Krzysztof Komendarek-Tymendorf has been among the eminent Polish musicians of his generation for many years. He comes from a long line of musicians, including renowned composer Michał Kleofas Ogiński. In 2012, Krzysztof graduated with honours from the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk in the Master’s viola class of Irena Albrecht. He honed his skills at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien with Wolfgang Klos and Ulrich Schönauer and at the Swedish National Orchestra Academy in Gothenburg. Aged 24, he began to teach at his alma mater, where he currently works as an Assistant Professor in viola and chamber music. He is regularly invited to give viola masterclasses and to adjudicate competitions.
Krzysztof is a laureate of many competitions and awards, winning First Prizes at the Macroregional Competition for Young Violists in Warsaw, the 25th Young Musician International Competition ‘Città di Barletta’ in Italy, and the Polish Rising Music Stars Competition. In 2016, he won the City of Gdańsk Award for Young Artists, the Gazeta Wyborcza Audience Award, and was made ambassador of the national Save the Music campaign. Dziennik Bałtycki and Poland Press honoured him with the titles Personality of Pomerania and Personality of Gdańsk of the Year, 2016. In 2017, he was given the Distinguished for Polish Culture honorary award and received an award from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
Krzysztof made his debut as a soloist with the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Sopot and as a chamber musician with oboist Tytus Wojnowicz. He has performed as soloist with many international orchestras, and developed his knowledge of chamber music with musicians such as Valentin Erben (Alban Berg Quartet), Peter Schuhmayer (Artis Quartet), the Apollon Musagète Quartet, and Quatuor Ebène. He is a founding member of the Balthus Quartet and Duo del Gesù, and has performed at numerous international festivals.
Krzysztof has been Artistic Director of the EURO Chamber Music Festival Gdańsk, Space Art Festival Warsaw, and Viva Viola Festivity. He has given over 20 world premieres, many of them dedicated to him.
