Jerzy Chwastyk
"A master of breath and vocal phrasing on the guitar" – this is how Pizzicato Magazine describes the playing of Polish musician Jerzy Chwastyk. The guitarist has won awards at renowned international competitions.These include the Concurso Sigall in Chile and the Concurso Fernando Sor in Madrid. He also won second prize at the Andres Segovia Competition in Linares in 2016 and received a distinction at the Certamen Andres Segovia in La Herradura.
Jerzy Chwastyk's extensive repertoire goes beyond classical and traditional guitar literature. His true passion lies in developing innovative projects with other dedicated artists, where he can fully explore the tonal possibilities of the guitar and break new ground.
These collaborations include work with renowned actor Hanns Zischler (album dichter.liebe), bandoneonist Omar Massa, violinists Guido Sant’Anna and Elias David Moncado, and cellists Lila and Maciej Kułakowski.
As a soloist, he not only stands out as an exceptional interpreter, demonstrated by his debut album La Joia (2017) featuring works from Schubert to Rodrigo, but also presents the guitar in a fresh, contemporary light. His album Iberian Soundscapes (2019), which immerses the listener in a thousand-year history of guitar music, received wide acclaim.
In 2022, Chwastyk released dichter.liebe, recorded with Susanne Szambelan and Hanns Zischler and nominated twice for the prestigious OPUS KLASSIK award. On this album, he also appears as the arranger of Robert Schumann’s songs – the first transcription of this iconic cycle was described by critics as "absolutely monumental and moving" (Radio France).
Jerzy Chwastyk is a prizewinner of many prestigious competitions (Concurso Sigall / Chile, Concurso Fernando Sor / Madrid, and the Segovia Competitions in Linares and La Herradura) and, since 2023, the artistic director of Alma Concerts and the Sounds of Surrender festival in Wrocław.
In the photo: Jerzy Chwastyk, photo: Marta Filipczyk
