AN INTERVIEW WITH JAKUB POLACZYK

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Who is Jakub Polaczyk?

JAKUB POLACZYK: Sounds like a Polish name, and Jakub is not Jacob, so it must be Polish... Yes, I am Polish. I was born in Kraków and came to the USA to do my extended studies in music after graduating in Poland, and became a US citizen a few years ago. I am originally a musician. 

ARTIST’S HOUSE: How did your career start? Did you wake up one day and say, “I’ll be a classical composer?”

JAKUB POLACZYK: It doesn't happen in a day—it is a process. In my case, though, it was important to get to know music that had a direct impact on me. That was the case with works by: Chopin, Mozart, and The Beatles. I did not plan to be a composer. I did not know what composition was back then, but I wanted to make music in my life. That’s for sure.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: You came here from Poland. Is being an artist in Poland different from being an artist in the USA?

JAKUB POLACZYK: Yes, I came to the US when I was 28, so pretty late and at a very special age, looking back into history. I grew up and got most of my education in Poland, but eventually got my family and settled here in the USA. I think being an artist is the same around the world, but environments are different and there are probably different opportunities. In Poland, art is more introverted.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: What motivates you to create, to teach? How do you find inspiration? 

JAKUB POLACZYK: I don't know. Everything inspires me. Life is probably the inspiration, most likely the moment when I write it.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Growing up in Kraków, Poland, you were exposed to rich cultural heritage and musical traditions. Can you share a specific memory or experience from your childhood that you believe had a big impact on your journey as a composer and pianist?

JAKUB POLACZYK: Well, when I lived in Poland, I was not aware that I had been so exposed to Polish history and heritage.  From my childhood, I do remember our family gatherings, holidays, processions during important religious holidays, music concerts, my school friends, but also family trips to Slovakia and Polish mountains—especially Pieniny. 

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Winning scholarships and awards undoubtedly signifies recognition of your talent and dedication. Looking back, is there a specific moment or milestone in your career that you consider a turning point, propelling you towards greater success and opportunities?

JAKUB POLACZYK: I always thought that the next would be the one that is most important. I applied to many, many opportunities, scholarships, and competitions over the ages. I lost track of it. I do it less nowadays because of limited time. But, I definitely think two were important: in Poland, winning a prize in memory of Pope Jan Paweł II at the Wawel Cathedral (a symbol of Polish history) and in the USA, I think Iron Composer, because that was one of the most important things to help me in getting an artistic visa for special abilities to stay in the USA.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Balancing a career as a composer, pianist, and educator requires a lot of dedication and discipline. How do you manage to find balance among these roles, and do you have any rituals or practices that help you stay grounded?

JAKUB POLACZYK: All of those activities are complimentary. Each one impacts the other. So, when I do one activity, I also think about the other. It is like the constant polyphony of my life. I do think my life is not single-lined, but has many, many voices.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Your compositions have been performed at numerous prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center in New York City. Can you share with us one of your most memorable experiences performing your own compositions in such renowned settings?

JAKUB POLACZYK: I have beautiful memories from Carnegie Hall concerts; I had a few of my works presented there. The most recent was last year…my duet for two flutes was performed—composed 10 years ago. I like when my old pieces are still performed. But, from other memorable recent premieres, I do remember a concert in France in Toul, in memory of Olivier Messiaen, who lived there for a moment. I do also remember a concert with "Blue Waters Orchestra" in Cleveland, and also "Mass" premiered in 2015, when there was a winter storm happening outside... I do also remember my monographic concert in my hometown, Nowy Sącz, when I could make music again with my old Polish friends. On the other hand, I remember unpredictable moments: like, my piece was played at Weill/Carnegie, but I lost the ticket (had a different coat) and listened to the piece only from backstage, and was allowed to enter only to bow after the premiere... The other one was when I was learning my solo harpsichord piece in a day and flew to Milano to perform it, because the harpsichordist did not have enough time to prepare it. Eventually, it won the first prize competition at Castello Sforzesco. A few years ago, I also got an email that my piece is programmed as composer-performer the next day in South Carolina, but the previous mail was lost, so I took a car and drove from NYC all night to get there to perform my piece. 

ARTIST’S HOUSE: As a composer and orchestrator, you've had the opportunity to collaborate with various ensembles and orchestras globally. Could you tell us about a particularly challenging collaboration and how you navigated it creatively?

JAKUB POLACZYK: I love to work with other artists. With the instrumentalist, we just have the score, and I play piano—that's simply it. With other professions, it is different. I remember dancers making music to my music afterwards. I also worked with visual artists, like Caroline Records from CMU, who helped me with the program that she made for a Pok-A-Tok piece. The most challenging collaboration was with a dancer and conductor, when I was in Kraków. It was called "Continental Brain,” with the help of Marek Chołoniewski, who was my mentor in electronic music back then. There was a lot happening, but that was also an autobiographical piece about how my brain might function. For each composer, different things might matter. For me, what is important is: imagination, originality, uniqueness, not always the properness, but I tend to check how the piece speaks and if it has recognizable shape, a so called "form.”

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Being awarded scholarships from organizations like the Composers' Guild of New Jersey and ASCAP Plus Award reflects recognition from peers and industry professionals. How do these accolades impact your artistic journey, and what advice would you give to aspiring composers seeking similar recognition?

JAKUB POLACZYK: I would recommend for them to apply. There are many benefits. Try many chances, because those opportunities will help you meet more people and gain more experience. Some accolades helped me to write the pieces that I probably would not have composed, so it was very creative. It is good to have deadlines; it is a good aim.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Your compositions have been featured in documentary films and released by prominent record labels. How does multimedia collaboration enhance the audience's understanding and appreciation of your music, and do you see it as an integral part of contemporary classical composition?

JAKUB POLACZYK: Yes, I do also use multimedia. It is an expansion of the musical experience. It is the same as choreography in an opera. It might extend the perception of live music.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Winning the Bronze Medal "Gloria Artis" by the Minister of Culture of Poland is a significant honor. How does it feel to receive recognition from your home country, and how does your Polish heritage influence your artistic identity as a composer and pianist?

JAKUB POLACZYK: Well, it was an unforgettable experience for me. I was very honored that the Minister of Culture and President came for the 2023 Pulaski Day Parade and that I was recognized by this award. I am definitely a Polish composer/pianist, and Polish culture is also important and is a part of my music.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Can you share any fond memories from your childhood?

JAKUB POLACZYK: I remember the day when my grandmother got the first photocopy machine at work. It was in Stary Sącz. It was something so unusual, I directly got an idea that I would love to do my own school newspaper. It was called "Biedronka." My parents still keep some copies of it at our home.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: What is your favorite dish to eat?

JAKUB POLACZYK: I like Asian food a lot, especially bulgogi. I also very much like Polish goulash.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: If you could meet with a classical composer from any era, who would that be and why?

JAKUB POLACZYK: I would first choose JS Bach, our teacher and grandfather who had all of the things we use nowadays. He worked on all the elements that we developed after him over the ages. So, that would be baroque and JS Bach. He was a master of counterpoint, a very hardworking genius who also found balance between work and family. If it’s only one name, it is him, but there are of course other names that I would like to meet and give a few questions to. 

ARTIST’S HOUSE: What is your favorite place on Earth? 

JAKUB POLACZYK: I haven't been everywhere, but I like living in New York City. It gives me positive vibes. On the other hand, I do love the landscapes of the fjords in Norway.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Music has the power to connect people across cultures and languages. Can you share a memorable experience you've had connecting with someone through music, either as a performer or a composer?

JAKUB POLACZYK: Definitely in my case as well. I remember once collaborating with poets and actors, and now we are friends. Recently, I have been collaborating with the visual group, BOLAG, who did animation to my music for a percussion quartet.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: You’ve definitely achieved a lot already, but as they say, the sky’s the limit. What would you say is your biggest dream?

JAKUB POLACZYK: I have dreams... It is good to have them. I dream about a few pieces I would like to do, but there are many factors, and I don't want to answer specifically.

ARTIST’S HOUSE: Ending our interview, what would you like to say to your fans? What advice would you give to people wanting a classical career, and where can your fans find you?

JAKUB POLACZYK: If you are interested in my music, thank you for your time. I am glad that I was talking to your imagination through my sounds. For those who want a classical career, I can say: just be yourself and be sincere. Try to go with the flow of life. You can find me in: the East Village, at some concerts in the city, but also across the Hudson River—where I live in NJ—and on family trips, or in my Polish homes in: Nowy Sącz/Szczawnica or Kraków. Thank you for the interview.

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APRIL 13, 2024