Ensemble Toccante

Ensemble TOCCANTE

Ensemble Toccante was established in 2016 due to a fortunate meeting and friendship of 5 passionate musicians of Early Music, of which all have already a wide range of experience and accomplishments. The ensemble is unique due to the presence of an accomplished soprano vocalist Anna Budzyńska.

The solo instruments are played by: Olga Musiał–Kurzawska (flute traverso) and Katarzyna Kmieciak (violin). The basso continuo includes the violoncellist Martyna Jankowska oraz harpsichordist Dagmara Tyrcha. All musicians play on instruments, that are a copy of the Baroque originals, and which require not only special technical skills, but also vast musical knowledge.

Although the very young ensemble TOCCANTE has only a few projects on their account, each of its members have many individual achievements of high artistic recognition. This only shows the exquisite potential of ensemble TOCCANTE which is being slowly observed and enthusiastically recognised by the Polish audience. The ensemble has concert plans, not only in Poland, but also abroad. Also preparations for their first recordings are proceeding. The artists hope, that making their first album together will open the doors to a lot of the most prestigious Early Music festivals in Europe.

What brings the ensemble TOCCANTE together is passion and friendship. Their audiences enjoy the sincerity and freedom of their performances, as well as the diversity of repertoire and the obvious joy the artists show when playing together. Their engagement and sensitivity gives a one of a kind effect. Music composed over 300 years ago comes to life in a unique way and becomes close to the heart of the contemporary listener.

Artists

ANNA BUDZYŃSKA

soprano

a versatile, very active, promising singer of the young generation, specializing in baroque music performances, as well as contemporary and chamber music,
a singer with a law degree and an honor graduate of the Poznan Academy of Music in the class of professor Antonina Kowtunow,
attended masterclasses with Cecilia Bartoli, Silvana Bazzoni, Teresa Zylis – Gara, Elizabeth Vidal, Jadwiga Rappé, Eva Blahova and Helena Łazarska,
a soloist at the Musical Theater in Poznan,
a PHD student at Poznan Academy of Music,
received a scholarship from the Marshal of Wielkopolska Voivodship in the area of culture
for many years a soloist of the Adam Mickiewicz University Choir, with over 400 concerts given, all over the world,
numerous CD recordings.

OLGA MUSIAŁ – KURZAWSKA

flute traverso

a talented flute player, specializing in playing on historical instruments from the renaissance and baroque period, with a great deal of experience and knowledge of the Early Music performing style,
also plays the modern flute,
a graduate of the Poznan Academy of Music, as well as the Wroclaw and Lodz Academy of Music, in the classes of professor Magdalena Pilch and Marek Nahajowski,
a participant of various masterclasses in Poland and abroad, improved her skills mentored by Jana Semerádova, Alexis Kossenko oraz Annie Laflamme,
played with many orchestras, accompanied concerts for José Carreras and Montserrat Caballé – among others,
works with orchestras such as: the Les Ambassadeurs, Accademia dell’Arcadia, the Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra, Arte dei Suonatori, the Polish XVIIIth Century Orchestra and also with the Famd.pl,
the cofounder of the renaissance flute chamber music group Epithalamion and the baroque quartet Tres Animé; with which she was awarded many times during abroad competitions.

KATARZYNA KMIECIAK

violin

an achieved baroque violin player of the young generation, also plays the viola,
started her journey with Early Music when she was 10 with the Antiquo More, where she played on a renaissance original violin,
currently studies the baroque violin both at the Poznan Music Academy in the class of professor Mikołaj Zgółka, as well as at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Köln, in the class of professor Richard Gwilt,
gained skills and knowledge of Early Music at courses and masterclasses with artists i.e. Sophie Gent, Enrico Gatti, Simon Standage, Agata Sapieha, Zbigniew Pilch, Rachel Podger and also with orchestras such as Il Giardino Armonico and Arte Dei Suonatori,
an active performer and participant of courses, festivals in Poland and abroad, cooperates with the Early Music Academy in Szczecin, the baroque orchestra of the Opera’s Academy by the National Opera in Warsaw, and Concerto Romano in Rome(among others),
cofounder of the baroque quartet Tres Animé; awarded many times during abroad competitions,
in the 2016/2017 season a member of the European Union Baroque Orchestra and the Theresia Youth Baroque Orchestra, with which she tours around Europe.

MARTYNA JANKOWSKA

cello

a cellist, who found her passion in highschool having discovered Early Music and historical performance,
awarded numerously at various contests in Poland and abroad,
studied the cello and the baroque cello at the Poznan Academy of Music, at Haute Ecole de Musique in Geneva in the baroque cello class of professor Bruno Cocseta and currently studies the baroque cello at Hochschüle für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt in the class of professor Kristin von der Goltz,
took part in many masterclasses of Early Music specialists such as Markus Mollenbeck, Bruno Cocset, Mauro Valli, Alisson McGillivray, Ageet Zweistra, Siri Hilmen, Christopher Suckling, Benjamin Bayl and Robert Hollingworth,
in 2014 she received a scholarship from the Academie Europeenne de Musique Ancienne w Vannes (France),
worked with many music organizations in Poland and abroad ie. the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, Poznan Chamber Choir, Poznan Boys Choir, the Cantores Viridimontani, Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra, as well as the Musicarius and Capella Cracoviensis,
an experience basso continuo player at baroque music competitions,
cofounder of the baroque quartet Tres Animé; awarded many times during abroad competitions.

DAGMARA TYRCHA

harpsichord

a harpsichordist with extensive concert experience, an extraordinary sensitivity and vast musical knowledge,
graduated from the Poznan Academy of Music, in the harpsichord class of professor Maria Banaszkiewicz-Bryły, currently employed at her alma mater,
her musical education was established with abroad studies, in classes of professor Imbi Tarum from Tallinn, as well as professor Gordon Murray and professor Augusta Campagne from Vienna, among others,
took part in masterclasses with Ketil Haugsand, Nicholas Parle, Gordon Murray, Christophe Rousset, Martin Gester and Aline Zylberajch-Gester,
toured all over Europe with artists such as Bolette Roed, Alexis Kossenko, Alan Rasmussen, Joanna Boślak – Górniok, Maria Sanner, Elena Andreyev,
a highly valued basso continuo player, played with Le Parlement de Musique, during the Muzyka w Raju Festival in Paradyż (Poland), Poznan Baroque Festival, among others; also played during many editions of the Canticum Gaudium Baroque Festival in Poznan,
cofounder of the baroque quartet Tres Animé; awarded many times during abroad competitions.