Polish Violinist Jan Stanienda has Died, Aged 68

He was the former concertmaster of Poland’s Sinfonia Varsovia and professor of violin at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music

(Photo credit: Anna Jaroszewicz)

Born in 1953 in Bytom, Poland, Stanienda graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music (UMFC) in Warsaw studying under Krzysztof Jakowicz. 

He was a member of the Polish Chamber Orchestra from 1975 and became its concertmaster in 1977. He also received a distinction award at the Niccoló Paganini International Violin Competition in 1976. 

From 1986 to 1990, he was the concertmaster of the “Sinfonia Varsovia” Orchestra and later held the role of artistic director for “Leopoldinum” Chamber Orchestra. In 1996, he co-founded and directed the "Wratislavia" Chamber Orchestra in Wrocław.

He performed in concert halls such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, London’s Barbican Center and Royal Albert Hall, and Santa Cecilia in the Vatican among others.

His collaborations included those with Yehudi Menuhin, Maurice André, Michaela Petri, Wanda Wiłkomirska, Krzysztof Jakowicz, Nigel Kennedy, Guy Touwron, Janos Starker, Barbara Hendricks, Moris Boweg, Grzegorz Nowak, Ewa Pobłocka.

His discography includes recordings made with labels such as Aperto, DUX, Kos Warsaw Records, Linn Records and Pavane.

My father passed away tonight,” wrote Stanienda’s son, Krzysztof Stanienda, pianist and lecturer at UMFC. “An invaluable man, violinist, educator; we will all remember his concerts full of fire and temperament and his passion for educating young musicians,” he said. 

Our condolences to Mr. Stanienda's family, friends, students, and colleagues.