composers (S)

composer, music theorist, pianist and teacher; born 12th April 1942 in Krakow; d. 6th March 2021 in Gdańsk. She studied piano with Ludwik Stefański (diploma with distinction in 1967) and composition with Bogusław Schaeffer (diploma in 1973) at the State Higher School of Music in Krakow. In 1967-68, thanks to a scholarship from the French Government, she continued her piano studies under Susanne Roche and Vlado Perlemutter in Paris.

She took part in numerous piano competitions, winning the 5th place in the Ferenc Liszt and Béla Bartók International Competition in Budapest (1966), and the 2nd prize in the Maria Canals International Music Competition in Barcelona (1968). Until 1978 she performed as a pianist with recitals and concerts in Poland and abroad. Later she devoted herself exclusively to composing.

Ewa Synowiec made her debut as a composer in 1972 at the Community Centre in Krakow. She received awards at composition competitions in 1973 (for Sonata per pianoforte No. 1, 1969) and in 1974 (for Quartettino d'archi, 1969). She was awarded a scholarship by the Polish Composers' Union twice (1974, 1975). Her works have been performed at festivals, including in Wrocław, Warsaw ("Warsaw Autumn"), Katowice, Poznań, Boswil (as part of the Frauenmusik-Forum), Salzburg, Zurich, and her music graphics (almost half of her compositional output) were exhibited in Poland, Germany and Great Britain, France, Austria, Switzerland and Canada.

In 1966-1975 she taught piano at the State Higher School of Music in Krakow. Then she moved to Gdańsk, where she taught piano and composition at the Academy of Music (from 1991 as a professor). She is the author of a book Bogusław Schaeffer's Instrumental Theatre (Academy of Music in Gdańsk, 1983).

From 1975 she was a member of the Polish Composers' Union. In 1977-81 she was treasurer of the PCU’s Gdańsk Branch.

Ewa Synowiec was honoured with, among others, the Award of the Minister of Culture and Art, third degree (1980) and the Award of the Minister of Culture and Art, first degree (1990).

updated: 2021 (ac)