Artists

Rafal Zambrzycki-Payne

Rafial-Zamb The violinist Rafal Zambrzycki-Payne was born in Lodz, Poland. He studied with Wen Zhou Li at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the RNCM, and subsequently in Vienna with Gerhard Schulz. Recent engagements have included a highly acclaimed Polish premiere of Hanna Kulenty's 2nd Violin Concerto with the Polish National Radio Symphony at the Warsaw Autumn Festival, concerto appearances throughout South Africa, Germany and Switzerland as well as recitals in Scotland, Poland, Hong Kong and Brunei. An avid chamber musician, last season Rafal performed at festivals in Austria, California, China, Italy and Sweden.

Rafal's competition successes include winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year and the 2005 Parkhouse Award with his Piano Trio Dimension. As a soloist he has performed with orchestras such as the English Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, The Philharmonia and Munich Chamber Orchestra among others. Rafal performed Khatchaturian's Violin Concerto for the composer's centenary celebrations with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2004, gave the British premiere of Alexander Arutunian's Violin Concerto, also performing the work at the composer's 75th birthday concert.

In 2005, Rafal became the Leader of the international Frankfurt-based contemporary music group Ensemble Modern, with which he regularly performs at many of the world's most prestigious venues. As part of the International Ensemble Modern Academy he has given Masterclasses on courses in Austria, China, Japan and South Korea. Having recorded a recital disc for the EMI Debut Series, 2011 saw the release of his recording of the Janacek and Bartok Violin Sonatas and the Lutoslawski Partita on the Ensemble Modern Media label with the Swiss pianist Ueli Wiget. Rafal plays on a violin made by J.B.Villaume in 1844.