Jadwiga Kotnowska

Born in Warsaw, Poland, Jadwiga Kotnowska started her musical education at the age of ten, and for the next seven years, she played three instruments: the flute, the violin, and piano. After winning several national flute competitions at the age of 15, she quickly established herself as a flute soloist.

After completing her education at the Warsaw Academy of Music, Kotnowska studied with Aurele Nicolet in Switzerland, with Jean-Pierre Rampal at the International Summer Academy of Art in Nice, and with Alain Marion in Paris.

Her awards include:

• Polish National Flute Competitions, 1070-72
• G.B. Viotti Competition, Vercelli, Italy, Silver Medal
• International Maria Canals Competition, Barcelona, 3rd Prize and Special Prize
• International Elaine Shaffer Competition, Belveglio, Italy, 1st Prize
• International Flute Competition, Formia, Italy, 1st Prize
• International Queen Sophie Competition, Madrid, 2nd Prize and Special Prize for the Boulez "Sonatina
• International V. Bucchi Competition, Rome, 3rd Prize
• International Young Soloists' Festival, Bordeaux, Gold Medal and Grand Prix
• Royal Felmish Philharmonic Orchestra, Antwerp, 1st Solo Flautist, 1985

Kotnowska has performed internationally in such prestigious halls as Tivoli Hall, Copenhagen; Grieg Hall, Bergen; Palau de Musica, Barcelona; Teatro Real, Madrid; the Purcell Room, London; De Doelen Hall and Eisbrijker Hall, Rotterdam; Concert Homage for J. Rodrigo, Valencia; Shauspielhaus, Berlin; and Lincoln Center, New York.

Discography

• SEPM Quantum, works by Saint-Saens, Ravi Shankar, Debussy, Lutoslawski and others
• MDG/Savitor, J.S. Bach, Suite in b minor with the Polish Chamber Orchestra conducted by J. Maksymiuk
• Tonpress, Vivaldi and Mercadante
• Polskie Nagrania, Prokofief and Boulez