composer, pianist, harpsichordist; b. 3rd April 1970 in Wielowieś near Gliwice. In 1996 she graduated with honours from the Department of Composition, Conducting and Theory of Music at the Academy of Music in Katowice. In 1998 she completed post-graduate studies in composition under Józef Świder and in the harpsichord class of Marek Toporowski (both diplomas with honours). In 2000 she completed Postgraduate Studies in Music Theory at the Academy of Music in Warsaw. In the years 2002–2005 she studied at the Music Academy in Katowice at the Vocal and Instrumental Department in the piano classes of Maria Kubień-Uszok and Monika Sikorska-Wojtachy (diploma with honours). In the years 2009-2012 she complited postgraduate studies in composition under the direction of Marian Borkowski at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.

In 1987 she was awarded a summer scholarship by Janaćkova Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno. In 1994, 1995 and 1997 she was a scholarship holder of the Ministry of Culture and Arts. In 1996 she received a summer composition scholarship from the Music Academy in Rheinsberg, Germany, and in 1998 – a scholarship from the Gaudeamus Foundation in Amsterdam.

She took part in international composition courses, workshops and scientific symposia led by such composers as Paul-Heinz Dittrich, Helmut Zapf, Osvaldas Balacauskas, Jonathan David Kramer, Tom Johnson, Martin Bresnick, Daryl Runswick, Claude Lefebvre, Louis Andriessen and Sylvano Bussotti. She also participated in international harpsichord master classes led by Aline Zylberajch and Jacques Ogg.

She is a laureate of many piano competitions (1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989), as well as composition competitions: in 1993 she was awarded the 2nd prize at the Tadeusz Baird Young Composers Competition for Adagio con espressione for soprano and orchestra, in 1997 – 1st prize at the Ryszard Bukowski Composers Competition in Wrocław for Ażdacha Overture for symphony orchestra. In 1998, as the only composer from Poland, she received the Gaudeamus Foundation scholarship and was the honorary guest of the international "Gaudeamus Music Week" Festival in Amsterdam.

She was active as a harpsichordist, performing, among others, at the Sixth Decade of Organ, Choral and Chamber Music in Cieszyn, the concerts of the Silesian Rostrum of Composers in Katowice, the early music concerts at the Club of Independent Creative Associations in Katowice as well as abroad, in Germany, Wales and the United States.

Aleksandra Garbal’s compositions were performed in Poland and abroad, among others, at the Young Composers 'Festival in Krakow (1994), the 18th Sacrosong Festival '94 at the Church of St. Jadwiga Queen of Poland in Kraków, as part of the Silesian Rostrum of Composers in Katowice (1994, 1995, 1996), at the 'Alkagran' Youth Musical Meetings in Bielsko-Biała (1994, 1995), 6th and 7th Days of Contemporary Music, "Ars Cameralis Silesiae Superioris" Upper Silesian Chamber Arts Festival (1995, 1996), 6th Ryszard Bukowski Days of Music in Wrocław (1995), at the Opole Philharmonic (1995), at her own concerts in Katowice (1997, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), the concerts of the "Silesian Composers" series at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2010), percussion music concert on the 65th birthday of Prof. Jan Zegalski at the Academy of Music in Katowice (1997), Final Concert of the 20th International Summer Courses for Composers in Radziejowice (2000), composition concerts at the Szuster Palace organised by the Moniuszko Music Society in Warsaw (2010, 2011, 2012), at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), 41st and 43rd "Poznań Musical Spring" International Festival of Contemporary Music (2012, 2014), percussion music concert at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań in the "Poznań composers and their guests" series (2012), in Germany (Musikakademie Rheinsberg 1997, Hochschule fur Musik Berlin 1998), the Netherlands (Amsterdam 1998), France (3rd Concours International de Piano, Orleans 1998, Hericourt 2005), Wales (The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, The Royal International Pavilion in Llangollen, The Prestatyn Youth Arts Festival Program in the Parish Church, The International Festival in Ruthin, The Collegiate Church of Saint Peter in Ruthin 2005), the United States (Panna Maria Historical Society, The Church in Panna Maria, The University of Texas – Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio, Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, The International Festival of Culture in Corpus Christi 2001 and 2015, Floresville, San Antonio 2015), in the Mieczysław Karłowicz Hall in Katowice – the composer’s concert "In Memory of Professor Józef Świder on the second anniversary of death" (2016), at the Hunting Palace of the Radziwiłł Princes during the 23rd Chopin Confrontations "Word and Sound" in Antonin (2016), at the Polish Composers' Union concert at the Witold Lutosławski Polish Radio Concert Studio in Warsaw (2016), at the International Festival of Polish Culture in Olewsk, Ukraine (2016), at the Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw (2017), at the Artus Court in Toruń (2017), during the 70th Session MUSICA MODERNA at the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź (2017) and at the Academy of Arts in Szczecin (2017, 2018), at the Szczecin Philharmonic (2018), at the PWM Edition headquarters in Warsaw (2018), at the 10th Janina Garścia Polish Contemporary Music Festival (2019), at the Composers’ Concert at the State Music School in Strzelce Opolskie (2019).

Since 1996 she teaches at the State Music School in Strzelce Opolskie. She has also cooperated with the Grzegorz Fitelberg Music School in Chorzów, the Frederic Chopin Music School in Opole, the Organ School in Gliwice, the College of Church Music in Gliwice and the University in Opole. Since 1995 she also works with the Tryl Choir in Toszek.

updated: 2020 (ac)

Composer's website: www.aleksandra-garbal.pl

The Journeys of Dwarfs for piano (1980-2005)

Adagio con espressione for soprano and orchestra  (1993)

Incantation for clarinet solo (1993)

Incantation for clarinet solo (1993, 2009)

Music for 2 pianos (1994)

Little Concerto for 4 Percussionists (1994)

Three Pieces „Animal Prayers” for mixed choir (1994)

Concerto for percussion and reciter (1994-96)

Air for oboe solo (1995)

Song for soprano and vibraphone (1995)

Thoughts I for flute solo (1996)

Concert Overture for symphony orchestra (1996)

Chanson for string quintet  (1996)

Zornig und Verzogen for instrumental ensemble (1996)

Chanson for 4 violas da gamba (1996)

Overture "Ażdacha" for symphony orchestra (1996)

Chorale for marimbaphone solo (1996, 2012)

String Quartet „Chanson” (1996-2004)

Cantata for baritone solo, reciter and symphony orchestra   (1996-97)

Concerto for guitar and orchestra  (1996-98)

Twelve Christmas Carols for clarinet trio (1997)

Thoughts II for piano solo (1997)

Nocturne for bassoon, percussion and harpsichord (1997)

Presto for 2 congas (1997)

Concerto for harpsichord and piano (1997-98)

Adagio for soprano, 2 flutes, oboe, bassoon, accordion trio, timpani and double bass, in memory of Andrzej Krzanowski (1997-99)

Studies for piano (1998-2005)

Stała Matka Boleściwa for soprano and mixed choir (2000)

Air for voice and delay, for Christine Ascher (2000)

Jam jest dudka, Christmas carol for mixed choir  (2000-2001)

Czarna rola for mixed choir (2001)

Study for piano solo (2002)

Three Impressions for piano solo (2002-2005)

Air for soprano, violin (or oboe) and piano (2003)

Old Castle for reciter and symphony orchestra (2003-2004)

Dreams for bass and 11 performers (2003-2004)

Rooster [1st version] for children's choir and piano (2004)

Rooster [2nd version] for children's choir, bassoon and piano (2004)

Rooster [3rd version] for bassoon and piano (2004)

Two Winds for 2 flutes (2004)

Breeze for flute solo (2004)

Missa Paschalis for mixed choir (2004-2005)

Study for the Left Hand (2004-2005)

In the ZOO for piano (2004-2005)

Colorful Miniatures for piano (2004-2005)

Six Folk Melodies for 2 clarinets and bassoon (2005)

Gdzie te owiecki moje, song for soprano and piano (2005)

Pasterze mili, Christmas carol for female choir  (2006)

Air for soprano and piano (2008)

Meditation for organ (2008)

Eight Lullabies for piano (2008-2009)

Meditation for soprano and organ (2008-2009)

Magnificat for 3 choirs, piano (organ) and string orchestra (2009)

Magnificat [2nd version] for soprano and organ (2009)

Adoramus Te Christe for soprano and delay (2009)

Adoramus Te Christe for soprano and organ (2009-2010)

Introductio - Magnificat for 2 choirs, French horn quartet, piano and string orchestra (2009-2015)

Recitativo e arioso per violoncello (2010)

Air and Dance for cello and piano (2010)

Pater noster for mixed choir (2010)

Diptych for piano solo (2010)

Stabat mater for soprano and organ (2010-2011)

Requiem aeternam for soprano and organ (2010-2011)

Kyrie for soprano and organ (2010-2011)

Agnus dei for soprano and organ (2010-2011)

Postcommunio for soprano and organ (2010-2011)

Three Preludes for organ solo (2010-2011)

Toccata for organ solo (2010-2011)

Capriccio for organ solo (2010-2011)

Hostias for mixed choir (2011)

Affresco for alto saxophone and piano (2011)

Triptych for Christmas for soprano and organ (2011)

Five Preludes for piano solo (2011, 2014)

Melisma - Birds of Heaven for flute and piano (2011-2012)

Flirty, Love and Family Folk Songs of Opole Silesia from the collection of Adolf Dygacz and Józef Ligęza arranged for solo voices, vocal ensembles and piano (2011-2012)

Five Poems without Words for soprano and piano (2011-2016)

Air for soprano solo (2012)

Pie Jesu for soprano, choir and orchestra, in memory of Norbert Blacha (2012)

The Bugle Call of the City of Toszek for choir and orchestra (2012)

Folk Melodies of Opole Silesia in arrangement for children's choir and piano (2012)

Pozdrowienie anielskie for soprano and organ (2012-2013)

O magnum mysterium per coro misto (2012-2013)

Vox in Rama per coro (2012-2013)

Meditation for organ (2012-2014)

Opole Songs - a collection of 16 songs for solo voices and piano (2012-2016)

Pedagogical works for children and youth for piano solo (2012-2016)

Attende Domine per coro misto (2013)

Regina caeli per coro misto (2013)

One Moment Waltz for piano solo (2013/2017)

Air II for soprano and piano (2014)

Corpus Christi per coro misto (2014)

Missa brevis per coro misto (2014)

Credo per coro misto (2014)

O sacrum convivium per coro misto  (2014)

Libera me per soprani e organo (2014)

Nocturni per pianoforte (2014)

Alleluia per coro misto (2014-2015)

Piano pedagogical pieces for 4 and 6 hands (2014-2016)

Link for 2 pianos and 2 percussionists (2015)

Giardino in miniatura per due clarinetti e fagotto: 1. Qui sta il nocciolo della faccenda, 2. Continuo per tre voci e sempre staccato (2015)

Fanfare for 4 French horns (2015)

Solemn Novena to Our Lady from Toszek for solo soprano and baritone, reciter, children's choir, female choir, male choir, six-part mixed choir, choir of the faithful and organ (2015-2016)

Nocturnes for piano solo dedicated to Marcin Tadeusz Łukaszewski (2015-2017)

Agnus Dei from Missa "Pacem in terris" for mezzo-soprano and organ (2016)

Von guten Mächten wunderbar geborgen for mezzo-soprano, boys’ choir and organ, text by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2016)

Poezye Michała Anioła Buonarrotiego for mezzo-soprano and piano (2016)

Concerto - Fantasy for piano, children's choir, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (2016)

Uno Momento Mistico for flute, clarinet and piano (2016)

Hymnus „Caritas Christi urget nos” per coro di voci bianche, coro maschile, campane, timpani e organo to the words of Bishop Józef Marcin Nathan and Andrzej Cyprian Golis (2017)

Magnificat per coro misto, pianoforte e orchestra con una dedica Marcin Tadeusz Łukaszewski (2017)

A Dance of Snow Flakes in the Sky for piano solo (2017)

Toccata „Sursum corda – Habemus ad Dominum” per organo solo con una dedica Professore Diane Bish (2017)

„Z dawna Polski Tyś Królową” - fantasy for organ solo dedicated Professor Diane Bish (2017)

The Bugle Call of Strzelce Opolskie (2018)

Grunwaldzki Square in Szczecin for wind quintet, dedicated to FeelHarmonyQuintet (2018)

A Dance of Snow Flakes in the Sky for piano trio (2018)

Opera Polonica Rustica "Polish Paintings", chamber opera in the national style for 7 soloists: soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, violin, cello and piano, libretto: A.J. Garbal (2018)

Six Songs to words by Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff for soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and piano (2018-2019)

Etude de Polonaise pour piano A Monsieur Artur Cimirro (2019)

Music for Texas (2019)

Concerto POEM for reciter, solo voices, solo instruments, children's choir, percussion and symphony orchestra (2019)

Hymn in honor of St. John of Nepomuk for alto and organ (2019)

Prayer to St. John of Nepomuk for mezzo-soprano solo (2019)

Litany to St. John of Nepomuk for choir and string quintet (2019)

Three Nocturnes for violin and piano dedicated to Adam and Beata Musialski (2019)

Unfinished Symphony „Beethoven’s Friends Visions” in 5 parts for Dialog Felder e.V. Bonn (2019)

Quasi suite per cembalo (13 dance pictures) (2019)

Suite for piano-harp-pedal or piano or harpsichord  (2019)

Mysterious Con Tenerezza, ballet suite - fairy tale in 3 acts to the libretto by A.J. Garbal (2019-2020)

Oratoriani Volgare “ Last words of Angels and Human Hearts before the End of Time” for own texts (libretto) and prayers of St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Leo XIII, Pope Francis, bl. Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Bl. Natalia Tułasiewicz, Maria Nowak-Kowalska, Kornelia Czogalik and Father Antoni Dębiński (2019-2020)

Orations for 2 harps (2020)

Scherzi for flute ensemble dedicated to Małgorzata Szymańska (2020)

Hymnus 3 for St.Anna 2020 for brass orchestra (3 versions)  (2020)

Hymnus 3 for St.Anna 2020 for oboe and 5 harps (3 versions)  (2020)

Symphony No. 2 “Alma Mater” in seven parts (2020)

Symphony No. 3 (2020)