Natalia Jarząbek

Natalia Jarząbek graduated from the Academy of Music in Kraków under the direction of  Dr. H.C. Barbara Świątek – Żelazna and was a student of Hochschule für Musik in Weimar in the class of Professor Wally Hase. She also graduated from the Jagiellonian University with a masters degree in mathematics. She is currently a principal flutist of the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra, PhD student at the Academy of Music in Kraków, and an orchestral excerpts teacher at The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice.

Her research focuses on the art of circular breathing during wind instrument performances. As a specialist in this area, she inspired many contemporary composers who dedicated numerous works to her. She co-wrote Infinity. Circular Breathing as well as a course book with additional technique exercises on the topic. These were released in December 2020 with the help of her professor, Barbara Świątek – Żelazna.

Natalia regularly gives lectures about circular breathing at events around the world including the II 2019 Polish Flute Congress in Łódź, the 2019 Festival Universitario de Flauta Transversa in México, and the 2019 Alexander Arutiunian International Wind Festival. She also presents numerous online lectures for other established artists and festivals worldwide.

Natalia’s competitive abilities are highly recognized on an international level. She has received many prizes, scholarships, and awards celebrating her achievements. Natalia performed and taught at festivals such as the British Flute Society’s Flutastique! Festival, the 2017 Adams Flute Festival, the Festival Universitario de Flauta Transversa in México, the Alexander Arutiunian International Wind Festival, the 31st International Festival of Krakow Composers, Wawel o Zmierzchu Festival and the Music Festival in Łańcut. She has also  worked closely with numerous symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles and performed in renowned venues around the world.

In 2015, Natalia recorded a solo piece of Grammy Award winner Włodek Pawlik. In 2017, she recorded 900 Miles with the Belgian pianist Pieter-Jan Verhoyen, featuring works by Polish and Flemish composers.

In 2017, along with Prof. Barbara Świątek – Żelazna, Natalia was awarded Ars Quaerendi of the Parliament of Lesser, Poland in the Master Student category. This award represents outstanding development and representation of culture. Since 2017, Natalia has also been a flutist in the Cracow Golden Quintet, with whom she won 2nd prize at The Stanislaw Moniuszko International Polish Music Competition in Rzeszów, 2019. The ensemble recorded Polish Wind Quintets and wasnominated for the Fryderyk 2020 Award.