Employees

prof. dr hab.

Elżbieta Stefańska

harpsichord

Elżbieta Stefańska is a Polish harpsichordist and pedagogue, the daughter of pianists Halina Czerny‑Stefańska and Ludwik Stefański. She studied harpsichord at the State Higher School of Music in Kraków under Hans Pischner and further developed her skills at masterclasses in Siena and Weimar with Zuzana Růžičková and Ruggero Gerlin.

In 1964 she won two first prizes at the Early Music Competition in Łódź, and the following year she received the main prize at the International Music Competition in Geneva along with the Henri Ghez Special Award for the best harpsichordist. These achievements opened the path to an intensive international career.

She performed in most European countries as well as in Asia and the United States, appearing at prestigious festivals such as those in Hanover, Halle, Leipzig (Bach Festival), Shiraz in Iran, Interlaken and Paris. Her repertoire spans music from the Renaissance to the 20th century, including works by Polish composers. For many years she was also an active juror at music competitions and served as the head of the Harpsichord and Early Music Department at the Academy of Music in Kraków.

In recognition of her achievements, she received numerous honors, including the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2001) and the “Gloria Artis” Medals for Merit to Culture.