Leszek Lorent

Leszek Lorent is Professor of Musical Arts (dr hab.) and head of the New Music Studies and the Anthropology of Musical Culture Workshop at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. A celebrated percussionist, scholar, and author, he has premiered dozens of contemporary works, recorded more than a dozen critically acclaimed albums, and published extensively on the philosophy, anthropology, and theology of percussion music.

Education & Training:

• Graduated with distinction (2008) – Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, Warsaw
• Post-graduate studies – Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse de Lyon, class of Prof. Jean Geoffroy
• 2006–2009 – annual courses in new-music interpretation, Tallinn, Estonia

Research & Artistic Interests:

Lorent’s work explores the intersection of percussion performance, contemporary music creation, philosophical inquiry, and anthropological research. He specializes in multi-percussion repertoire and instrumental theatre, investigating how percussion functions in sacred rituals, shamanic traditions, and modern avant-garde aesthetics. His scholarly output spans ethnomusicology, theology, phenomenology of sound, and cultural studies, often focusing on Polish and global contemporary composers such as Marcin Błażewicz, Dariusz Przybylski, and Ignacy Zalewski.

Album & Article Trends:

Across 20+ albums and 25+ scholarly articles, Lorent consistently bridges the sacred and the experimental. Recordings range from solo percussion recitals to large choral-percussion works, frequently nominated for the Polish Fryderyk Award and the Global Music Awards. His writings analyze percussion as a ritual technology, philosophical metaphor, and cultural signifier, appearing in journals such as Aspirations, Zagadnienia Naukoznawstwa, and conference proceedings of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Scientific Awards & Honors:

• Rector’s Award, Fryderyk Chopin University of Music (2015, 2017, 2024)
• Global Music Award – Gold Medal Triple Winner (2019)
• Global Music Award – Silver Medal Triple Winner (2018)
• Multiple Fryderyk Award nominations (2016–2023)
• International Classical Music Awards nomination (2015)
• Scholarships: Prime Minister, Minister of Culture, Société Générale Bank, ZAiKS, Młoda Polska, Ministry of Science & Higher Education

Advising & Service:

As head of the Anthropology of Musical Culture Workshop, Lorent mentors graduate researchers in performance studies, music philosophy, and cultural anthropology. In 2018 he was appointed to the Advisory Team of the Minister of Higher Education and Science, evaluating scholarship applications for outstanding students and young scholars.

Laboratories & Performance Teams:

Lorent directs collaborative projects with the Chopin University Modern Ensemble, siXen Percussion Group, and Hashtag Ensemble, fostering interdisciplinary creation that integrates percussion, electronics, vocal performance, and multimedia staging.