AGNIESZKA OSZaNca historical cellos

Who am I?

Hello and thank you for visiting my small corner on the World Wide Web.

My name is Agnieszka Oszanca and I am a professional cellist. I have been dedicated to playing this magnificent instrument since the age of nine. During my musical education, I was fortunate enough to be inspired to delve into chamber music at an early stage.

The pursuit of chamber music led me to the fascinating realm of baroque repertoire and early music performance practice. I was captivated by its possibilities, unexpected beauty, depth of expression and means of communication, and I knew from then on that this was my calling. Upon completing high school, I made the decision to further my studies and specialize in baroque cello and historical performance practice.

I chose to study in the Netherlands, a hub of early music and home to some of the most legendary personalities and authorities in the field. This provided me the chance to learn and grow under their tutelage. I earned my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in historical cello performance from Utrecht Conservatory, where I studied under Viola de Hoog.

After completing my studies, I returned to my home country and collaborated with the renowned Polish ensemble, Capella Cracoviensis, led by Jan Tomasz Adamus. I held various roles including principal cellist, chamber musician, soloist, and even conductor. The time spent with the ensemble was one of the two most significant, formative and impactful moments in my young professional career, along with an orchestral training program hosted by the Italian Academia Montis Regalis, which I attended a year after my graduation.

I am currently based in Milan and my professional endeavors primarily focus on Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland. I am the principal cellist for Amsterdam-based ensemble, Ensemble Odyssee, Stefano Aresi’s Ensemble Stile Galante (IT/NL), Giardino di Delizie (Rome), and a frequent collaborator of Fabio Bonizzoni's La Risonanza (Milan). I am a versatile performer, playing as a soloist in sonatas, concertos, and unaccompanied cello repertoire. For my recitals, I join forces with my preferred keyboard players, Fabio Bonizzoni (harpsichord) and Katarzyna Drogosz (fortepiano).

In addition, I impart my knowledge and skills as a Baroque cello instructor at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice and at La Risonanza Early Music Summer Academy in Bertinoro, Italy.

I have recorded for renowned labels such as Decca, Sony, Glossa, Alpha, Pan Classics, and Globe, and have also worked with major radio and television stations. My debut solo album, exclusively recorded for Challenge Records, received positive critical acclaim from the international music community.

I perform on a stunning replica of an English cello crafted by Michiel de Hooog in Dublin and use bows by both Michiel de Hoog and Claudia Unterkofler.

In my leisure time, I seek to be surrounded by nature, particularly in the mountains, which I love deeply. Rock climbing and skiing have recently become my passions, and I enjoy participating in these activities whenever possible. During my travels to the mountains, I immerse myself in reading, and upon returning home, I enjoy baking and continuing to read.