Informations
Facts
Born in Kracow, Poland
Member since 01.12.2009
Biography
Krzysztof Polonek comes from a family of musicians. The Krakow-born violinist studied first at Berlin’s Universität der Künste with Tomasz Tomaszewski, later with Thomas Brandis at the Lübeck Musikhochschule, where he completed his studies with a concert exam. Additionally, he gave a graduate concert in the chamber music department of the Hanover Musikhochschule and received grants from the Seymour Obermer Foundation in Switzerland, the Ferenc Fricsay Society in Berlin and the Villa Musica of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
He began his orchestral career in 2001 as 2nd Concertmaster of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. This was followed by engagements as section leader of the second violins with the Dresden Philharmonic (2002 to 2005) and as principal section leader of the second violins at the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin (2005 to 2009) before he became a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker, where he has been concertmaster since March 2019. In addition, Krzysztof Polonek, who obtained a doctorate at the Wrocław Music Academy, is a member of the Berolina Trio.
Awards
First Prize and Grand Prix, International Chamber Music Competition Krakau (2007)
First Prize, European Chamber Music Competition Karlsruhe (2007)
Winner and Audience Prize, International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition Vienna (2009)
