XXI CELLO MASTERCLASS

This is a unique opportunity for intensive work on developing cello skills under the guidance of Europe’s most esteemed pedagogues. The course is ideal for cellists of all ages who wish to participate in an advanced educational program, refine their skills, and establish valuable connections in the international music community.

Basic Information

WHEN?
29.06 - 05.07.2025

WHERE?
Muzeum-Zamek
Górków in Szamotuły

Fee
2250 zł

The price applies to the first 35 participants who register for the course and are accepted. Includes accommodation in triple rooms with full board.

Recruitment

Recruitment for the XXI Cello Masterclass will be from February 3 to March 31, 2025. To participate in the course, you must register within the specified period and pay a registration fee of 200 PLN. The results will be announced on April 15, 2025.

After the recruitment process, qualified participants will receive detailed information regarding the next steps. In the case of non-admission to the course, the registration fee will be refunded.

Accommodation and Meals

Participants of the XXI Cello Masterclass will be accommodated in the dormitory of the Piotr Skarga High School in Szamotuły, which will be adapted to meet the participant’s requirements for the course. The facility is located just 15 minutes on foot from the Górków Castle Museum, where the main classes and workshops will take place.

The course fee (2250 PLN) includes accommodation in a triple room and full board, which covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Accommodation starts on Sunday, June 29 (with dinner) and ends on Saturday, July 5 (with lunch).

Participants accompanied by guardians, will use individual twin rooms with accommodation and meals for the guardian costing an additional 850 PLN.

Who is the Course for?

The course is open to any student of a Music School of Level I or II, a student or graduate of a Music Academy aged 9-35. Participants under 16 must come to the course with a guardian.

Participants aged 16-18 must come to the course with a completed and signed consent form from a parent or legal guardian.

PERMISSION.pdf

As a result of the recruitment process, the top 35 cellists in their respective age categories will be admitted. In the case of non-admission to the course, the registration fee will be fully refunded.

Pedagogues

prof. MICHAŁ DMOCHOWSKI

A Polish cellist born on December 26, 1977, in Warsaw. He is a scholarship holder of the Queen Sofia Higher School of Music in Madrid. He successfully combines a stage career on world music stages with a pedagogical career as a professor at the Jacinto Guerrero Music Conservatory in Toledo and the Queen Sofia Higher School of Music in Madrid. His students are laureates of international cello competitions.

prof. Justus Grimm

A German cellist born in 1970 in Hamburg. A world-renowned soloist and chamber musician, he works permanently as a lecturer and artistic director at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Antwerp. He has performed in many of the most prestigious concert halls worldwide, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Cologne Philharmonic, the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the Athenaeum Bucharest, the Munich Hercules Hall, and the Cultural Centre in Lisbon.

prof. Maciej Mazurek

A cellist from Poznań, associated with the Amadeus P. R. Chamber Orchestra and the “Wieniawski” Quartet. Professor at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań, where he was awarded the degree of habilitated doctor in 2013. As a member of the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, he participated in numerous artistic tours. He has recorded dozens of albums and has made many hours of archival recordings for Polish Radio.

prof. Roberto Trainini

An Italian cellist and lecturer at the “Monteverdi” Conservatory in Bolzano, Italy, as well as at the Academia de Arte de Florencia in Mexico. He graduated from the International Menuhin Music Academy, where he studied chamber music under Lord Yehudi Menuhin and Walter Levin, and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris.

dr hab. Tomasz Lisiecki

A Polish cellist, he graduated from the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań, the Universität der Künste in Berlin, and attended masterclasses at the Bach-Händel Academy in Karlsruhe. He also studied in Warsaw under the guidance of Professor Kazimierz Michalik. Lecturer at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań.

Dr Hab. Jarosław Thiel

Professor at the Academy of Music in Poznań, where he leads the historical cello class. He also teaches at numerous masterclasses, primarily within the framework of the Varmia Musica festival in Lidzbark Warmiński. In recent years, the artist has increasingly performed as a conductor. Since 2006, he has been the artistic director of the Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, a group that is part of the National Forum of Music in Wrocław.

MGR Michał Balas

A cellist from Kraków, he is one of the leading young musicians. He performs on prestigious stages across Europe, including in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland. A laureate of international competitions, including the “Classic Strings Competition” and the “Johansen International Competition.” He was awarded the title “Classic FM 30 under 30 Rising Stars.”

mgr Anna Skibińska-Haponiuk

Since 1994, she has been teaching at the Karol Szymanowski State Music School No. 4 in Warsaw, where she currently holds the position of head of the string instruments, harp, and accordion section. Since 2015, she also teaches at the Karol Kurpiński State Music School No. 4 in Warsaw. She conducts workshops and lectures on cello-playing methodology for students and teachers and serves as a jury member in national and international cello competitions.

Pianists

Prof. Krzysztof Sowiński

Mgr Paweł Mazur

MGR Patrycja Wachowicz

Course Program

The lecture will explore key moments in the history of culture that have shaped contemporary societies. You will learn about the impact of major discoveries, works of art, and ideas on the development of civilization. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge of the past and its connection to the present.

Lecturer: Dr. hab. Katarzyna Lisiecka, Prof. UAM

During the workshop, we will focus on techniques for digital music notation editing. Participants will learn how to use software for creating, editing, and formatting sheet music, as well as the principles of correct musical notation. The workshop will allow you to master basic tools for transcription, adding dynamic markings, and preparing professional sheet music for publication.

Instructor: Michał Łaszewicz

The lecture on performance practice will focus on interpretive techniques that are crucial for cellists. Participants will learn methods for working on articulation, dynamics, and phrasing, as well as improve their public performance preparation skills. The course will help fully harness the technical and expressive potential of the instrument, which will enhance the quality of musical performances.

The lecture will present the evolution of the Polish Cello School in the context of art education systems in Europe, highlighting its unique features, traditions, and the influence of outstanding pedagogues. The differences in approaches to music education in various countries will also be discussed, along with their impact on the development of the contemporary cello school.

Instructor: Prof. Michał Dmochowski

The discussion panel “Become a Master” is aimed at young cellists and focuses on building a career using modern technologies. Your lecturers, Michał Dmochowski, Justus Grimm, Roberto Trainini, and Tomasz Lisiecki, will share their experiences and discuss how to effectively use social media, streaming platforms, and digital tools for promotion, education, and establishing international contacts in the world of classical music.

Moderator: Paweł Mazur

Daily warm-up sessions for cellists, led by a different instructor each day, open to all course participants.

Granary of the Górków Castle, daily at 8:00 AM

During the workshop, we will focus on techniques for digital music notation editing. Participants will learn how to use software for creating, editing, and formatting sheet music, as well as the principles of correct musical notation. The workshop will allow you to master basic tools for transcription, adding dynamic markings, and preparing professional sheet music for publication.

Instructor: Michał Łaszewicz

The workshops will allow participants to deepen their technique in playing the instrument in the 18th-century style. We will focus on the specifics of Baroque sound, the use of appropriate fingerings, articulation, and ornamentation. Participants will learn about historical performance practices, including playing with basso continuo and interpreting Baroque music, which will enable them to better understand and perform repertoire from this period. The workshops will be an opportunity to refine cello playing skills within the Baroque tradition, in an atmosphere of collaboration and exploration of historical performance styles.

Instructor: Dr. hab. Jarosław Thiel

A unique opportunity to work in small musical groups! After closing the registration, participants will be divided into 3-4 member ensembles, and the sheet music for practice will be sent out. The goal of the workshops is to improve skills in playing in a chamber music setting – you will learn how to collaborate with other musicians, develop your ensemble playing abilities, and discover how to sound even better in a smaller group.

Instructor: Dr. Jan Czaja

An excellent opportunity to experience the true atmosphere of working in an orchestra! During the sessions, you will learn how to collaborate effectively with other musicians, improve your ability to synchronize, and adapt to the conductor and the rest of the ensemble. This is a great chance to develop your orchestral playing skills and learn how to sound together in a larger group.

An opportunity for children aged 7-10 who want to start their musical journey with the cello! During the classes, young musicians will have the chance to improve their playing on this beautiful instrument, develop their musical ear, and learn techniques that will enable them to play their first pieces in the future. It’s a fun and wonderful chance to discover a passion for music in a joyful atmosphere!

Instructor: Anna Skibińska-Haponiuk

Concerts are an important part of the XXI Cello Masterclass, providing participants the opportunity to showcase their skills and the experience of performing in front of an audience.

June 29, 2025, 19:00 – Concert Hall of the Music School in Szamotuły

Inauguration of the XXI Cello Masterclass. Official naming of the course “in memory of Prof. Kazimierz Michalik”
Concert Prof. Kazimierz Michalik in memoriam

Tomasz Strahl – Cello
Paweł Mazur – Piano

July 1, 2024, 19:00 – Museum of the Górków Castle

Concert by Pro Cello Foundation:
Polish Winners of Cello Competitions

On July 2, 3, and 4 at 12:30, Lunch Concerts will take place, giving each participant the opportunity to present their program.

July 4, 2024, 19:00 – Concert of the instructors, outstanding participants, and invited guests. During the concert, a ceremonial diploma presentation will take place.

We invite you to yoga classes that will help strengthen your body, improve flexibility, and reduce stress. Through the combination of movement, breath, and meditation, yoga not only enhances physical condition but also brings inner peace. Perfect for everyone, regardless of skill level!

Details coming soon.

Aerobics classes are a great way to improve your fitness and strengthen your cardiovascular system. With dynamic music and intense exercises, aerobics is fun that engages your entire body, simultaneously improving coordination and endurance.

Details coming soon.

Our exercise classes offer a comprehensive program that includes various forms of activity, from strength training to stretching and muscle strengthening. Depending on your goals, they will help improve your endurance and posture.

Details coming soon.

The swimming pool is the perfect place to improve your fitness and relax in the water.

Details coming soon.

Football sessions are a great opportunity to improve fitness, teamwork, and agility. Experience the excitement of sports competition and enjoy playing football!

More details

  • During the course, each participant will have the opportunity for individual work with experienced pianists specializing in the cello repertoire.
  • Each participant will also have access to practice rooms within the music school building.

Sign up today

FAQ

Yes, participants aged 9-16 must come with a guardian. The cost of accommodation and meals for the guardian is 850 PLN. Participants aged 16-18 can come alone, but a written consent from the guardian is required.

PERMISSION.pdf

It depends on you. The basic cost of the course, including accommodation in the dormitory and full meals, is 2,250 PLN.

• The video can be made using amateur equipment, such as a smartphone.
• The video should show the entire musician’s figure and allow for visual identification.
• You should perform any piece or its excerpt in the video, with a duration of no more than 7 minutes.
• The video can be made without accompaniment.
• The video should not be older than 6 months at the time of submitting the form.
• The video should not have any cuts.
• The video should not be filmed “handheld”. We encourage using a simple tripod.
• We strongly encourage filming in an acoustically good space, such as a music school classroom.

The course program includes: individual lessons, sessions with pianists, lectures, workshops, concerts, and additional activities (e.g., yoga, aerobics, fitness exercises).

The recruitment ends on March 31, 2025, and the number of spots is limited.

Make sure to bring:

  • Most importantly, your cello. It’s also helpful to have a black hole or any any other endpin stopper. Cello players can be found practicing all around Szamotuły – in the parks, near the Castle, or at the boarding school, so it’s a good idea to bring a simple music stand (though we provide stands in the classrooms, practice rooms, and concert halls).
  • Clothing – comfortable clothes for the lessons, for all weather conditions, and appropriate attire for concerts.
  • Swimsuit/sportswear – if you plan to use the pool or participate in sports activities.
  • Notebook and pen – for taking notes during lectures and workshops.
  • Cards, identification documents – if you’re coming with a guardian, make sure to bring the signed permission form for participation.
  • For those interested – yoga mat.

The course is open to any student of a first- or second-degree Music School, a student or graduate of a Music Academy, aged 9 to 35, who successfully passes the recruitment process.

The most important thing is to come with an open mind, enthusiasm for learning, and a willingness to grow. And of course, don’t forget to bring a good sense of humor! The course is not just about intensive work but also an opportunity to make new friendships and spend time in an inspiring environment. Your attitude is key – come with positive energy, and you will certainly leave the course with not only knowledge but also unforgettable memories!

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact us!
We will be happy to provide you with all the information you need!