Zuzanne SZAMBELAN (b. 1993, New York City) began her music education in Poznań at the age of 5, in the piano class of Mirosława Preuschoff-Kaźmierczakowa. A year later, she also began studying the cello. It soon became evident that she developed a special affinity for this particular instrument, and with time, playing on it became her true passion.
The presently 24-year-old cellist trained under the direction of outstanding Polish pedagogues, who notably include Stanisław Firlej and Dominik Połoński. Zuzanna had the opportunity of meeting such prominent figures in the world of music as Maxim Vengerov, Jeans-Peter Maintz, Philippe Muller, Fred Sherry, and Claus Reichardt.
The list of awards won by the Polish cellist notably includes the Special Award at the 18th International Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach (Austria, 2011), First Prize at the 8th International Kazimierz Wiłkomirski Competition in Poznań together with the Special Award for the best performance of the competition patron’s Aria (Poland, 2006) and the Second Prize at the International Competition in Liezen (Austria, 2002).
As a scholarship recipient of the Polish Children’s Fund, Zuzanna appeared at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Ball Hall of the Castle in Łańcut, and Aula Collegium Maius in Cracow. The Polish cellist also had the honour of performing as soloist with orchestras that include the Sinfonietta Cracovia, Kaliningrad Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist Susanne recorded her first CD with Polish conductor Robert Kabara and Sinfonietta Cracovia for DUX record company in Poland.
Zuzanna Szambelan is presently a student at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” in Berlin, in the class of Stephan Forck.