dr Agnieszka Zahaczewska-Książek
Pianist, chamber musician. Graduate of piano studies in the classes of Prof. Stefan Wojtas and Prof. Wojciech Świtała and chamber music studies in the classes of Prof. Maria Szwajger-Kułakowska and Prof. Chia Chou. Doctor of arts, she is working currently at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Cracow. She has given concerts in many places in Poland (such as the Philharmonics: National in Warsaw, Krakow, Baltic in Gdansk, Zielonogórska, Dolnośląska in Jelenia Góra, Sudecka in Wałbrzych, Chopin’s Birthplace House in Żelazowa Wola, Chopin Museum in Warsaw, Royal Łazienki in Warsaw, National Forum of Music in Wroclaw) and abroad (including Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, France, Great Britain, Thailand). Together with her husband, Krzysztof Ksiazek, she co-founded the Ksiazek Piano Duo. The ensemble won the 2nd prize at prestigious 12th International Chamber Music Competition ‘Franz Schubert and Modern Music’ in Graz (2025), as well as the 1st prize at the 2nd International Stanislaw Moniuszko Polish Music Competition in Rzeszow (2021), 3rd prize and a special prize for the best performance of a work by a Polish composer at the 2nd International Piano Duo Competition “Duettissimo” in Krakow (2024), 2nd prize and a special prize for the best performance of a work by F. Schubert at the 21st F. Schubert International Piano Duo Competition in Jesenik (2019), and the title of finalist and special prize at the 3rd Suzana Szӧrenyi International Piano Duo Competition in Bucharest (2019). The artists are currently working under the tutelage of Silver-Garburg Piano Duo (Kunstuniversität Graz) and Bartłomiej Kominek (K. Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków). The duo was nominated for the Koryfeusz Muzyki Polskiej award in the category Discovery of the Year. So far two CDs of the ensamble have been released: album with suites for two pianos by Arensky and Rachmaninoff, and album “Alla polacca” with works for four hands by Elsner, Dobrzynski and Chopin ( recored on period instrument).
Agnieszka is also a member of a piano trio – Trio Legend she forms with cellist Monika Krasicka-Gajownik and violinist Krzysztof Katana. The ensemble got prizes at international competitions: XXVI International J.Brahms Competition in Pörtschach (2019, first prize), XVII International J.Brahms Chamber Music Competition in Gdansk (2018, second prize), II International Stanislaw Moniuszko Polish Music Competition in Rzeszow (2021,honorable mention). In 2022, Trio Legend released debut album with works by Malawski and Shostakovich.
She participated in masterclasses of Guarneri Trio Prag, Kaja Danczowska, Tamás Ungár, Arie Vardi, Katarzyna Popowa- Zydron, Charles Richard-Hamelin and others.
The artist has received scholarships from the Almanach Muszyny Foundation, the Młoda Polska scholarship program and the Martha Debelli Stiftung.