Karol Nepelski was born in 1982 in Wejherowo. He started his higher education at the Department of Mechanics at Gdańsk Polytechnic in 2001, but abandoned his technical studies a year later. In 2002, he began studying composition at the Academy of Music in Kraków under Marek Stachowski. He obtained a MA degree with distinctionin in Zbigniew Bujarski's composition class, and a PhD degree in the class of Krzysztof Penderecki. Currently he works as an associate lecturer at the Academy of Music in Kraków. In 2005 he was a student at the Staatliche Musikhochschule in Stuttgart. He held a scholarship of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage in recognition of outstanding achievement in his studies and also a scholarship for academic merits of the Minister of Science and Higher Education. He has worked with the Academy for the Dramatic Arts in Kraków, the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, the Jagiellonian University, and, since 2006, with the Theatre Academy in Warsaw.
In 2008, he won 1st place at the Marek Stachowski National Competition for Composers for his piece Feu Eternel for symphony orchestra. In the same year he was composer-in-residence in Bourges and Polish-Norwegian Cultural Program in electro-acoustic studio NOTAM in Oslo.
Karol Nepelski's work was presented at the International Festival of Contemporary Music Warszawska Jesień (Warsaw Autumn), the Festival of Contemporary Music Tonlagen in Dresden, the Festival of Premieres of Polish Modern Music in Katowice, the Musica Polonica Nova festival in Wrocław, International Days of Kraków Composers, Silesian Days of Contemporary Music, Education Fair in Warsaw and Poznań, the Audio Art festival in Kraków, the Malta festival in Poznań, Przemyska Jesień, SYNTHESE 2008 in Bourges (France), Introspekce nové hudby and Salon Polski in Prague, the Ostrava Days festival 2009 and the Alma Mater festival in Budapest. His compositions have been performed by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, ensemble musikFabrik, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Beethoven Academy Orchestra, Silesian Quartet, Philharmonic Orchestra of Lviv, Philharmonic Orchestra of Łódź, New Music Orchestra from Katowice, Ricciotti Ensemble from Amsterdam, Kwartludium and Ensemble Nostri Temporis from Kiev. His compositions were presented at the National Conference on Aesthetics 'The Matter of Art' at the Jagiellonian University (2008) and International conference ‘Musical Co-existence ‘ in Cracow (2010).
Composer's website: www.karolnepelski.com
List of major compositions:
- Mrowisko (Anthill) for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn (2000)
- Bentley Arnage miniature, piano (2001)
- Scherzo for flute, clarinet, marimba, double bass (2002)
- Cykl trzech utworów bez tytułu (Cycle of Three Pieces with No Title) for one, two and three clarinets (2002)
- Lynx for piano, violin, cello, percussion and synthesizer (2002)
- Crystal Lake for piano, harp, percussion and carbon steel (2003)
- Kwartet smyczkowy nr 1 D&B (String quartet no. 1) (2003)
- Wampir (Vampire) a musical based on Władysław Reymont’s novel (2003-2005)
- F@UST2004 performance (2004)
- Metafizyka (Metaphysic) for string orchestra (2004)
- xxx for DJ and string orchestra (2004)
- Ave Maria motet with religious and secular text in latin (2004)
- Noc w St. Cloud (Night in St. Cloud) for violin, soprano, flute, synthesizer, and percussion (2005)
- VVS for piano, cello, 4 percussion sets (2005)
- Muzyka symfoniczna (symphonic music) (2006)
- Kwartet smyczkowy nr 2 (String quartet no 2)(2006)
- Introitus cum tropis - Missa de Nativitate Jesu Christina for flute and common-go (2006)
- Sześć pieśni kaszubskich (Six Kashubian songs) (2006)
- Medea for mixed choir, violin, cello, and pizzicato (2006)
- Solaris 2007, (Electronic opera) (2006-2007)
- The Elements I for chamber ensemble (2007)
- The Elements II for symphonic orchestra (2007)
- Feu éternel for symphonic orchestra (2007-2008)
- Les Origines du Temps for alt flute, violin, cello, and piano (2008)
- ...nieistniejącej kultury (Non-Existing Culture) for bass flute, voice, and two sets of bongo drums and maracas (2008)
- Two Axes for two sets of percussion (2008)
- Quintet Elementaire for speaker system 4+1 (2008)
- Axis Mundi electronic music for improvisation on shakuhachi flute and percussion (2008)
- Solaris 2008, opera based on Stanisław Lem’s novel (2008)
- mbaraka, interactive installation for actor, flute, rattle, and video (in collaboration with Jakub Falkowski) (2008)
- Feu éternel for symphonic orchestra and percussion set (2009)
- Axis Mundi, version partly improvised for six sets of percussion and performer (2009)
- Axis Mundi, version partly improvised for choir and two performers (2009)
- RARA BIZANGO for oboe, clarinet bassoon and composer (2009)
- Trio zapomnianych zmysłów (Trio of Forgotten Senses) for flute, violin, and specially prepared piano (2009)
- Sztuka dialogu (The Art. of Dialogue) for two violins with elements of instrumental theatre (2009)
- Tajemnice Groty Lascaux (The Secrets of Lascaux Cave) for trombone and tuba (2009)
- PRIMORDIUM: Naturalia for instrumental ensemble (2009)
- Homo sonans, performance/installation for body and live electronics (2009)
- Circlesong for instrumental ensemble (2009)
- Krótkie studium słuchu (Short Hearing Study) for flute, cello, and piano (2009)
- PRIMORDIUM: Encephalon for flute/bass flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, piano, percussion and electronics (2010)
- Neurosymfonia for symphonic orchestra (2010)
- Preludium nr 18 op. 28 F. Chopina - translacja neuroestetyczna (neuro – aesthetic translation) for instrumental ensemble (2010)
- Non-harmonic... for instrumental ensemble and video (2011)
- Quintet Somatique for instrumental ensemble (2011)
- Up&Down for symphonic orchestra (2011)
- Dialogi Narcyza: Echo for guitar with live electronics (2011)
- Metawariacje (Meta-Variations) for instrumental ensemble (2012)
- Dialogi Narcyza: Lustro Doriana Graya (Dialogs of Narcissus: Dorian Gray's Mirror) for bassoon with live electronics (2012)
- Broken frames of I. Bergman for instrumental ensemble (2012)
- Nostriama for instrumental ensemble (2012)
- Santa, santa erotica! (2012)
- Pod powierzchnią (Under the Surface), installation art (2012)
- Scena na wypadek deszczu (In Case It Rains: Scenes) (2013)
- C'est bordel formidable. Extravaganza wg E. Ionesco i Z. Krasińskiego (2013)
Author: Anna Iwanicka-Nijakowska, March 2011, transl.GS, 26.08.2014. Update: May 2016.