Lech Bałaban

Lech Bałaban serves as Professor at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań within the Institute of Violin Making Instruments, while also teaching viola at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. His dual appointment bridges performance excellence and academic rigor in string instrument specialization.

His educational journey commenced at age five under his father Henryk Bałaban, progressing through studies with Professors P. Radziński and Jadwiga Kaliszewska at Poznań Academy of Music, where he earned diplomas in violin (1988) and viola (1994). His technical refinement continued through masterclasses with E. Feltz, Z. Bron, O. Kagan, W. Pikajzen, M. Frischenschlager, and R. Ricci.

Professor Bałaban's artistic research centers on viola performance practice, violin craftsmanship, and chamber music interpretation. His work explores historical performance techniques while advancing contemporary string pedagogy through recordings and international masterclasses. His recordings of Penderecki, Stachowski, and Wróbel's viola concertos demonstrate innovative approaches to 20th-century repertoire.

His accolades include:

• Special Award at the 4th National Festival of Young Violinists in Lublin (1980)
• Distinction at the 4th National Z. Jahnke Violinists' Competition (1984)
• 1st Prize at the 5th National J. Rakowski Violin Competition (1993)
• Silver Medal for Long Service (2008)

As an educator, he trained competition-winning students at Poznań School of Talents until 2014, and currently directs the "Play with the Master" course in Gniezno while lecturing at Łańcut International Music Courses and Inowrocław Workshops. His mentorship extends through the Bałaban Family Quartet, which showcases intergenerational musical transmission.

He maintains active performance roles as concertmaster of Polish Radio's "Amadeus" Chamber Orchestra since 1988, cellist in the "Wieniawski Quartet" (recording Meyer's complete string quartets for NAXOS), and founding member of the Bałaban Family Quartet whose 2014 Dvořák album established new chamber music benchmarks.