Michał Gajda (b.1987)
Michał Gajda – classical and jazz accordionist, solist and chamber musician, doctor of musical arts specialisation – instrumentalism.
In 2012, he graduated summa cum laude from Poznan Academy of Music where he studied accordion under the supervision of professor Jerzy Kaszuba. He studied also an abroad at Folkwang Universität der Künste in Essen under the supervision of professor Mie Miki.
He participated in many master classes working with professors: W. L. Puchnowski (Poland), K. Baran (Poland), B. Dowlasz (Poland), S. Hussong (Germany), M. Miki (Japan), G. Draugsvoll (Denmark), Y. Shishkin (Russia), A. Dmitriev (Russia), V. Dmitriev (Russia), P. Fenyuk (Ukraine), M. Varynen (Finland).
His musical activity extends from solo accordion works as well as organ music, trough Astor Piazzolla tango nuevo to contemporary music works. He is taking part in a many various ensembles performing classical and popular music. He is giving concerts as a soloist with symphonic orchestras. He has performed as a soloist with such orchestras as Sinfonia Varsovia, The Symphony Orchestra of Zabrze Philharmonic, Silesian Chamber Orchestra under conductors: Ewa Strusińska, Sławek Adam Wróblewski, Robert Kabara, Sławomir Chrzanowski, Krzysztof Szydzisza, Adam Domurat.
He has given recitals as soloist and chamber musician in Poland and abroad (USA, Asia and Europe) on a regular basis.
He had his debut in the most prestigious concert halls in the world: Carnegie Hall in New York and Berlin Philharmonic.
In March 2018, as the Wolańska/Gajda Duo they had a concert tour around Asia. The musicians had their debut in Kioi Hall in Tokyo (Japan), Guri Art Hall in South Korea and Vietnam, Indonesia, Malesia, Cambodia, and Thailand.
He is the winner of many international accordion competitions. His most recent achievements are:
- Golden Medal at 4th Manhattan International Music Competition
- 1st prize at Vienna International Music Competition
- 1st prize at Salzburg Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition
- Medal Młodej Sztuki Głosu Wielkopolskiego in classical music category: “for an art, which presents outstandingly high level but is also characterised by a fresh and original approach towards interpretation.”
- 1st prize in the 54th International Accordion Competition in Klingenthal/ GERMANY
- Top Winner Prize (Duo Wolańska/Gajda) in IBLA WORLD MUSIC COMPETITION, Ragusa /Sycylia
- Distinction (Duo Wolańska/Gajda) in the International Accordion Competition in Przemyśl/Poland;
- 1st prize in cat. “Carlo Civardi Prize” in Valtidone Music Competition/ ITALY
- 1st prize in cat. “YOUNG TALENT SOLO” in Valtidone Music Competition/ ITALY
- 1st prize (Duo Wolanska/Gajda) in cat. “Musica di camera” in Valtidone Music Competition/ ITALY
- Distinction in International Accordion Competition, Vilnius 2015
- 2nd prize in the 23th International Accordion Competition in Przemyśl/Poland;
- 1st prize in the 9th Michał Spisak International Music Competition in Dąbrowa Górnicza/Poland;
- Special Prize from Przemyśl Symphonic Orchester’s conductor for extraordinary cooperation with ensemble in XIth All-polish Accordion Competition in Przemysl (Poland);
- Special Mention and Most Distinguished Prize in Ibla World Music Competition Ragusa/Sicilia;
- 1st prize and Grand Prix in the 2nd International Competition in Memory of J. Haydn in Vienna/Austria;
- 1st prize and a title of The Best Accordionist of the 2012 also Grand Prix as a member of ensemble “Trio New Harmony” in All-Polish Accordion Competition in Solec-Zdrój/Poland;
- 1st prize in solo category and 1st prize in ensemble category with “Trio New Harmony” in the 17th International Accordion Competition in Sanok/Poland,
- 2nd prize in the International Accordion Competition Vilnius/Lithuania; – 3rd prize in the International Accordion Competition Vamo in Vienna/Austria;
- 3rd prize in the 47th International Accordion Competition in Klingenthal/Germany; – 1st prize in the 16th International Accordion Competition in Sanok/Poland;
- 3rd prize in the 47th International Accordion Competition in Klingenthal/Germany;
- 1st prize in the 16th International Accordion Competition in Sanok/Poland;
- 2nd prize in the 19th International Accordion Competition in Przemyśl/Poland;
- 1st prize and Grand Prix in the Accordion Competition “Harmonia Viva” in Wrocław;
- 3rd prize in the International Accordion Competition in Poprad/ Slovaki;
- 3rd prize in the International Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo/Italy;
- 2nd prize in the International Accordion Competition in Bratislava/Slovakia;
- 2nd prize in the 5th International Accordion Competition in Dresden /Germany;
He won a scholarship of Provincial Marshal of Łódź. He is also a holder of a scholarship of the Minister of Culture and National Legacy “Młoda Polska”(2012). He is a member of such chamber music ensemble as Duo Wolańska/Gajda, Michal Gajda Trio, Simitu Duo, New Poznań Accordion Duo, Trio New Harmony, ClassZmer.
In 2012 Michał Gajda – as best student of the diploma year – represented Poznan Academy of Music in a “Festiwal Sztuki Młodych”/ “Students Art Festival”.
In 2018, He was awarded the academic degree of PhD in music art, specialisation – instrumentalism.