Szymon Nidzworski - saxophonist and composer

His individual, original, often interpreted as melancholic, raw sound is a synthesis of inspiration from classical music, folk, jazz, and fjord music. Nidzworski's compositions and playing attract a wide audience and also gain recognition among outstanding artists. He graduated with honors from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, honed his skills under the world-renowned saxophonist and educator Jean Yves Fourmeau at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional Cergy-Pontoise in Paris. A scholarship holder of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, as well as the Société Générale bank. He belongs to the exclusive group of Henri Selmer Paris artists.

As a soloist and member of chamber ensembles, he has performed nationally and internationally. He has participated in numerous prestigious music festivals such as the 'Warsaw Autumn', 'Chanterelle Festival', 'Wratislavia Cantans'. He has performed with leading orchestras and chamber ensembles such as the National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, European Workshop For Contemporary Music. He has also collaborated with the Camerata Silesia choir. He has performed with artists such as Natalia Niemen, Mietek Szcześniak, Piotr Rogucki, Krzysztof Cugowski, Piotr Cugowski, Grażyna Łobaszewska, Kasia Kowalska, Grzegorz Hyży, and Ania Wyszkoni. He has collaborated with the Capitol Music Theatre in Wrocław, the G. Baduszkowa Music Theatre in Gdynia, and is currently associated with the A. Szyfman Polish Theatre in Warsaw.

At the Polish Theatre in Warsaw, he co-created 'Salons of Poetry', where he composed music for texts by eminent poets. This fact resulted in collaboration with outstanding actors such as Andrzej Seweryn, Olgierd Łukaszewicz, Anna Dymna, Jarosław Gajewski, Krzysztof Globisz, Anna Nehrebecka, Piotr Cyrwus, Anna Cieślak, Grażyna Barszczewska, Leszek Teleszyński, Jerzy Szejbale, and many others. The most significant event related to his collaboration with the Polish Theatre was the Ceremonial Poetry Salon marking the 100th anniversary of the Theatre, during which the entire acting ensemble, led by director Andrzej Seweryn, read excerpts from 'The Apocalypse of St. John', with the musical accompaniment of Szymon Nidzworski's original compositions performed live by a nine-member musical ensemble under the composer's direction.

These experiences became one of the inspirations for the creation of the Szymon Nidzworski Project feat. Andrzej Seweryn. The result is the album 'Behind Your Eyelids', on which Andrzej Seweryn read texts specially written for Szymon Nidzworski's music. The actor, director of the Polish Theatre, spoke about his collaboration with Szymon:
' Szymon trusted me. (...) I think that the music he created also influenced me and helped me in my work. That's why I think he created me, he created my voice. The one you hear in this recording. This is an example of great collaboration.'

In addition to his own album, Szymon Nidzworski has completed many recording sessions, both in classical music (including recordings of Krzysztof Penderecki's 'Kosmogonia' with the National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra), film (including 'I Am a Murderer' directed by Maciej Pieprzyca, with music by Bartosz Chajdecki, and 'Animals' directed by Greg Zwoleński, also with music by B. Chajdecki), theatre, and entertainment. Along with the Morpheus Saxophone Ensemble, he recorded the piece 'Lenten Music' by Paweł Łukaszewski. In 2015, the album 'Musica Sacra 5', which included this piece, received the Fryderyk award in the category of Polish Serious Music.

He is a co-founder of the jazz formation Magnolia Acoustic Quartet, which has numerous concert and competition successes to its credit. For the ForTune Records music label, the band recorded two albums: 'Boozer' (2013) and 'Cinderella' (2014). In July 2015, the band performed a concert as part of the 8th Summer Jazz Academy at the 'Wytwórnia' in Łódź, where they had the opportunity to support the Charles Lloyd Quartet. Leszek Możdżer wrote about the band:
'This band is a discovery for me. Here are young musicians stepping onto the stage confidently, with their chests out, with open hearts. They play strongly, loudly, damn intelligently. They freely and wisely draw from tradition. I haven't heard such fresh music in a long time (...)'

He also recently collaborates with pianist Aleksander Dębicz, forming the Simple Tales duo. The meeting with Dębicz, one of the most outstanding young Polish pianists, awarded in various piano competitions and for whom improvisation is the best means of expression, is a unique record of their artistic acquaintance. Simple Tales are spontaneously conceived and told musical stories. It is also another project that will result in another album featuring Szymon Nidzworski in the near future.

Nidzworski is a laureate of numerous competitions and festivals, both in classical and jazz music. The most important awards and distinctions:
• 1st prize at the International Leopold Bellan Foundation Competition in Paris
• 2nd prize at the 'Jazz Juniors' International Competition in Krakow
• 1st prize at the VI European Musical Integrations in Żyrardów with the Magnolia Acoustic Quartet
• individual award from the jury composed of Włodek Pawlik, Paweł Pańta, Cezary Konrad for the best soloist at the VI European Musical Integrations in Żyrardów.

His career and current concert plans can be followed on the artist's fan page and on his website:
www.facebook.com/szymon.nidzworski
www.szymonnidzworski.com