Rafał Łuc - NOSPR

Rafał Łuc, PhD, MMus (Hons), BMus (Hons) LRAM

(b. 21/12/1987 in Wrocław, Poland), graduated at the Royal Academy of Music (prof. Owen Murray), Musikene Centro Superior de Musica del Pais Vasco w San Sebastian (prof. Iñaki Alberdi) and the Karol Lipiński Music Academy in Wrocław (dr hab. Zbigniew Łuc) where he holds a teaching position at the moment.

Hisveryactiveconcertlifefirstbeganatageten,beingfifteenheappearedforthefirsttimeasa soloist along Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra, in May 2004 he performed with orchestras in Malmö and Copenhagen.

Rafal made his London debut in the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre in January 2009. He received a most favourable review by The Times labelling him as a highly mature artist who performs with deep engagement, showing off all the potential of his instrument (Neil Fisher). During his studies in the UK Rafał performed in the most important venues such as St Martin in the Fields, Barbican, King’s Place, Royal Albert Hall in London, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Colston Hall in Bristol, few times in the Wigmore Hall as a finalist of Young Concert Artists Trust and Patron’s Award; also in Symphony Hall in Birmingham with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra from St. Petersburg.

In April 2011 he made a debut in the United States playing in Weill Hall, Carnegie Hall among others; in June 2011 he recorded an album for Universal Music Korea with cellist Hau-Eun Kim, featuring works by Bach and Piazzolla.

He is a part of Duo van Vliet, with the violist Rafał Zalech, he is also a co-founder of an Ensemble Kompopolex, which specializes in performing new music.

Rafał has also worked in a variety of ensembles including BBC SO, Royal Opera House, CBSO, Aurora Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, London Sinfonietta, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Chroma, Rambert Dance Company, Nash Ensemble, Riot Ensemble, Paraorchestra and with many contemporary composers creating new repertoire for classical accordion. He performed in the most important contemporary music festivals such as Warsaw Autumn, Musica Polonica Nova, Musica Electronica Nova, Poznań Spring, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Ostrava New Music Days.

Rafał has participated in masterclasses with leading musicians including Friedrich Lips, Matti Rantanen, Mika Vayrynen, Claudio Jacomucci, Vojin Vasovic. As soloist and orchestral musician he has worked with such conductors as Pierre-Andre Valade, Baldur Brönnimann, Lionel Bringuier, Christopher Austin, Mirga Gražynitė-Tyla, Łukasz Borowicz, Szymon Bywalec, Maciej Koczur. His performances have been broadcasted on BBC Radio 3 and Polish Radio 2.

For his achievements Rafał has been awarded scholarships from the Minister of Culture in Poland, Crescendum-Est Polonia Foundation, Solti Foundation, Help Musicians UK, and the Craxton Foundation.

In 2015 he released his debut solo album acc++ca of pieces for accordion and electronics. In June 2017 Duo van Vliet released a debut CD Lachrymae ReVisited on Orchid Classics label for which they were nominated to EMV Award for New Music Recording of the Year by New Music Scotland. Last year in 2022, the live recording of Julius Eastman's Evil Nigger was released on a vinyl (shared with Arditti Quartet), he also recorded in the famous Abbey Road Studios for Joby Talbot's soundtrack to "Vampyr" and provided an accordion part for a song to an upcoming movie "Wonka".

In Season 2017/18 Rafał was an artist in residence with New Music Orchestra in Katowice. Rafał plays Pigini Nova accordion made for special order.