The 68th Annual Grammy Awards took place last night (February 1, 2026) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles - and there was a beautiful Polish accent! 🎸🇵🇱
🏆 POLISH GUITARIST NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY!
Mateusz Kowalski - a young Polish classical guitarist from Koszalin - received a Grammy nomination in the Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance category for his album 'Slavic Sessions'!
The album was created in collaboration with Slovenian guitarist Mak Grgić and explores the richness of Slavic musical traditions through the intimate format of a guitar duo.
🎵 WHAT'S ON 'SLAVIC SESSIONS'?
The album is a journey through Slavic musical heritage, featuring:
• POLISH FOLK SONGS
- 'W polu lipieńka' (In the field, a little linden)
- 'Gaik' (The Grove)
- 'Umarł Maciek, umarł' (Maciek died)
- 'Czerwone jabłuszko' (Red Apple)
- 'W murowanej piwnicy' (In a Brick Cellar)
• CHOPIN
- Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1
• CZECH COMPOSER
- Works by Antonín Dvořák
• CONTEMPORARY POLISH MUSIC
- Arrangements by Polish composer and guitarist Marek Pasieczny
The album was recorded at the Koszalin Philharmonic in Mateusz's hometown - a new hall with stunning acoustics!
🌲 THE FOREST CONCEPT
The album's visual and conceptual theme is deeply rooted in Slavic mythology:
'The woodland setting that frames this collaboration speaks to something deeper than aesthetic choice. The forest is the heart of Slavic mythology and culture – a place inhabited by rusalkas, woodland spirits, and deities like Leshy. It was here that fairy tales and legends unfolded, which later found their way into folk music.'
🎸 WHO IS MATEUSZ KOWALSKI?
Mateusz Kowalski was born in 1995 in Koszalin, Poland. Here's his remarkable journey:
📚 EDUCATION
• Started guitar at age 7
• Studied for 12 years under Dariusz Schmidt at Grażyna Bacewicz Music School in Koszalin
• Graduated from Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw (Magna cum Laude!)
• Konzertexamen in Darmstadt under Tilman Hoppstock
• Masterclasses with Sergio Assad, Oscar Ghiglia, Alvaro Pierri
🏆 COMPETITION AWARDS
• Winner in Antony (Paris) and London
• 2nd EuroStrings International Competition (2019)
• 3rd prize at Guitar Foundation International Concert Artist Competition, Indianapolis (2022)
🌍 PERFORMANCES
• Musikverein in Vienna
• Shanghai Grand Theatre
• Concerts in 20+ countries including New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London
🎼 SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT - CHOPIN ON GUITAR!
Mateusz gained international recognition for the FIRST-EVER live performance of Fryderyk Chopin's Piano Concerto in F minor arranged for guitar and orchestra!
The historic premiere took place during the 'Chopin and His Europe' festival in 2023 with {Oh!} Orchestra conducted by Martyna Pastuszka. This groundbreaking performance showed that Chopin's piano music can beautifully translate to the classical guitar!
📀 DISCOGRAPHY
• 2019: Debut CD (CD Accord) - Bach, Giuliani, Tarrega, Barrios, Piazzolla, Ponce, Assad, Schubert
• 2021: 'Polish Romantic Guitar' - Bobrowicz, Szczepanowski, Sokołowski, Horecki
• 2025: 'Slavic Sessions' with Mak Grgić (Red Poppy/Frameworks) - Grammy nominated!
🇵🇱 POLES AT THE GRAMMYS - A PROUD HISTORY
Mateusz Kowalski joins a proud lineage of Polish Grammy winners and nominees:
🏆 POLISH GRAMMY WINNERS
• 2017: Krzysztof Penderecki & Henryk Wojnarowski
• 2014: Włodek Pawlik - 'Night In Calisia'
• 2012: Antoni Wit, Andrzej Sasin, Aleksandra Nagórko
📺 GRAMMY 2026 - MAIN WINNERS
For context, here are the biggest winners of the night
🎤 RECORD OF THE YEAR: 'Luther' - Kendrick Lamar with SZA
💿 ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Bad Bunny (first all-Spanish-language album to win!)
⭐ BEST NEW ARTIST: Olivia Dean
🎤 MOST WINS: Kendrick Lamar
Notable: Director Steven Spielberg achieved EGOT status by winning Grammy for Best Music Film 'Music By John Williams'!
🎧 WHERE TO LISTEN?
You can stream 'Slavic Sessions' on
• Spotify
• Apple Music
• Amazon Music
• Qobuz
• Tidal
Or purchase directly from Mateusz's website: mateuszkowalskiguitarist.com
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS MATEUSZ!
From all of us at PoloniaSoCal - congratulations on this incredible achievement! You make the Polish community proud! 🇵🇱🎸🏆
Have you listened to 'Slavic Sessions'? Share your thoughts in the comments! And if you know Mateusz or have seen him perform, tell us about it!
Gratulacje, Mateusz! Trzymamy kciuki za następne Grammy! 🤞
Sources: Grammy.com, Polskie Radio Trójka, Poland.pl, UK Jazz News, Mateusz Kowalski Official Website, AllMusic
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