"Wonderful play with
the past"
Neue Musikzeitung
"Breathtaking virtuosity"
***** BBC Music Magazine
"Violinist Ada Witczyk
Brings Baroque Back in Style"
San Francisco Classical Voice
"The new wave wizard"
South West Londoner
ABOUT
Ada Witczyk is a Polish-British violinist, artistic director and champion of contemporary music for period instruments. Equally at home on modern and baroque violin, she brings together historical performance, new music and creative collaboration, challenging conventional boundaries between the past and the present.
Described as “the new wave wizard” by South West Londoner, Ada has inspired more than 250 new works for baroque violin through her pioneering work with composers. She is the founder of the Růžičková Composition Competition, an international initiative named in honour of the Czech harpsichordist Zuzana Růžičková. Established to encourage creativity and expand the repertoire for period instruments, the competition has developed into a global platform connecting composers, performers and audiences.
Her recordings, New Baroque and New Baroque – Sonatas, released on First Hand Records, showcase the expressive possibilities of historical instruments through newly commissioned repertoire. Both albums received *****five-star***** reviews from BBC Music Magazine, with New Baroque also selected as the magazine’s Instrumental Choice. Her performances and recordings have been broadcast internationally, including on the BBC and radio stations across Europe and the USA.
'Judiciously chosen, Witczyk's repertoire is impeccably executed.'
- BBC Music Magazine (Instrumental Choice)
Alongside her performing career, Ada is committed to supporting emerging artists and making classical music more accessible. Her work includes artistic direction, mentoring, guest lecturing and collaborations with educational institutions, as well as projects that combine music with film and digital media. She believes that historical instruments are not confined to the music of the past, but offer a distinctive and compelling voice for the music of today.
In recognition of her contribution to music and artistic leadership, Ada received the Award for Leadership in Music at the Nelson Mandela Leadership Awards & Diplomat Summit. Her other distinctions include the Henry Wood Award, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust Star Award, the Margot MacGibbon Award and the Anthony Edward Brookes Award, alongside prizes and honours at international violin competitions.
Born in Poland in 1993 Ada attended Gorzow Music School, POSM in Poznan, the Royal College of Music (studying with Itzhak Rashkovsky, Michal Cwizewicz and Catherine Martin), and she is a postgraduate of the Royal Academy of Music (studying with Levon Chilingirian and Simon Standage for Historical Performance).
Ada was also kindly supported by Help Musicians and the Harrison Frank Foundation.
As both a modern and baroque violinist, Ada has performed at many of the UK’s most prestigious venues and festivals including Buckingham Palace, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican, Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Royal Opera House.
DISCOGRAPHY
NEW BAROQUE is an album of contemporary music, pushing the boundaries of creativity and what is possible on baroque violin. All works commissioned by violinist Ada Witczyk from former winners of the Růžičková Composition Competition (established in 2020).
Released 26 January 2024
NEW BAROQUE – SONATAS is an album filled with brand new sonatas for baroque violin(s) and harpsichord by the winners of the 5th Růžičková Composition Competition (2024). Each sonata explores baroque instruments in lots of creative ways, their unique sonorities and distinctive gut string colours.
Released 28 February 2025
