Monika Sroczyńska is not just a musician, but a true phenomenon, combining three talents: pianist, composer and musicologist. Born in 1997, she has gone from being a young student to a professional whose works and performances captivate audiences around the world. Her music reflects deep emotions, virtuoso skill and constant creative exploration. We invite you to learn more about the amazing story of Monika Sroczyńska, an artist who lives and breathes music.
Monica, tell us when and how you realised that music was your calling. Who or what inspired you to take up piano and composition?
When I was a child, I played a toy piano, and when my parents noticed my talent, they sent me to music school at the age of six or seven. I didn’t think about becoming a composer until later, when I was about 16. It was just there, inside me; it was meant to be. I couldn’t imagine my life without music, especially in this form. I believe in fate. No one persuaded or pushed me.
You graduated from the Music Academy in Bydgoszcz. How did your academic education influence your unique style as a pianist and composer?
The academy in Bydgoszcz is renowned for its high level of performance skills. The wonderful teachers and strong competition forced me to practise a lot and work on myself. In the field of composition, I had the opportunity to study various techniques, but my own style developed independently. I constantly sought to challenge myself. My professor’s approval was incredibly important to me.
You combine three roles: pianist, composer and musicologist. How do these three aspects complement each other in your work?
For me, these three roles form a single, integrated system. This gives me a sense of completeness and competence. Versatility has always been important to me in my work. The more skills we have, the easier it is to build a career and expand our social circle. People appreciate an artist’s dedication to music.
As a pianist, how do you prepare for solo concerts? Do you have any special rituals or approaches to interpreting pieces?
Every concert is a celebration for me. Preparation depends on the complexity of the repertoire. Of course, I enjoy performing my own compositions the most. Before particularly important concerts, I sometimes pray to my personal gods or take a talisman with me.
You have received numerous awards, including a Platinum Medal at the Quebec Music Competition and victory at Golden Time Talent. How have these achievements influenced your professional and personal development?
Competitions are very important for attracting attention in the music community. With each award, we gain more respect, as they are tangible confirmation of our value. People’s enthusiastic reactions also motivate us to continue working.
Tell us about your work Contrasts. What inspired you to create it and how did you work on its structure? Also, your Bagatelle No. 1 won an award at the Golden Key festival. What does this award mean to you, and why do you think this piece was so well received by the public?
I wrote Contrasts specifically for the competition. I wanted to present as many distinctive musical ideas and their transformations as possible. Hence the title.
I wrote Bagatelle for my own pleasure, and only later decided to submit it to the competition. Thanks to this, I was able to perform it in Vienna at the Ehrbar Saal. It is a dynamic, virtuosic and melodic piece with which I wanted to win over the audience, and fortunately, I succeeded.
Tell us about the process of creating your albums PianoComposer and Christmas Impressions and More. What was the main idea behind each of them, and what does their release mean to you?
The album PianoComposer includes pieces written during my studies. Listening to it, you can see how I developed. The premiere, combined with a promotional concert, was an unforgettable event. It was my debut on the recording market, and I was thrilled. I released my second album, Christmas Impressions and More, when I was already professionally active. I was more confident and able to plan everything carefully. The main theme of this album is melodies from Christmas carols and songs, which I transform, combine and present in a new key. The album also contains ‘regular’ pieces based on my own themes.
Describe your creative process. How do you begin working on a new piece, and how do you translate your ideas into musical form?
I always start with a characteristic motif. I try to be guided more by intuition than by reason or a predetermined form. As soon as I feel this inner pulse, my imagination takes me further. Of course, piano pieces would not have been created if I did not know how to play them myself and did not seek new solutions through improvisation.
What serves as a source of inspiration for you? Is it other composers, nature, emotions, or something else?
I am constantly surrounded by music. I play, listen and, naturally, experience a multitude of emotions associated with it. Creating my own music has become a normal and natural thing for me. I don’t force myself to look for inspiration. My reality inspires me.
You actively collaborate with the Art Exhibitions Bureau. Tell us about your joint projects. How do you manage to combine music and visual arts?
For as long as I can remember, I have participated in various art events, and the combination of disciplines such as music and painting always makes them more appealing to the public. The static nature of the image and the dynamic nature of the musical work harmonise perfectly. Of course, I always try to adapt the repertoire performed at vernissages to the style of the paintings presented there.
You also teach. What is most important to you in working with students, and how do you help them develop their talent?
As a teacher, I try to convey to my students that anything is possible. I combine honesty with gentleness. I am truly passionate about my work, and I think this helps me inspire young people to work just as hard. The most important thing is to find solutions together and build mutual trust. A teacher must be both an authority figure and a friend.
What are your creative plans for the future? Do you have any new ideas for albums or compositions that you could share?
Routine is the most important thing for me. I compose and perform regularly. I never stop thinking about music. I am also very active on social media. I plan to release new albums as soon as I have enough new material. In addition, I record works by other contemporary composers.
What does music mean to you in your life? How does it help you express yourself and communicate with the world?
I have always felt that music is all I have.
My compositions are my personality.
Art is my way of life.
I don’t think anyone can know me without knowing my music.
It’s the only way I feel safe.
