Classes
Lecturers:
Anna Mikołajczyk
Marta Czarkowska-Lawaty – assistant in the vocal class
The vocal class is addressed both to pupils and students of vocal departments as well as to professional musicians (regardless of voice type) wishing to deepen their knowledge of historically informed performance, and to singers representing different approaches to so-called historical performance practices. The repertoire includes music from the early Baroque to the 19th century. An additional advantage is the opportunity to work with Mirosław Feldgebel – pianist, harpsichordist, and harpist – who will have a 19th-century piano at his disposal. Young singers taking part in the Varmia Musica Academia course may participate in the so-called Romantic Salon, presenting 19th-century song repertoire, as well as in a concert performance of the opera Venus and Adonis by John Blow. Participants of the vocal class may also join a vocal ensemble of soloists, which will perform the choral parts in Venus and Adonis.
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– ensemble classes
– work with an accompanist
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
Levels:
– beginner
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 10
Lecturer:
Karolina Zych
The course is addressed both to those who wish to improve their skills in playing the traverso, as well as to those who would like to become acquainted with historical flutes from the very beginning. Beginners may use an instrument provided on site during the workshops. In addition to the Baroque flute, we also propose expanding the range of instruments and repertoire to include flutes with a simple key system, used in Classical and early Romantic music. In addition to individual lessons, group methodological–practical classes are planned, focusing on the interpretation of music from past eras as well as technical issues. Chamber music will constitute the main pillar of the course, due to its invaluable role in the development of a young flautist. A version of the opera Venus and Adonis by John Blow, prepared exclusively for Varmia Musica Academia, also provides for the participation of flautists.
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– chamber ensemble classes
– classes on creating and improvising cadenzas
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
Levels:
– beginner
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 6
Lecturer:
Marek Niewiedział
We invite everyone who wishes to explore the secrets of playing all instruments that bear the name “oboe” – as well as their many, sometimes more distant, relatives.
During Varmia Musica Academia, you will encounter a true family of oboes: from the eloquent Baroque oboe and the refined oboe d’amore and oboe da caccia, through Classical two- and eight-keyed oboes, to the English horn and the 19th-century oboe. And also shawms and pommers – why not?
The classes combine solid technical work with performance practice, drawing on extensive orchestral experience. We work on sound, articulation, phrasing, and stylistic awareness across different periods. A special highlight is reed-making workshops for various types of historical oboes – the moment when you truly begin to understand where this unique sound comes from.
We accept both historical instruments and modern ones. If you do not have your own instrument, it is possible to borrow one – please contact the organisers in advance.
The greatest joy of the class, however, is playing together in the Oboe Band – an oboe–bassoon consort open to players of all levels. It is a rewarding and relatively rare form of chamber music, often becoming the first step towards serious engagement with historical performance.
This year, oboists will also have the opportunity to take part in a special arrangement of the opera Venus and Adonis by John Blow, prepared exclusively for Varmia Musica Academia.
Whether you are just beginning your journey with historical instruments or have long been in love with their sound, you will find space here for growth, experimentation, and shared musical joy. Join us – it will be vibrant, engaging, and… just a little bit daring.
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– chamber ensemble classes
– participation in the oboe–bassoon consort
– reed-making classes
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
– Czech
Levels:
– beginner
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 6
Lecturer:
Tomasz Wesołowski
The historical bassoon class is open to musicians of various levels of advancement, playing both historical and modern instruments. Participants will have access to copies of Baroque and Classical bassoons as well as dulcians. During the course, we will focus on solo and chamber repertoire covering periods from the Renaissance to Romanticism. We will address technical and stylistic issues, with particular attention to the study of ornamentation. In addition to individual lessons, the programme includes reed-making classes, orchestral studies, and bassoon chamber music in both small and large ensembles, as well as participation in the oboe–bassoon consort. A version of the opera Venus and Adonis by John Blow, prepared exclusively for Varmia Musica Academia, also provides for the participation of bassoonists.
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– chamber ensemble classes
– participation in the oboe–bassoon consort
– reed-making classes
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
– German
Levels:
– beginner
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 6
Lecturers:
Veronika Skuplik
Radosław Kamieniarz
Piotr Chrupek
The class is addressed both to violinists and violists who already possess a certain level of knowledge of historically informed performance practice in Baroque, Classical and early Romantic music, as well as to musicians wishing to expand their current skills on modern instruments with the practice of historical instruments. In addition to issues related to the interpretation and understanding of early music, strong emphasis is also placed on solving problems related to instrumental technique and so-called orchestral practice. Both period instruments and modern instruments are accepted. It is possible to borrow Baroque and Classical bows after prior contact with the organisers.
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– chamber ensemble classes
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
Levels:
– beginner (preferably with a diploma from a secondary music school)
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 6
Lecturer:
Jakub Kościukiewicz
The Baroque cello class is dedicated both to musicians exploring issues of historically informed performance practice in early music, and to participants wishing to expand their current skills on modern instruments with the practice of historical instruments. We warmly welcome pupils of primary and secondary music schools, students, graduates, teachers, lecturers, professionals, and amateurs. In addition to questions of style within the context of historical performance practice in solo and chamber music, as well as the development of instrumental technique, a significant part of the Baroque cellist’s training is devoted to the practice of basso continuo. These issues constitute the main focus of the course. Both historical instruments and their copies, as well as modern instruments, are accepted. It is possible to borrow Baroque and Classical bows after prior contact with the organisers.
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– chamber ensemble classes
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
Levels:
– beginner
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 6
Lecturer:
Krzysztof Firlus
The viola da gamba class is addressed both to experienced gambists and to musicians who are just beginning their journey with this instrument. In addition to the development of instrumental technique and work on solo repertoire, the course offers a unique opportunity to perform together in a viol consort. There are limited possibilities for borrowing bows and instruments. Interested participants are kindly asked to contact the organisers.
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– chamber ensemble classes
– participation in the viol consort
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
– German
– French
Levels:
– beginner
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 6
Lecturers:
Ewa Mrowca – harpsichord and basso continuo realization
Zuzanna Budziarek – tuning and instrument maintenance training
The harpsichord class warmly welcomes harpsichordists and organists. Alongside work on harpsichord repertoire (from the 16th to the 18th century) and harpsichord technique, we will focus on basso continuo realization.
In addition to individual lessons, group classes are held, dedicated to the joint study of historical sources and the analysis of treatises concerning basso continuo realization. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn harpsichord tuning and gain practical knowledge of the basic elements required to keep the instrument in good condition. The following instruments will be available: German harpsichord after Christian Zell (1728) (Bruce Kennedy, Amsterdam 1993), Italian harpsichord after Carlo Grimaldi (1697) (Antonio Martini, Ravenna 2008), Italian harpsichord after Bartolomeo Cristofori (Matthias Kramer, Rosengarten 1998), Flemish harpsichord after Ioannes Ruckers (IR Versailles, 1628) (Fred Bettenhausen, Haarlem 2003).
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– chamber ensemble classes
– harpsichord tuning and maintenance classes
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
– German
– French
Levels:
– beginner
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 6
Lecturer:
Marcin Szelest
The class is addressed both to participants exploring issues of historically informed performance practice in early music, and to those wishing to expand their current skills on modern instruments with the practice of historical instruments. Among the instruments available to participants are the organs by Christoph Heinrich Obuch (1713–1787) from Morąg, currently located in the chapel of the former residence of the Warmian bishops’ castle.
The chapel organs of the castle in Lidzbark Warmiński were built in 1760 in the workshop of Christoph Heinrich Obuch (1713–1787) from Morąg. The authorship of the Lidzbark instrument was confirmed in 2023, when an internal inscription was discovered: “Christoph Heinrich Obuch. Orgelbauer in Mohrungen Anno 1760.” The instrument in its Rococo case was commissioned by the Warmian bishop Adam Stanisław Grabowski (1698–1766) as part of the new chapel interior design in his residence. The instrument is housed in a carved and gilded organ case built in 1760–1761 in the workshop of the sculptor Christian Bernard Schmidt from Reszel.
In terms of sound and construction, the organ reflects the experience gained by Obuch during his travels, combining traditions from various regions. Missing elements of the instrument were reconstructed in 2022–2024 by Zych Organ Builders based on extensive organological research on other instruments by Obuch and his teachers.
The instrument is tuned in a temperament characteristic of the region, by Johann Georg Neidhardt (c. 1680–1739). The expert and academic supervisor of the restoration was Prof. Krzysztof Urbaniak.
Stop list:
Manual C–c³
Floet 8’ (wooden, stopped)
Principal 4’ (façade)
Floet 4’ (wooden, stopped)
Salicinal 4’ (inverted conical)
Quinta 3’ (narrow-scaled)
Octava 2’
Sedecima 1’ (wide-scaled)
Mixtur 3fach 2/3’ (with tierce rank)
a1 = ca. 465 Hz
Temperament based on Neidhardt “für das Dorf” (1732)
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– chamber ensemble classes
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
Levels:
– beginner
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 6
Lecturer:
Anna Swoboda
We invite pupils and students of music schools and academies to take part in professional lute courses, aimed both at musicians with experience in historical instruments and at those (e.g. classical guitarists) who would like to gain their first experience in instruments such as the lute, theorbo, or baroque guitar in Lidzbark Warmiński. The course programme is adapted to different levels of advancement and covers repertoire from the Renaissance to the Baroque. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in workshops and concerts, allowing them to apply their newly acquired skills in practice.
Participation includes:
– individual lessons
– chamber ensemble classes
– the opportunity to take part in the final concert
– the opportunity to perform in the participants’ concert
– free admission to festival concerts
– lectures and seminars
– additional classes within all programmes
Languages of instruction:
– Polish
– English
– German
Levels:
– beginner (including amateur guitarists)
– intermediate
– advanced – professional
Maximum number of active participants: 6