Piotr Wawrzkiewicz | POL

Piotr Wawrzkiewicz is a versatile artist and researcher deeply rooted in traditional Polish music. A master of the lira, a traditional bowed string instrument, he is equally skilled as a violinist, singer, and dancer. His passion for preserving musical heritage extends to his roles as a collector and researcher of songbooks and broadsides. Recognised for his contributions, Wawrzkiewicz received a Ministry of Culture and National Heritage scholarship in 2019 to delve into the world of indulgences printed with songs.  His passion for traditional culture ignited in 2005 when he joined the “Early Music in Jarosław” Association, embarking on field trips to meet and learn from older generations of singers.  Over the past 19 years, he has been a driving force within the association, organising the “Song of Our Roots” Early Music Festival and participating in numerous outreach and publishing initiatives. Since 2016, he and his wife, Natalia, have spearheaded a unique project to seek out, digitise, and analyse broadsides  which significantly shaped the song repertoire of Polish villagers and townspeople from the mid-19th century onward.  Wawrzkiewicz’s dedication to preserving and promoting traditional music extends to his role as co-founder of the C.K. Kapela, a band specialising in the recruitment repertoire of Galicia. He is also the mastermind behind the “Pieśni za grosze” (Songs for a Penny) project.