Hillside Echoes presents Duo Karolina

Duo Karolina Mikołajczyk & Iwo Jedynecki is one of the most vibrant and innovative chamber ensembles of the current generation of classical musicians. Recognized by artists such as Krzysztof Penderecki and Maxim Vengerov, in 2024 they have been awarded Poland's most prestigious prize for classical music - the 'Polityka Passport' - with duo being praised for its 'versatility and ability to navigate through diverse musical realms; virtuosity, unbridled imagination, and ingenuity in selecting and creating new repertoire for the distinctive combination of violin and accordion'.

Karolina Mikołajczyk studied under Zakhar Bron in Cologne as well as Andrzej Gębski, Maria Machowska, Agata Szymczewska and Janusz Wawrowski in Warsaw. Iwo Jedynecki holds performance degrees from Germany (Detmold), Poland (Warsaw & Bydgoszcz) and, most recently, the United States (New York University) as the first accordionist recipient of the Fulbright scholarship.

The duo has thrilled audiences with recitals across the world, from Switzerland to Cuba to the United Arab Emirates to Brunei, totalling 32 countries on five continents as of today. Their repertoire ranges from Bach's Goldberg Variations, through violin sonatas of Mozart, Beethoven, Franck and Penderecki, thrilling arrangements of other Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century works to contemporary music, including commissioned pieces and three double concertos. Thanks to Iwo Jedynecki's accordion transcriptions, both well-loved and little-known repertoire gain bold, new interpretations and original sounds, all the while boasting delightfully diverse colouring.

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As of today, the Duo has recorded four CD albums – Premiére with original and self-arranged (i.a. Frartes by Arvo Pärt) contemporary music for violin-accordion, Orfeum Trio Plays Piazzolla, BŁAŻEWICZ (nominated for the Fryderyk Prize - a Polish equivalent of a Grammy) and IMAGIQUE: A Different History of Music. The duo also shows an up-to-date approach in promoting its work by presenting video recordings in social media: the one with Mozart’s Violin Sonata gained more than a milion views online and was shared by the most popular internet platform devoted to classical music – Classic FM - followed up by Kreisler's Chinese Tambourine performed on the Great Wall of China as well as Bach’s Goldberg Variations and excerpts from film music-inspired The Hollywood Fantasy projects.

General Admission: $25

Students and Seniors: $20

Hillside Club Members: $15 with a promo code. If you need the code contact Ellen at [email protected]

Children under 12 are admitted for free.

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Host or Publisher Hillside Echoes