Aleksandra Gryka was born on 17th May 1977 in Warsaw. In 1997, she graduated from Fryderyk Chopin Secondary School of Music in Warsaw, where she studied piano under Jaśmina Strzelecka. Form 1998 to 2003 she studied composition with Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar as well as with Magdalena Długosz and Marek Chołoniewski (electro-acoustic composition) at the Academy of Music in Kraków, graduating with distinction. She received scholarships of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and from the Foundation for Promoting Creative Arts of the same Ministry. In 2003 she received a bursary from Central Washington University as part of a student exchange programme with the Academy of Music in Kraków.
In 2000 she took part in the IRCAM/ACANTHES composition courses in Kraków and Helsinki held under the auspices of centres for new music in Paris, while in 2001 she participated in courses for composers in Buckow (Germany). In 2002 she participated in summer workshops for composers in Reichenau (Austria), as part of the Internationalen Sommer Akademie Prag-Wien-Budapest.
Aleksandra Gryka won the First Prize at the EuroArtMeeting Composition Competition in Wrocław for High3bbingNor. for symphony orchestra (2000) and the Award of the Christoph und Stephan Kaske-Stiftung for her electroacoustic music. In 2003 and 2006 she was nominated for the Polityka’s 'Passport' award in the classical and contemporary classical music category. In 2006 she was also nominated for a TVP Kultura Award, and in 2009 – for Public Media Award 'Cogito' for Youmec.
Gryka's works have been performed in Poland and abroad (Germany, the Netherlands, France, the UK, Luxembourg, the USA, Italy, Ukraine), during such festivals as International Festival of Contemporary Music 'Warsaw Autumn', Festival of Premieres of Polish Modern Music in Katowice, Sacrum Profanum and Audio Art in Kraków, Musica Polonica Nova in Wrocław and Instalakcje in Warsaw.
She has worked with many prominent interpreters of contemporary classical music, including Berlin-based group NOVOFLOT, Asasello Quartet form Cologne, Silesian Quartet and ensembles Nonstrom, an_ARCHE NewMusicEnsemble, Kwartludium and Kwadrofonik as well as with polish performers Gośka Isphording and Barbara Kinga Majewska.
Since 2005 she has been writing music for theatres in Warsaw, Wrocław, Toruń, Częstochowa, Koszalin, Szczecin, Zielona Góra, Łódź, and Kraków. In 2012 she won a prize at the 12th Festival of Contemporary Dramatic Art "Rzeczywistość Przedstawiona" ("Constructed Reality") in Zabrze for her music for theatrical production Trash Story directed by Marcin Liber. Her operas and ballets have been staged at The Grand Theatre – Polish National Opera since 2006.
Selected compositions
- For D. for solo piano (1999)
- Lien-al. for cello, harpsichord and accordion (2000)
- High3bbingNor. for symphony orchestra (2000)
- Interioryzacion, a computer piece (2000)
- OXYGEN nr.369,1 for tape and piano (2001)
- NonStopping center for solo harpsichord (2001)
- (1') exists as ... (-1') for flute, accordion, percussion, piano and cello (2001)
- Project ien for tape, video and dancer (2002)
- JaIchIJe for string quartet and marimba (2002)
- Interialcell for instrumental ensemble (2003)
- + for chamber orchestra (2003)
- eSU for tape and video elements (2004)
- konstrunity 0100 for 12 voices (2004)
- Üsinn for clarinet, trombone, cello and piano (2004)
- Tii for soprano and instrumental ensemble from the saga opera "Komander Kobayashi" project (2004-2005)
- ambeoidal MTOCSs for clarinet, marimba, piano, violin, tape and video (2005)
- Alpha Kryonia Xe, ballet (2006)
- NTvacou for double bass recorder, harpsichord, violin and cello (2006)
- SCREAM YOU, opera from the Kommander Kobayashi II project (2006)
- Youmec for harpsichord and tape (2006)
- {FFO.NO.}e for cello (2007)
- BAe 146 OY-CRG.Sylar for instrumental ensemble (2007)
- NEI for violin, tape and video (2008)
- SCREEM QUEEN opera developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT (2008)
- t.Aamiper for orchestra, solo trumpet and electronics (2009)
- The LighetM for string quartet (2009)
- Erschöpfung opera developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT (2010)
- Glück opera developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT (2011)
- einerjedeneither for orchestra (2011)
- observerobserver for recorder, Paetzold flute, double-bass flute, electronics and video (2012)
- 10,12,13,-31 for string quartet (2012)
- das Schloss opera developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT (2013)
- Der Sieg Uber die Sonne opera developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT (2013)
- A.CELLfalserator for two pianos (2013)
- W.ALTER’s(Z) for mezzosoprano, two pianos, two percussionists and electronics (2014)
Source: Polish Music Information Centre. Updated: May 2016, AG.
