Barbara Sowa

Barbara Sowa (born 9 September 2002) is a second-year Master’s student at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk in the violin class of Prof. Anna Wandtke-Wypych. In the academic year 2024/2025 she studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz in the class of Prof. Barnabás Kelemen. She performs in Poland and abroad, including in Austria, Hungary, Germany, and Denmark.

Her most important achievements include:

Distinction at the 11th National Violin Competition in Memory of Aleksandra Januszajtis,

First Prize at the 4th Violin Confrontations for Secondary Music Schools in Gdynia and Second Prize at the 5th edition of the same competition,

First Prize at the 3rd String Competition Online (2023),

Second Prize in the violin category and a distinction in the chamber ensemble category at the 5th International Music Competition OPUS (2023), as well as Second Prize in the violin category at the same competition in 2025,

Distinction at the 1st Arnold Rosé International Violin Competition in Vienna.

In 2024, Barbara was a participant of the International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra. She has developed her violin skills through numerous violin courses and masterclasses with renowned pedagogues such as Prof. Karina Gidaszewska, Prof. Bartosz Bryła, Prof. Agata Szymczewska, Prof. Bartłomiej Nizioł (Switzerland/Poland), Prof. Marcin Baranowski, Prof. Sebastian Hamann (Germany), Prof. Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Prof. Łukasz Błaszczyk, Prof. Ioana Cristina Goicea (Austria/Romania), Prof. Miranda Liu (Hungary/USA), and Prof. Alexandra Tirsu (Austria/Romania).

Barbara has twice received the Rector’s Scholarship for the best students and was also awarded a scholarship from the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.