ABOUT

Jaroslaw Lipski MA, LRAM

Born and raised in Warsaw, Poland in a family with artistic traditions, Jaroslaw was attracted to string instruments from an early age. His education began with piano lessons, however he soon discovered that direct tone production (plucking strings with fingers) resulted in greater tone variety. His interest shifted towards the guitar and after several years of musical training he graduated from the Academy of Music in Warsaw with a degree in classical guitar. Later he received a diploma from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he obtained a scholarship as winner of the Principal's prize contest judged by David Russell. During the study at Guildhall he received some early music tuition from Nigel North, which spurred him to explore the lute family instruments and their repertoire. He pursued this interest attending Summer Academies for Early Music at Innsbruck, Austria and finally abandoned the classical guitar to devote himself wholly to lute playing. Subsequently, he studied with Elisabeth Kenny at the Royal Academy of Music in London where he was awarded the Master of Arts diploma as lute player.

Performing as solo lutenist or accompanist for singers, instrumentalists and chamber music groups, Jaroslaw Lipski has appeared in concert with artists such as Laurence Cummings, Jane Glover, Trevor Pinnock, Barbara Hoffmann, Lars Arvidsson, Maria Lindal, and Amy Wheeler to name a few. The Wheeler & Lipski duo showcased at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference (APAP) New York City, January, 2009, hosted by EMA and the Gotham Early Music Scene. They also gave a special concert for 100th anniversary of the Warsaw Philharmonic.

Jaroslaw's repertoire encompasses a wide range of lute literature. He feels at home in the baroque opera, having long played basso continuo on the theorbo, however his special interest is currently 18th century German music for 13 course baroque lute. His top favourites are J.S.Bach and the famous lute composer of Silesian origin Sylwius Leopold Weiss. His recent solo CD is devoted to the music of S.L.Weiss from tabulatures originally kept at the Cisterian monastery at Krzeszow, Poland.

Jaroslaw Lipski is also an experienced teacher and holder of the LRAM teaching diploma. Composing film music inspired by medieval, renaissance and folk motives, as well as fine art photography, remains another of his major ventures.