Katarzyna “Kasia” Smolarek is a Polish classical guitarist born in 1995 who began playing at age eight. She studied in Polish music schools with Lidia Przyłęcka and Ryszard Bałauszko before starting her bachelor’s degree in 2015 at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg under Marco Diaz-Tamayo.

Smolarek has won more than 20 international prizes, including rare honors at the Pittaluga competition in Italy and the Luis Sigall competition in Chile, and has performed across Europe, Australia and South America. Critics have praised her “breathtaking virtuosity,” and her repertoire spans from Bach to contemporary works.

Sources:

• https://www.siccasguitars.com/blogs/guitarists/kasia-smolarek-classical-guitarist