Magdalena Pawlisz

As a conductor, my goal is to transmit the essence of music through a meaningful gesture, compelling the orchestra to play in a way that creates a unique listener experience. I do it simply by putting much attention to details of the score – diving deep to all what the composer has written – and then, filling out the space between notes with my own musicianship.

Magdalena Pawlisz is a Polish conductor, a finalist of I Atlantic Coast Conducting Competition in Portugal and a semi-finalist of the Opera Competition in Orvieto. Magdalena Pawlisz has worked with Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Orchestra of Komische Oper Berlin, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt Oder, Orchestra de Cadaqués, Mainfranken Theater Würzburg, Theater Cottbus, Theater Magdeburg, Gothenburg Opera, Szczecin Castle Opera, among others. The engagements in 2021 include Kharkiv Opera, Częstochowa Philharmonic and University of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.

Magdalena Pawlisz obtained a Master’s degree in Conducting at the Berlin University of Arts. She is currently pursuing a post-graduate Executive Master in Art Administration at the Zurich University and a PhD on the Mass in C by Franciszek Lessel at the Music Academy in Kraków.

The range of my musical interests spans from the sources of European classical music – Viennese classicism and pre-Chopinian period – through German 19th century music of Wagner and Brahms, to the Polish 20th century music of Szymanowski and Karłowicz. I also advocate for the new music, particularly written by female composers, in order to address under-representation of women in the history of classical music.

Magdalena Pawlisz was born in 1990 in Gdynia and has played violin since 7. In 2008 she participated in the International Youth Symphony Orchestra in San Diego and then decided to become a professional musician. A few years later she was encouraged to undertake conducting studies.

Magdalena Pawlisz has learned the craft of conducting with Raphael Delekta, Colin Metters, Steven Sloane, Harry Curtis and also while assisting Enrico Calesso, Patrik Ringborg and Michail Jurowski.

Magdalena Pawlisz is alumna of the Royal Philharmonic Society Women Conductors and the Rotary New Generations Service Exchange.

It’s inspiring both to be conducted by Magdalena and to watch her work. All her experience and good training as a conductor makes her a calm and efficient leader in the rehearsals. She works with good authority and minds many details as well as the broader picture while making good structure of the rehearsals until the performance. – Daniel Björkdahl, Music director of Lundby Symphonic Orchestra and Choir, Gothenburg

Ihre solide Vorbereitung und eine sehr gut entwickelte Schlagtechnik haben ihr ermöglicht, sich am Pult mit der notwendigen Souveränität zu beweisen. – Enrico Calesso, Generalmusikdirektor des Mainfranken Theaters Würzburg

Szerokim echem odbił się koncert uczniów Państwowej Szkoły Muzycznej I i II stopnia im. Karola Szymanowskiego pod Pani batutą. Występy solistów i orkiestry sprawiły naszym gościom wielką radość, były zachwyty i wzruszenia. (…) Koncert z pewnością pozostanie w pamięci naszych gości jako jeden z najwspanialszych momentów ich wizyty w Zamościu. – Artur Suski, President RC Zamość Ordynacki

The first thing to mention is her musical and personal integrity. Many conductors at the present time promote themselves with much bravura and superficial talent. Magdalena does not follow this fashion. – Colin Metters, Professor Emeritus in Conducting, Royal Academy of Music London