styles of music such as opera roles, oratorio and cantata parts he has established himself as a refined performer. He didn’t avoid challenges regarding participation in creations both, old (e.g. Te Deum M.A. Charpentier) and modern music (e.g. Paroles Tissees Witold Lutosławski). Rafał Żurakowski has recorded oratorio and choral works on CD for DUX.

Currently he also works as a vocal teacher in music college in Opole and vocal coach for Opole Philharmonic Choir.