Michal Knot
Vienna-based saxophonist Michał Knot was born in 1987 in Jaworzno, southern Poland. His saxophone studies have taken place under the guidance of Lars Mlekusch, Enzo Filippetti, Andrzej Rzymkowski, Tomasz Gmyrek and Jerzy Sendecki. He holds degrees from Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität Wien (MA), Conservatorio Santa Cecilia di Roma (MA) and Akademia Muzyczna Kraków (BA).
As a member of Duo Aliada, Michał Knot won the Grand Prix at the 12th Fidelio Wettbewerb and is prize winner at the M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition (USA). He is also a recipient of the “Exceptional Pole” award. Michał Knot was selected to participate in prestigious support program established by Austrian Government – “New Austrian Sound Of Music 2016-2017”. In 2013 he was awarded the “Młoda Polska” scholarship, given to the most successful Polish artists by the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
He has given over three hundred recitals and concerts in such world-renowned venues as Carnegie Hall, Berlin Konzerthaus, Musikverein Wien, Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wiener Konzerthaus, Tonhalle Zürich, Hermitage Theatre Saint Petersburg, Liederhalle Stuttgart, Gasteig München, Teatro del Lago Chile and National Concert Hall Taipei to name a few. He has been invited to perform in numerous music festivals in over 40 countries*, on five continents.
Michał Knot has released two albums to date: At the movies released by the Austrian label Paladino and New colours of the past with German ARS Produktion, both highly acclaimed by international press. Additionally, he appears on albums released by Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) and Südwestrundfunk (SWR).
Michał Knot has given saxophone and chamber music master classes and lectures at the Binghamton University New York, Seoul National University, Taipei University, Krakow Music Academy and at various music festivals. He has been invited to serve as jury member in Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Mallorca and at the Saxophone Competition in Przeworsk. He is a saxophone tutor during annual Ostrava Saxophone & Clarinet summer workshops.
Michał Knot is an active cultural manager and coordinator. Together with a wonderful team of saxophonists and friends, he founded Bielsko-Biała Saxfest. During 2017 and 2018 Michał Knot has held position of Artistic Director of the Jav Music Festival in Jaworzno (PL), which hosted artists coming from four continents and representing four different musical genres. The festival was attended by over 1,500 spectators.
Michał Knot is a Henri SELMER Paris performing artist.