Piotr Szumieł, born in 1977 in Warsaw, belongs to the group of the most versatile violists of his generation. He is also a viola professor and a sought-after juror and lecturer at master classes. Already at a young age he was the recipient of numerous prestigious prizes at international competitions, including winning the Jan Rakowski Viola Competition in Poznan in 1998, the special prize at the 36th International Instrumental Competition in Markneukirchen in 2001, a 2nd prize at the 9th International Johannes Brahms Competition in 2002 in Pörtschach (Austria) and 3rd prize at the Vienna International Viola Competition in 2004.Between 2002 and 2008 Piotr Szumieł was a member and principal violist of the Dresden Philharmonic and the Dresden Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. He has also been conducting very intensive educational work for many years – since October 2019, he has been Professor of Viola and Head of the String Department at the Rostock University of Music and Theatre. Previously, he taught viola and chamber music at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music Dresden (2005–2024) and was a lecturer at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice (2013–2018). Piotr Szumieł has played in London’s Wigmore Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie, the Wiener Konzerthaus and the Wiener Musikverein, Carnegie Hall, Megaron in Athens, the Cologne Philharmonie, Citè de la musique Paris, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Tonhalle Zurich, Palais des Beaux Arts Brussels, Konserthuset Stockholm, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Warsaw Philharmonic and much more. In addition to his solo and didactic activities, he devotes himself intensively to the “Apollon Musagète Quartet”, founded in 2006. In less than two years since its founding, the ensemble has earned outstanding recognition not only from critics but also from the jurors of the most prestigious chamber music competitions. After winning international music competitions in Vienna and Florence, the quartet quickly established itself as a fixture on the European music scene after receiving the 1st prize and almost all special prizes at the 57th ARD International Music Competition. As a soloist, Piotr Szumieł works with conductors such as José Maria Florêncio, Vladimir Kiradjiew, Anu Tali, Gérard Korsten, Hugh Wolf, Francesco Angelico, Teowyn Evans, Ernst Kovacic, Petri Sakri, Baldur Bronnimann and has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Dresden Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, Kassel State Orchestra, the Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra Dresden, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice. As a chamber musician, he has worked together with the following artists: Martin Fröst, Gabriela Montero, István Várdai, Garrick Ohlsson, Vadym Kholodenko, Valentin Erben, Nils Mönkemeyer, Kevin Kenner, Igor Levit, Per Arne Glorvigen, Jörg Widmann, Charles Richard-Hamelin, Viviane Hagner, Alexey Stadler, Alena Baeva, Olga Zado. Piotr Szumieł studied at the „Fryderyk Chopin” Music Academy in his hometown in the viola class of Prof. Stefan Kamasa, where he graduated with distinction in 2001. Later, he continued his viola studies with Prof. Wolfgang Klos and chamber music with Prof. Johannes Meissl at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he also graduated with distinction in 2010. The artist conducted workshops and master classes in Austria, Germany, Hongkong, Poland, Italy and China. He took part in the work of the jury at international viola and chamber music competitions in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Katowice and Meissen. He regularly performs as guest principal violist with orchestras including the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Dresden Philharmonic, and the Staatskapelle Schwerin. Piotr Szumieł is the recipient of the “Young Poland” scholarship program of the Minister for Culture and National Heritage and the “Burletti Buitoni Trust Award” (2014) for outstanding artistic achievements with the “Apollon Musagete Quartet”.