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Paweł Gusnar is a saxophonist, chamber musician, pedagogue, and professor with habilitation.
He studied saxophone at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice and at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.
Since 2003, he has taught saxophone at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music (UMFC) and at the Kiejstut and Grażyna Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź.
He has also held important positions: Vice-Dean of the Instrumental Faculty (2011–2016) and Vice-Rector for International Affairs at UMFC (2016–2024).
A versatile artist, he combines classical music, jazz, and popular music.
A committed promoter of contemporary creation, he has collaborated on more than 80 original works written for him, including 16 concertos for saxophone and orchestra.
His publications include the Paweł Gusnar Collection and the Orchestral Studies for Saxophone (2018).
He has performed with leading Polish and international philharmonic orchestras, including:
➤ National Philharmonic
➤ Sinfonia Varsovia
➤ Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
➤ Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra
➤ Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester)
➤ Valentiana Orchestra (France)
➤ National Academy of Music of Kyiv
He has collaborated with renowned conductors such as:
➤ Stanisław Skrowaczewski
➤ Krzysztof Penderecki
➤ Valery Gergiev
➤ Ennio Morricone
➤ Maria Schneider
In jazz and popular music, he has worked with:
➤ Leading Polish big bands
➤ Adam Sztaba
➤ Tomasz Szymuś
➤ Krzysztof Herdzin
➤ Michael Bolton
➤ Katie Melua
➤ Lemar
➤ Chris Botti
He is also a session musician for television and radio productions.
Invited to prestigious festivals, he has performed at:
➤ World Saxophone Congress
➤ SaxFest Vienna
➤ Esterhazy Festival
➤ Hi Seoul Festival
➤ Warsaw Summer Jazz Days
He is also frequently invited as a jury member and gives international masterclasses in South Korea, China, the UAE, Europe, and the United States.
With more than 60 recordings, including nearly 20 solo or co-signed albums, he is a four-time winner of the Fryderyk Award, recipient of the Armatka Kultury (2019), the Director of CEA Award (2018), and the Pizzicato Supersonic Award (2009).
He has also been nominated for the Koryfeusz Muzyki Polskiej, the International Classical Music Awards 2020, and the Wrocław Music Award.
Founder and artistic director of the Warsaw Saxophone Orchestra, he is actively engaged in promoting the saxophone, musical culture, and education, notably through:
➤ The 2nd Polish Saxophone Congress (2018)
➤ The Adolphe Sax Conference celebrating his 200th anniversary (2014)
He is an official artist for YAMAHA, D’Addario, and BG Franck Bichon.
