dr hab. Tomasz Pruchnicki

From 1996 to 2000, he studied at the Faculty of Music Education of the Academy of Music in Wrocław. In 2001, he received his diploma in Music Education and began studies at the Faculty of Instrumental Studies of the Academy of Music in the saxophone class of Janusz Brych.

He is a laureate of many awards, including:

Special mention for interpretation of a jazz standard – Jazz nad Odrą, Wrocław 2000

Individual award as soloist – Jazz Juniors, Kraków 2001

Distinction for best soloist – Krokus Jazz Festival, Jelenia Góra 2002

With the AM Big Band, twice winner of the Grand Prix at the Big Band Festival in Nowy Tomyśl (2002, 2003)

Award for best instrumentalist at the Nowy Tomyśl festival in 2003

Special award for arrangement – Jazz nad Odrą 2004, Wrocław

With the band JWP.org – distinction at Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa 2004

With Acoustic Jazz Quartet (Tomasz Pruchnicki, Dominik Wania, Jakub Olejnik, Przemysław Jarosz) – winner of the Rura-Live 2005 competition in Wrocław

In 2003–2005, holder of a scholarship from the Minister of Culture

In 2005, he obtained his Master of Arts degree at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław (Faculty of Instrumental Studies). His thesis was entitled: The Choice of a Suitable Mouthpiece in the Context of Shaping Individual Tone in Saxophone Performance.

In 2010, he received the title of Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental Performance, specialization in Jazz Saxophone, awarded by the Faculty of Instrumental Studies of the same Academy. His doctoral dissertation was entitled: Electronic Sound Processing as a Tool for Expanding the Means of Expression of a Saxophonist and Composer Performing Individually or with an Ensemble in the Jazz Aesthetic.

He has participated in numerous high-profile artistic projects, including:

In 2004, together with trumpeter Adam Lepka, he founded the 16-piece Low Budget Orchestra and arranged a cycle of works by Frank Zappa. In October 2004, he performed with the ensemble at the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio, broadcast on Polish Radio Channel 1, and in 2005 at the Zappanale Festival in Bad Doberan, Germany.

In 2005, recording with Eryk Kulm Quintessence – Back to The Presence

Concerts with Jacek Kochan’s ensemble AJEE (AcousticJazzInElectronicEnvironment)

In March 2007, at the Witold Lutosławski Studio, performed Krzysztof Knittel’s work Lipps for jazz trio (with Zbigniew Wegehaupt – double bass, Jacek Kochan – drums, Tomasz Pruchnicki – tenor saxophone) and symphony orchestra (Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Wojciech Michniewski)

Participation in Jagoda Szmytka’s project Do Połowy (National Museum, Wrocław, 2007)

Starry Sky – collaboration with Krzysztof Knittel, Tadeusz Sudnik, Hans van Koolwijk (XV AudioArt Festival, Warsaw, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, 2007)

Concert with his own quartet at the Jazz nad Odrą 2015 Festival, combined with the premiere of the album Gnomonika

Participation in concerts of Nikola Kołodziejczyk Orchestra (2015–2016) at major festivals such as Hanza Jazz Festival (Koszalin), Jazz na Wsi (Chodów), Enter Enea Festival (Poznań)

Concert with Yarosh Organ Trio at Jazz nad Odrą 2016

Concert with Dianne Reeves and the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic (2016)

Polish Jazz Showcase – European Jazz Conference 2016 (NFM, with Nikola Kołodziejczyk Instant Ensemble)

He has also lectured at numerous workshops, including the Clarinet and Saxophone Workshops at the Krzysztof Komeda School of Music, Ostrów Wielkopolski (2012–2014), giving masterclasses on saxophone performance, improvisation, and arranging. In 2019, he led workshops at the European Saxophone Forum.

In 2015, the Tomasz Pruchnicki Quartet released the album Gnomonika (JB Records).
 The group included:

Tomasz Pruchnicki – saxophones, ocarina, electronics, compositions, arrangements

Marek Kądziela – electric guitar, electronics

Grzegorz Piasecki – double bass

Wojciech Buliński – drums

In 2016, he recorded with Yarosh Organ Trio (Przemysław Jarosz – drums, leader; Kajetan Galas – Hammond organ). In 2018, the group released their next album Alterakcje (Academy of Music in Wrocław label), this time featuring guest vocalist Katarzyna Mirowska.

He has collaborated with numerous renowned artists, including: Krzysztof Knittel, Roby Lakatos, Leszek Możdżer, Nikola Kołodziejczyk, Tadeusz Sudnik, Hans van Koolwijk, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Eryk Kulm, Piotr Wojtasik, Robert Majewski, Jan Pilch, Zbigniew Wegehaupt, Jacek Kochan, Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Wojciech Michniewski, Dianne Reeves, NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, Marcin Mirowski, Aleksander Mazur, The Film Harmony Orchestra, Bartosz Pernal, Artur Lesicki, Dominik Wania, Jacek and Wojtek Fedkowicz, Adam Lepka, Piotr Dziubek, Łukasz Perek, Jakub Olejnik, Przemysław Jarosz, Kajetan Galas, Dawid Fortuna, Adam Kowalewski, Szymon Klima, Andrzej Święs, Andrzej Zielak, Paweł Tomaszewski, Robert Murakowski, Paweł Kaczmarczyk, Jacques Kuba Seguin (Canada), Maciej Adamczak, Łukasz Żyta, Łukasz Poprawski.