Jakub Polaczyk (born 1983 in Kraków) is a Polish-American composer and pianist based in New York City. His works bridge his Polish roots and global influences, blending tradition with ritual, spirituality, and an imaginative, eclectic compositional voice. As a performer, educator and cultural ambassador in NYC, his influence goesbeyond the concert hall to radio and community initiatives.
He is the recipient of many national and international awards, including Global Music Awards Silver Medalist (2023),Global Music Awards winners 2023 , runner-up in the John Eaton Composition Competition by New York Composers Circle (2024),, winner of the Clouzine Magazine Best Instrumental Album (2024),Clouzine Magazine Best Instrumental Album Spring 2024 American Prize in Composition 2020American Prize in Composition 2020 winners, professional chamber instrumental division and Iron Composer 2013.Grant Segall: Jakub Polaczyk whistles to victory in Iron Composer contest at Baldwin Wallace, Berea News, Sept 09, 2013 .
He graduated from the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków, Jagiellonian University and Carnegie Mellon University. He studied in Poland with: Marcel Chyrzyński, Krzysztof Penderecki, Marek Chołoniewski (pl), in Belgium with Jan Van Landeghem and in the USA with Reza Vali. Since 2020 has been hosting program "Coffees After Bach" in the Polish Radio Chicago AM1030.
He currently teaches at The New York Conservatory of Music.The New York Conservatory of Music faculty. Between 2018-2023 Polaczyk was the vice president of the non for profit organization NYDAI and in 2020 - 2023 was the Artistic Director of the International Chopin & Friends Festival in NYC.International Chopin & Friends Festival " Conversations with Jakub Polaczyk" by Dennis Woytek got a Bronze statuette at the 43rd Telly Awards in New York City in 2023.43rd Telly Awards winners Artist was awarded a Bronze medal by the Minister of Culture of Poland: "Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture" in 2023.Gloria Artis recipients In 2024 Artist was awarded the honorable decoration from the city of Stary SączAnnouncement of the Award and the same year President of Poland awarded him Gold Cross Medal of Merit.Gold Merit Cross Announcement In 2024 he was among the first musicians asked to access Chopin’s recently discovered Waltz at the Morgan Library & Museum. He completed a contemporary realization and arrangement of the fragment that was later published in 2025.
References
External links
Jakub Polaczyk on YouTube Jakub Polaczyk on Donemus Jakub Polaczyk on Albany Records Jakub Polaczyk on "No Dead Guys"
Doctoral thesis about music of Jakub Polaczyk
Jakub Polaczyk on NYSMusic
Positive Talk