Agnieszka Żarska
„Baroque Collegium 1685“ on different projects and I am very
happy to be back again in the coming years.
Agnieszka Żarska put together a wonderful group of professional
instrumentalists and succeeded in creating a unique work
atmosphere as a talented conductor, which stimulates and
motivates these players to achieve truly memorable
concert performances.”
Andreas Scholl, Kiedrich AD 2024
Agnieszka Żarska - musicologist, conductor, choirmaster
The key element of Agnieszka Żarska's conducting skills is
analysis sources and study of the work in a broad historical
and cultural context.
She considers her mission to be communicating musical
works to a wide audience.
Agnieszka Żarska founded and
developed original, international projects dedicated to
baroque music, such as:
Baroque Explorations Festival (14 editions, since 2011)
Baroque Collegium 1685 - Choir and Orchestra (since 2016)
Baroque Vocal Master Classes (since 2019)
She cooperates with outstanding artists and international
authorities, such as: Andreas Scholl, Peter Kooj,
Olga Pasiecznik, Krystian Adam Krzeszowiak, Benedikt
Kristjansson and others.
She has prepared, produced and conducted dozens of premiere
oratorio/cantata concerts, chamber music and recitals with a wide
repertoire, including e.o. works by J.S.Bach, Handel, Mozart, Telemann,
Delalande, composers of Central European provenance, including
Polish baroque composers.
As the first Polish conductor she directed and recorded
the "Saul" Oratorio by G.F. Handel and Oratorios by
J.S. Bach (BWV 11, BWV 249) broadcasted on Polish TV.
The concert "B minor Mass, BWV 232" by Bach, produced and directed by
Agnieszka Żarska, was among the winners of the 2024 "Musical Eagles"
competition as the event of the year, gaining wide recognition among
the music community in Poland.
In the 2025 season, she is preparing as producer and artistic director the
contemporary world premiere of Godfrey Finger's semi-opera
"The fate of Troy" from 1701, to a libretto based on the drama by
Elkanah Settle. The premiere will take place as part of the 15th edition of
international Baroque Explorations Festival.
Agnieszka Żarska as creator and manager of culture
Gained her theoretical knowledge about cultural management
during her studies postgraduate studies at the Institute
of Social Affairs of the Jagiellonian University of Krakov.
Agnieszka Żarska's greatest advantage is her extensive practical
experience, acquired through several years of active artistic and
cultural projects, built based on such features as: excellent
work organization, high degree communication skills, goal
orientation and high negotiation skills ability to work in a team
as a leader.
Since 2007 Agnieszka Żarska has been creating and managing
comprehensive original cultural projects with an international
reach. Her Baroque Explorations Festival was awarded in
2015 with the "Pearl of Pieniny" and the EFFE Label quality
certificate (2019, 2020 editions) awarded by an international
group of festival organizers.
Agnieszka Żarska is an effective and experienced fundraiser
and administrator. Collaborates with
many Polish and international cultural and diplomatic institutions.
She creates and implements individual projects with high-quality
promotional campaigns. She is particularly appreciated as an
organizer, always acting with passion and commitment.
Her way to baroque music...
Agnieszka Żarska has been fascinated by early culture, music
and especially vocal polyphony for years.
Involved in music since the age of 6; she took her first steps
as a conductor at the age of 16, she conducted a polyphonic
youth choir in her family town - Bielsk Podlaski/Poland.
She graduated with honors from the Institute of Musicology
of the Catholic University of Lublin in Poland, defending
her master's thesis based on the analysis of sources,
the 13th-century Antiphonary of the Norbertine Sisters
from Imbramowice and passing the exam in specialization in
choral conducting including: Polish premiere of the Psalm
"Beatus Vir" by Claudio Monteverdi from the collection
"Selva morale e spirituale".
She improved her conducting skills during courses in
Gdańsk and Legnica, conducted by prof. Jan Łukaszewski and
prof. Uve Gronostay. In 2008, she participated in a rehearsal of
J.S.Bach's St.John Passion led by Nikolaus Harnoncourt at
the Musikverein in Vienna.
