Mateusz Kowalski – a distinctive voice in the new generation of classical guitar
Polish guitarist Mateusz Kowalski is regarded as one of the most remarkable artists of his generation. Classical Guitar Magazine described him as a “spectacular musician” whose playing combines stylistic sensitivity, technical mastery and deep musical culture. His repertoire spans from the Renaissance to contemporary works, presented with elegance and authenticity.
Concert career and international recognition
Kowalski has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Musikverein in Vienna and the Shanghai Grand Theatre, and has appeared in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Paris and London. His concert tours have taken him to more than twenty countries, earning him a reputation as a refined and communicative performer.
A defining moment in his career came in 2023, when he gave the first-ever live performance of Fryderyk Chopin’s Piano Concerto in F minor arranged for guitar and orchestra. The premiere took place during the festival “Chopin and His Europe,” with the {Oh!} Orchestra conducted by Martyna Pastuszka.
Awards and recordings
Mateusz Kowalski is a laureate of numerous international competitions, including the 2nd EuroStrings International Competition in London, an exclusive event for the winners of Europe’s leading guitar contests. He has released several recordings as a soloist and chamber musician. His acclaimed album Polish Romantic Guitar (2021), produced in collaboration with the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, played a significant role in reviving the works of 19th-century Polish composers such as Bobrowicz, Horecki, Szczepanowski and Sokołowski.
Collaborations and artistic development
Kowalski has worked with distinguished artists including Martyna Pastuszka, Václav Luks, David Garrett, Marek Pasieczny and Tomasz Radziszewski. Born in 1995 in Koszalin, Poland, he began guitar studies at the age of seven with Dariusz Schmidt and continued at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw under Ryszard Bałauszko, graduating with the Magna cum Laude medal.
He has participated in masterclasses with Sergio Assad, Oscar Ghiglia and Alvaro Pierri, and completed his Konzertexamen under Tilman Hoppstock in Darmstadt. Alongside his performing career, he is an active educator and gives masterclasses at festivals around the world. Since 2019, he has been a lecturer at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.
With his refined artistry, curiosity and dedication to musical integrity, Mateusz Kowalski continues to shape the modern image of the classical guitar in Europe and beyond.
