Bacewicz Duo Shines with Artistic Brilliance at Universal Stars Music Competition 2025
- WOMCO
- Sep 23
- 2 min read
Bacewicz Duo, Maciej Gryiel (violin) and Lena Juszkiewicz (piano), from Poland, received the Diamond Prize in the Duo Performance category at the 15th edition of the Universal Stars Music Competition (2025 Season 3). The competition took place from 14 May to 14 August 2025, with results announced on 3 September. Their award-winning performance featured Bacewicz’s Sonata da Camera.
Bacewicz Duo is at the start of their musical journey. This year, they are recording their first album, scheduled for release in 2026, marking a promising beginning to the duo’s artistic career and collaborative development.
When and why did you form your duo, and does playing music together hold a special meaning for you?
Maciej Gryiel, violinist of the Bacewicz Duo:
"We founded our duo a year ago. The ensemble was created thanks to the initiative of Lena Juszkiewicz’s mother, with whom I had collaborated for several years as her teacher, leading a chamber music group. Since then, we have been actively performing together, and making music as a duo has become a meaningful and inspiring part of our artistic journey."
Could you share the background of your award-winning performance of Bacewicz Sonata da Camera? When and where did you record it, and what led you to choose this piece for your performance?
Maciej Gryiel, violinist of the Bacewicz Duo:
"We recorded this piece at the Jan Dekert Museum in Gorzów Wielkopolski. I am a great admirer of Grażyna Bacewicz—she was not only an outstanding composer but also, like me, a violinist. Her legacy, especially in violin repertoire, is truly remarkable. I had performed this sonata before, and it has always felt close to me. What I find fascinating is how it combines so many different styles: echoes of Baroque and Classical traditions, twentieth-century modernism, and even, at moments, a spirit that reminds me of Astor Piazzolla’s music."
Could you walk us through your approach as a duo in preparing and interpreting your award-winning video performance for the online music competition? How did you collaborate and coordinate as a team, and what artistic or technical considerations shaped the final result? Are there any tips you would offer for submitting a successful ensemble performance video?
Maciej Gryiel, violinist of the Bacewicz Duo:
"There is probably no universal recipe—we simply enjoy playing together. The joy of making music as a duo guides our collaboration and gives our performances their natural flow."
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank
Maciej Gryiel, violinist of the Bacewicz Duo:
"On behalf of our duo, I would like to thank Mrs. Izabela Juszkiewicz, who inspired me to take part in this competition. Her encouragement and support were invaluable."
