I’ve been working with Spóldzielnia Muzyczna contemporary ensemble since the group’s very beginnings in 2014. They made me believe, first and foremost, that one can pursue contemporary music in Poland - that scores can be produced cogently, through careful thought, and by making use of comprehensive sets of instrumental skills and techniques. Also, I owe them a lot of experience in the fields of interpreting electroacoustic music as well as pieces involving multimedia, and of organising concerts, workshops, or other modes of collective activity. I am convinced that with Spóldzielnia, we’re able to discover what is yet unknown, to rediscover what is already in existence, and above all: to team up successfully, to everyone’s joy and satisfaction.

Piotr Peszat, Spółdzielnia Muzyczna composer

Spóldzielnia Muzyczna were quick to earn themselves a reputation for being one of the country’s most progressive, even radical new music ensembles, consistently pursuing their vision. Hearing them play at the Sacrum Profanum festival, I felt that they have what it takes to be in the same league as Ensemble Modern or Klangforum Wien. There’s youthfulness as well as maturity, individuality as well as collective spirit, plus the courage to survey diverse territories and cultures. I am proud to see an ensemble like that grow in the town of Kraków.

Robert Piaskowski, cultural promoter

That I ended up in Spóldzielnia, it was not quite by accident, but rather at an opportunity. I have been with them since the ensemble’s debut appearance back in December 2014. Over that period of nearly seven years, we repeatedly realised there is hardly anything we can’t do. We’re able, it turned out, to erect a wooden structure fifteen feet high, explore an air raid shelter, go through a concrete wall without the required tools or skills, give a decent performance, and get Senior Citizens Club ladies in their eighties to join us in beating music out of disused oil drums. It is, as I see it, something close to the perfect ensemble; nothing better than that occurs naturally.

Jakub Gucik, Spółdzielnia Muzyczna cellist

To me, the case of Spóldzielnia proves that determined efforts can get you far. We have built the ensemble with practically nothing to build upon. Together we learned to work in a team supposed to contain an assortment of personalities. The group is not just a working environment—it is a true organism, positively fit and healthy past these seven years we have spent with each other so far. We got to know our natural abilities, and we put them to artistic, technical, organisational, and social uses. These have been times at once difficult and beautiful. I’m happy to see that we never lost our freshness and joy, and that we never stopped believing in what we do.

Paulina Woś, Spółdzielnia Muzyczna violinist

It was such a great joy to work with the amazing performers of Spóldzielnia Muzyczna during our big production at ‘Warsaw Autumn’. Their positivity, ability, and commitment are a gift to any collaborator or composer!

Trond Reinholdtsen, composer

I remember well the first concert of Spóldzielnia, given in a near-suburban community centre, and I’ve been following their development since, to my great delight. Today I can say that all these years have produced a wonderful friendship between us. Working with the group has been a unique experience, one very dear to me. Whenever we’re rehearsing or collaborating otherwise, I can feel a deep mutual trust and I’m excited about the possibility of making fantastic things together.

Paweł Malinowski, composer