Łukasz Ksobiraj, 28, won the 7th edition of the Witold Lutosławski National Competition for Young Conductors in Białystok, organized by the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic. The jury, chaired by Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic, awarded second prize to Daniel Mieczkowski and third prize to Piotr Wacławik. All will perform on Friday (May 20) during the laureates’ concert.

This year’s winner, Łukasz Ksobiraj, graduated from the I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music with a degree in operatic and symphonic conducting. He completed his bachelor’s degree in the class of Professor AM J. Koska and his master’s degree in symphonic conducting under the supervision of Professor AMP P. Neumann, and in opera conducting under the supervision of Prof. W. Kunc. The conductor participated in the cyclical Bassoonist’s Workshop workshops held at the Academy of Music in Poznań, conducting the final concerts twice. He has also collaborated with such ensembles as the Academy of Music Orchestra in Poznań, the Lower Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra in Jelenia Góra, the Sudecka Philharmonic Orchestra in Wałbrzych, the M. Karłowicz Philharmonic Orchestra in Szczecin, the T. Szeligowski Philharmonic Orchestra in Poznań, the Beethoven Academy Orchestra, and the Sepia Ensemble. He co-led a performance of M. Ptaszyńska’s Symphony for 104 Percussionists at the 45th Poznań Musical Spring Festival. He also prepared the premiere of A. Zdrojek-Suchodolska’s Zamglenia. He has also participated in numerous conducting courses, including those with T. Strugała, R.J. Delekta and W. Rodek. Łukasz Ksobiraj won the National Conducting Competition of the I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań and a special award – a concert with the T. Szeligowski Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra. He also won third prize at the 3rd A. Kopyciński National Student Conducting Competition in Wrocław. He participated in the recordings of the Opole Philharmonic Orchestra’s CD of works by W. Maliszewski. The W. Lutosławski National Competition for Young Conductors is the first in which Łukasz Ksobiraj has won first place.

This edition of the OKMD featured 24 participants, selected from a record number of 60 applicants. Auditions began on Monday. The young conductors performed with the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra. Eight participants advanced to the second round: Łukasz Ksobiraj, Daniel Mieczkowski, Jakub Montewka, Barbara Popławska, Michał Szymanowski, Martyna Szymczak, Piotr Wacławik and Jakub Zwierz.

On Friday evening (May 20) will take place the laureates’ concert. The audience will hear: Władysław Żeleński’s Characteristic Overture In the Tatras, Op. 27, conducted by Piotr Wacławik; Carl Maria von Weber’s Overture to the Opera The Freischutz, conducted by Daniel Mieczkowski and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor, ‘Scottish’, Op. 56, conducted by Łukasz Ksobiraj.

The Witold Lutosławski Competition for the Young Conductors has been held in Białystok since 1994. It is held every few years. The previous edition took place in 2016.

Competition winners:
First Prize – Łukasz Ksobiraj
Second Prize – Daniel Mieczkowski
Third Prize – Piotr Wacławik

The jury also awarded three equal honorable mentions to Barbara Popławska, Martyna Szymczak, and Jakub Zwierz.

In the photo: Piotr Wacławik, Łukasz Ksobiraj and Daniel Mieczkowski