Unitarian Meeting Hall
Thursday 8th October 2026
IGF Young Artists Platform 2025/6
On October 8th, 2026, we had the pleasure of welcoming Kacper Dworniczak to perform a short recital as part of the Young Artist’s Programme of the IGF.
Bristol Classical Guitar Society
Kacper originally comes from Poznań, Poland, where he started learning guitar at age six under the guidance of his father. At eight years old, inspired by a performance of Barrios’ La Catedral, he set out to master the piece over the following three years—a project that secured its special place in his heart. He made his orchestral debut in 2017 at a Polish/Russian music festival, and in 2018 won Poland’s Young Musician of the Year, performing Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Polish Radio Orchestra in the finale. He has since performed at Carnegie Hall (2019), Miami, and Tokyo, winning over 40 national and international competition prizes.
He graduated with distinction in 2025 from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, where he studied under Łukasz Kuropaczewski and Paolo Pegoraro. Currently continuing his advanced performance studies at the Royal Academy of Music, supported by a scholarship from the Julian Bream Trust, he has also released his debut solo album, Journeys.
Kacper came across as a warm and deeply communicative performer, introducing pieces with engaging personal stories and bringing immense expressive depth to his Philip Woodfield guitar.
His programme included:
- J.S. Bach – Prelude from BWV 998 Kacper commenced his performance with Bach, letting the music breathe naturally. He brought out all the delicate woven lines and counterpoint with a gentle touch
- Alexandre Tansman – Hommage à Chopin In a nice nod to his Polish roots, Kacper leaned into the lush, nostalgic feel of Tansman’s tribute. He handled the shifting moods beautifully, balancing sweet, singing melodies with subtle modern harmonies.
- Agustín Barrios – La Catedral Having tackled this piece since he was eight years old, Kacper looked completely in his element. He eased through the quiet, church-like opening before flying through the Allegro section with astonishing speed, effortless grace, and genuine joy.
- Joaquín Turina – Sonata, Op. 61 (3 movements) Moving to three movements of Turina’s sonata, Kacper brought out all the fiery Spanish flair you could hope for. He captured that signature flamenco bounce (compás) while keeping every note crisp and beautifully structured.
- Tōru Takemitsu – EquinoxSharing stories from his 2023 trip to Japan—where he fell in love with the food, philosophy, and peaceful vibe—Kacper treated us to Takemitsu’s Equinox. He made fantastic use of silence and delicate dynamic shifts, making every quiet pause feel intentional and enchanting.
- Arr. Kacper Dworniczak – My Favorite Things One of the biggest highlights was Kacper’s own clever arrangement of this classic standard. He threw in a fun, swingin’ jazz feel with subtle hints of Dave Brubeck, mixing playful rhythms with brilliant virtuosity.
- Encore: Frédéric Chopin – Prelude To wrap up a wonderful evening, Kacper brought things full circle with a Chopin Prelude as an encore, coaxing a warm, singing tone out of his guitar that stayed with everyone long after the final note faded.
It really was an uplifting performance and we wish him all the best with his career.