Notes from the Heart: Joanna Habich’s Musical Journey
- WOMCO
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
Joanna Habich was a Master Prize Winner in the Young Artist (Age 14-17), at the 2025 Season 2 UK International Music Competition.
Can you introduce yourself and share how you got into music?
Hello! My name is Joanna Habich, and I’m a violinist from Poland. I come from a family of musicians, so attending music school was a natural path for me. I began playing the violin at the age of seven, and from the very first lesson, I had so much fun. I loved preparing for the lessons—it came naturally to me and never felt difficult.
Over the years, music has become not only my passion and hobby but truly my life. It’s an essential part of who I am. Music allows me to tell stories, connect with people across cultures (I’ve met many wonderful musicians from all over the world through music), and continuously grow as an artist.
Could you tell us more about your award-winning work? For instance, how did you prepare it, bring it to life, or any interesting stories behind the scenes?
The piece I performed for the competition was Tzigane by Maurice Ravel. It’s a fascinating work filled with many technical challenges. Preparing it was both technically demanding and artistically enriching. I spent countless hours working with my professor to shape every phrase perfectly.
I prepared Tzigane over several months, and the journey began with my first performance of it in Boston, Massachusetts, during the Morningside Music Bridge summer program. There, I had the opportunity to study the piece with world-renowned professors, which helped me discover various interpretations.
When I perform Tzigane on stage, I truly enjoy myself—every performance feels different, and that’s one of the most exciting parts of being a musician.
What do you believe defines a great violinist, and how do you incorporate your unique style into your music?
To me, a great violinist is defined not only by technical skill but by emotional depth and individuality. A violinist must be an emotional person—only then can the music have soul and a powerful message.
I always try to find a balance between respecting the composer’s vision and expressing my personal interpretation. I also strive to adapt my playing style to reflect the musical era, so that the performance feels authentic and understandable to the audience.
While technique is essential, it’s the emotional expression and personal touch that truly captivate listeners.
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank (such as mentors, supporters or other team members)?
Participating in this competition was a wonderful experience. I’m truly happy I had the opportunity to share my music with such a supportive audience.
I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my professor, Marcin Baranowski, and to my family for always being by my side. Special thanks also go to my amazing pianist, Joanna Zathey—our collaboration has been incredibly rewarding.
Biography
Joanna Habich is a 16-year-old violinist, a student of the Jadwiga Kaliszewska Secondary Music School in Poznań in the class of Professor Marcin Baranowski.
She started learning to play the violin as a seven-year-old, and already at the age of 11, she debuted as a soloist with the Zielona Góra Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra performing Max Bruch's Violin Concerto in G minor.
Since 2018, she has received scholarships from the Marshall of the Lubuskie Voivodeship and the National Fund for Children. In 2022, she was awarded the Scholarship of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, and in 2023 she was the winner of the prestigious ‘Young Poland’ scholarship programme of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. In 2024, she qualified for and participated in the prestigious Morningside Music Bridge International Scholarship Programme in Boston, USA.
Joanna is the laureate of more than 70 music competitions, including 28 international ones, where she has won, among others: Grand Prix in Lublin, Warsaw and Rome and 1st place in Poznań, Płock, Belgrade, Moscow, London, Vienna, Salzburg and Berlin. She has also performed, among others: in the Concert Hall of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the Ballroom of the Castle in Łańcut, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Old Town Hall in Gdańsk, the Grosser Saal Mozarteum in Salzburg, the European Krzysztof Penderecki Music Centre, as well as with the Chamber Orchestra of the Pomeranian Philharmonic in the Artus Court in Toruń.
Joanna is successfully developing as a chamber musician - together with a clarinetist, she won first prize in the 3rd National Chamber Music Competition ‘Duetomania Młodych’ in Poznań. She also feels perfectly at home in the pop music repertoire - in 2023 she was selected for Orchestra4Young under the direction of Adam Sztaba and was invited to be the concertmaster of this project.
