PhD Michał Ziółkowski

(Born in 1991 in Zakopane) – composer, producer, instrumentalist and arranger based in Wrocław. He has been passionate about music since the age of 15, when he decided to learn to play the piano. His first independent compositions were written in high school, where his talent was first noticed. He graduated from the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, where he studied composition with Prof. Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil, and remains a lecturer at his alma mater.

He is a laureate of national and international competitions. Among others, he won first prize in the 4th Krzysztof Penderecki ARBORETUM International Composition Competition, First Prize at the Busan Choral Festival and Competition in South Korea, Second Prize ex-aequo at the 15th Tadeusz Ochlewski Competition PWM, Second Prize ex-aequo at the 3rd Krzysztof Penderecki Composition Competition in Sopot, and Second Prize at the 10th and 11th International Composition Competition Musica Sacra. (1st and 3rd prize). His piece ‘Agnus Dei’ for a cappella choir was published by the prestigious Schott Music publishing house and performed by one of the world's most outstanding choirs, The Choir of Trinity College, conducted by Stephen Layton. Michał Ziółkowski's music is performed at festivals and concerts in Poland and abroad.

He is also the author of theatre music (Tchórzofretka, directed by Marta Streker; Inka, directed by Renata Jasińska; Wyniosła, directed by Bożena Klimczak) and film music (Fala '97, directed by Tomasz Musiał).

He collaborates with Małgorzata Podzielny, the Rondo Vocal Ensemble and the Con Brio Children's Choir, writing choral compositions and choral-orchestral arrangements for them. Many of these have been presented during concerts at the National Forum of Music. In music, he is fascinated by the subtlety of sound, clarity of form and colourful instrumentation. In June 2016, his opera Brzydkie Kaczątko (The Ugly Duckling) premiered.

His music is performed in Poland and abroad (including Wrocław, Gdańsk, Kraków, Vilnius, Cologne, Stockholm, Austin and New York).