Employees

prof. dr hab.

Włodzimierz Promiński

violin

Violinist, chamber musician, soloist and pedagogue. Founder and first violinist of the Camerata Quartet, with which he has performed for over 40 years across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Prizewinner of international competitions in Tokyo, Munich and Paris. He has recorded more than 30 albums.

Education

Hochschule für Musik Detmold (Germany) – postgraduate studies in chamber music (class of Prof. Ernst Mayer-Schierning)

Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin (Germany) – chamber music studies (class of Prof. Eberhard Feltz)

Hochschule für Musik Köln (Germany) – chamber music studies (class of the Amadeus Quartet)

Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw – Master’s degree with distinction (class of Franciszek Jurys)

State Primary and Secondary Music School in Opole – diploma with distinction (class of Karol Reiman)

Academic career

2021 – Title of Professor of Arts

2009 – Professor

2008 – Habilitation (Dr hab.)

2001 – Assistant Professor

2001 – Doctoral degree

Positions at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music

Since 2024 – Dean, Faculty of Instrumental and Pedagogical Studies, Music Education and Vocal Studies (Białystok Branch)

Since 2019 – Head of the Department of Instrumental Pedagogy

2013–2019 – Head of the String Instruments Division

2008–2012 – Dean

2005–2008 – Vice-Dean

2002–2012 – Rector’s Representative for Concert Activities (Białystok Branch)

Awards and distinctions

“Muzyczny Orzeł 2025”

Medal of Merit to the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music (2024)

Silver Medal “Gloria Artis” (2024)

Rector’s Award (1st degree), four times (2003, 2010, 2013, 2024)

Silver Medal for Long Service (2010)

Bronze Medal “Gloria Artis” (2009)

“Mosty Starosty” Award (2005)

Distinguished Cultural Activist Badge (2004)

Honorary Keys to the City of Gorlice (2003)

Fryderyk Award (1999)

Studio magazine Record of the Year (1995)

1st Prize – UFAM International Chamber Music Competition, Paris (1990)

3rd Prize – International String Quartet Competition “Karl Klingler Preis”, Munich (1990)

Wyspiański Award (1991)

3rd Prize and Special Mention – International Chamber Music Competition, Tokyo (1989)

Special Prize of Yehudi Menuhin – International String Quartet Competition, Portsmouth (1988)

Artistic activity

He has devoted most of his performing career to chamber music. As founder and first violinist of the Camerata Quartet, he has performed and recorded worldwide for over four decades.

He has appeared at numerous international festivals, including Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, the International Music Festival in Łańcut, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Festival de Wallonie, Festival van Vlaanderen, Ost Belgien Festival, Plovdiv International Festival, Bodensee Festival, Warsaw Autumn, the Mozart Festival in Warsaw, Sintra Festival and the International Music Festival in Sofia.

As first violinist of the Camerata Quartet, he has recorded over 30 albums for labels such as DUX, Koch International, Ricercar, Thorofon, Jazz Forum and PSCM Records. These recordings have received numerous distinctions, including Diapason d’Or, Sforzando and the Pizzicato Supersonic Award.

One of his recordings, featuring music by Franz Schubert, was named Record of the Year 1995 by Studio magazine. In 1999 he received the Fryderyk Award for the album The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi.

The Camerata Quartet’s anniversary recording marking 40 years of artistic activity won the chamber music category and received the “Muzyczny Orzeł 2025”.

In recent years, together with the Camerata Quartet, he has focused on rediscovering and restoring outstanding yet unjustly forgotten Polish music from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. This has resulted in four albums featuring string quartets by Roman Statkowski and Witold Maliszewski, as well as the album Warsaw 1942 with quartets by Kazimierz Wiłkomirski and Feliks Rybicki – all world premiere recordings (except for Maliszewski).

He also performs and records as a soloist. His recordings include the album Żeleński – Noskowski: Violin Sonatas (Polskie Nagrania), a world premiere recording. As concertmaster-director of the chamber orchestra Sinfonia Academica, he has recorded albums of Polish 20th-century music and works by Miłosz Magin.

He is a professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. He teaches violin in Białystok and chamber music in Warsaw. He currently serves as Dean and Head of the Department of Instrumental Pedagogy. He also teaches at the Grażyna Bacewicz State Music School Complex in Warsaw and regularly gives masterclasses in Gorlice and Opole. He is President of the Polish Chamber Music Society.