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Dobrawa Czocher

Dobrawa Czocher (b. 1991) is a Polish cellist and composer, born into a musical family, who began playing the cello at the age of 7. The instrument quickly became an inseparable part of her life, and it was a natural decision to dedicate herself entirely to music. She is a graduate of two prestigious institutions: the Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, where she studied under Professor Piotr Hausenplas, and the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany, under Professor Alexander Gebert. From 2018 to 2023, she was a member of the Mieczysław Karłowicz Symphony Orchestra in Szczecin, Poland, where she served as a leader – soloist.

Czocher is known for her ability to expand the spectrum of the cello’s sound, navigating seamlessly between classical and contemporary music. With a long and distinguished career as an award-winning soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer, she is equally at home blending the philharmonic with more experimental approaches. Her unique talent lies in combining impeccable technical skill with boundless imagination and expressive depth.

For many years, Czocher has collaborated with her friend, and pianist, Hania Rani. The duo released their debut album Biała flaga in 2015, which garnered success in Poland and led to the international release of their first fully composed album Inner Symphonies in 2021, under the legendary Deutsche Grammophon label. This marked them as the youngest composer duo in the history of the label.

In 2023, Dobrawa Czocher released her debut solo album Dreamscapes on the BMG / Modern Recordings label, showcasing her own compositions for cello. The album received critical acclaim and was nominated in six categories at the prestigious German Opus Klassik awards, including Instrumentalist of the Year and Composer of the Year. Czocher has since performed her original music in renowned concert halls across Europe, including in London, Berlin, Leipzig, and Utrecht.

Since the release of Inner Symphonies, Czocher has expanded her compositional portfolio, creating music for theatrical productions and musical installations. In 2024, she was invited to collaborate on the site-specific opera D'arc, directed by Krystian Lada and produced by the Warsaw Rising Museum to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. In the opera, Czocher portrays Joanna, a young cellist dreaming of a solo career who must confront the harsh realities of war. She not only brought the character of Joanna to life through her acting but also composed the Sonata for Solo Cello: Joanna’s Tale, a piece that expresses Joanna’s fears, fragility, dreams, and strength. The opera stands as a tribute to the women who endured wartime, contributing to history through their everyday heroism.

Though deeply rooted in classical traditions, Czocher’s work reflects her personal musical language, blending influences from composers such as Robert Schumann, Alfred Schnittke, and Steve Reich, alongside elements of film and illustrative music.

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