Biography
Magdalena Malec specializes in the performance of Renaissance and Baroque music and concertizes on both her instruments: harpsichord and organ.
Born in Warsaw, she studied harpsichord and organ in Poland, Finland, Italy and Switzerland. She obtained her first Concert Diploma in 2004 from the Academy of Music in Katowice, where she was tutored by Marek Toporowski and Julian Gembalski. In the meantime she was granted a scholarship from the Socrates-Erasmus Exchange Programme for studies with Miklos Spanyi and Maija Lehtonen in 2003 in Oulu, Finland, after which she moved to Milan to study with Lorenzo Ghielmi at the Accademia Internazionale della Musica from 2004 to 2006. In 2010 she graduated with honours from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis at the harpsichord class of Andrea Marcon.
Magdalena Malec was the winner of Second Prize at the 17th International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition for Harpsichord in Leipzig 2010. She has been awarded various prizes at several organ competitions: Xavier Darasse International Organ Competition in Toulouse 2008, Paul Hofhaimer International Organ Competition in Innsbruck 2007, Francesco d’Onofrio International Organ Competition in Carunchio 2006. Her other awards include a prize from the Polish government at the Competition for the young Polish artists in 2005, as well as a scholarship of the Swiss government to study in Basel.
As soloist Magdalena has performed in most European countries. Her recent engagements have included harpsichord recitals at prestigous festivals like Klavierfestival Ruhr, Resonanzen at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, Bachfest in Leipzig, Utrecht Early Music Festival, Freunde Alter Musik Basel. She has given concerts on numerous historical organs, including Antegnati, Silbermann, Nacchini and Callido instruments.
In addition to her solo appearances she is regularly invited to play as a member of various ensembles and orchestras. She has worked with The Hilliard Ensemble, La Cetra Barockorchester, Capriccio Basel, La Scintilla, Sinfonieorchester Basel, I Pomeriggi Musicali, with artists like Cecilia Bartoli, Giuliano Carmignola and conductors Andrea Marcon, Dennis Russel Davies, Federico Maria Sardelli. Since 2008 she has been working as a musical assistant to Andrea Marcon and as a harpsichordist in baroque opera productions at the Theater in Basel.
She has recorded a double CD “The Forqueray Family” with harpsichord solos and chamber music, released in 2009 under the Label Brilliant Classics. She has also made recordings for WDR, ORF and Accent4.
