Tomasz Orlow

Tomasz Orlow is an organist, improviser, holder of a PhD in music, and graduate of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice in the organ class of Professor Gembalski (1998). In 1999–2000 he was awarded the Culture Foundation scholarship which he used to improve his improvisation skills at the Robert-Schumann Musikhochschule in Düsseldorf in the class of Professor Wolfgang Seifen’s organ improvisation. Tomasz Orlow participated in the 3rd annual Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck Organ Competition in Gdansk in 1997, where he won the 2nd prize (1st prize was not awarded) and also became the laureate of the 1st International Organ Competition in Warsaw in 1997 (a certificate of merit). Orlow regularly performs at concerts in Poland and abroad, most often in connection with the presentation of improvisational art. He is also regularly involved in the study of contemporary organ music, giving a number of premieres of contemporary composers. Tomasz Orlow works closely with the Camerata Silesia Katowice Ensemble chamber choir. He currently teaches at the Music Institute of the Art Department, Silesian University in Cieszyn, where he instructs students in the interpretation of organ literature, improvisation and organ performance. Furthermore, Orlow is engaged in organ activities (both research and documentary), in which he implements the restoration and reconstruction of historical instruments.