dr hab. Maciej Zimka
Maciej ZIMKA, Accordionist and composer.
He’s a graduate of the studies at the Academy of Music in Kraków (Poland) in the accordion class of Professor Janusz Pater, graduated also a PhD of the Academy. Maciej Zimka is a prize-winner at numerous instrumental competitions, both Polish and international ones. Among others he won the 1st prize at the VI-ojo Lietuvos Akordeonistu Konkurso Vilnius (Lithuania) and the 1st prize at the 45. Internationaler Akkordeonwettbwerb Klingenthal (Germany, chamber music category). Maciej Zimka is an active musician performing classical and modern music. He performed during numerous festivals, including Sound 12” Newcastle upon Tyne (United Kingdom), Les Clés du Classique (France/Spain), Festival Musique et Patrimoine en Vienne et Gartempe (France), Concerts at Lempertz (Belgium), Modena Organ Festival (Italy), Share.Music.Leipzig (Germany), Calliope Kammermusikreihe (Germany), Music en Tricastin (France), Trnavská Hudobná Jar (Slovakia), Svatováclavský hudební festival (Czech Republic), Classica Brianza (Italy), Prikarpacka Vesna (Ukraine), and Fimucité (Spain). In his native Poland, he has performed at major events such as the Audio Art Festival, MOZG Festival, Karol Szymanowski International Music Festival in Zakopane, Lower Silesian Music Festival, and the Szymanowski Festival – Poland – World. Maciej Zimka is also an active composer. He composes works for the accordion, other instruments and chamber music ensembles. He won Grand Prix at VII International Composition Competition in Sanok (Poland). Since 2011 , Maciej Zimka is involved in the activities of the NGO – Foundation for Art Forum in the field of international cooperation and organization of many cultural projects. Hi is the Art Director of “Music in Monuments” Festival (since 2020) and curator of Word Premiere Accordion Compositions Concert (since 2014) Released in 2021 by Requiem Records / Opus Series, the artist’s phonographic albums with classical music AccoChameleon (co-performer: Wiesław Ochwat – accordion) and with his chamber compositions with accordion Out of The Circle (co-performers: Maria Sławek – violin, Wiesław Ochwat – accordion, Miłosz Mączyński – guitar, Piotr Lato – clarinet) received awards in the 10th International Music Awards Spring 2022 Clouzine Magazine (USA) in the following categories: the best instrumental album (Accochameleon) and the best classical album (Out of The Circle). In addition, both albums were nominated for awards in the prestigious Opus Klassik 2022 competition. The Out of the Circle album was also awarded the Golden Diploma for outstanding achievement in the category of musical arts at the 2nd International Competition “Musical Eagles” (2022). Since 2018, Maciej Zimka has been teaching the accordion class at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków.
Compositions (Selection):
Scheherezade (mezzosoprano, piano, 2007, prize awarded)
Sonate for Violin and Accordion (2008-2009, prize awarded)
Songs of the Night (mezzosoprano, piano, 2010)
8 Little Pieces for Piano (2012)
Highland Roll (accordion, clarinet, violin, double bass, 2013)
Between paths (accordion, 2015, prize awarded)
Scrub (woodwind trio, 2016)
Sonate (piano, 2017, prize awarded)
Sonate for guitar and accordion (2018, Grand Prix)
Nightingale and the Crow (mezzosoprano, piano, 2018, prize awarded)
Concerto for Accordion and Strings (2018)
Ad Noctum (accordion, quater-tone accordion, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, english horn, 2018)
The Fall #1 (flute, clarinet, basson 2020)
Ab oriente lux (violin, piano 2022)
Concerto Grosso (woodwind quintet, chamber orchestra, 2023)
Campo de Fiori (mezzosoprano, flute, clarinet, accordion, 2024)
Folie a Deux (flute, harpsichord, strings, 2024)
Suita (violin, viola, piano, 2025)