Julia Kotarba is a passionate and dedicated cellist whose journey in music has been shaped by a deep love for both solo and chamber performance. As the founder and member of the Karski Quartet, she has devoted herself to creating meaningful musical experiences, performing in esteemed venues across the World.
The quartet’s next album, set to release in May 2025, follows their successful recording of Luigi Boccherini’s string quintets with cellist Raphael Feye. This earlier album was warmly received, earning praise from Gramophone, De Standaard, Diapason, Scherzo, and BBC Radio, and was named Album of the Week by Klara Radio.
Julia’s collaboration with pianist Alexandra Streliski has also been a highlight of her career. Their album Neoromance was recognized with the OPUS Klassiek Award in October 2024, acknowledging their shared sensitivity and expressive interpretations.
In 2022, Julia became a member of the Karavan – string ensemble led by outstanding Belgian violinist Lorenzo Gatto. Together, they had the honor of performing at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Paris Olympics.
From 2019 to 2022 together with Karski Quartet, Julia was artist-in-residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, studying under members of the Artemis Quartet and Miguel da Silva. Their personality was further recognized at the Amsterdam String Quartet Biennale 2022 and the Banff International String Quartet Competition, where they received the Christine & David Anderson Career Development Award.
Julia’s journey with the cello began at the age of seven under the guidance of Beata Zalewska in Krakow. She pursued her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Academy of Music in Krakow, studying with Jan Kalinowski, before continuing her education at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels with Jeroen Reuling. She later completed a postgraduate program in string quartet performance at the Academy of Music in Katowice with Piotr Szumieł of the Apollon Musagète Quartet.
Her career has been enriched by diverse collaborations and recordings. As a former member of the Airis Quartet (2015–2018), she contributed to a recording of Karl Amadeus Hartmann’s works (CD Accord). Other notable recordings include:
– À La Valse (2021), featuring the Enesco Octet and Ravel’s La Valse in an arrangement conducted by Philippe Graffin.
– An orchestral album with Les Métamorphoses and Pieter Wispelwey, exploring the works of Weinberg (2021).
– W Centrum Źrenicy, an album combining Janusz Szuber’s poetry with Julia’s own musical arrangements, created alongside Wojtek Inglot and Łukasz Sabat.
Julia has had the privilege of performing at events of great importance, including the Conference on the Future of Europe, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, and David Sassoli. She also performed with her sister at the House of Representatives in Brussels for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.
Her work has been recognized through several awards, including the Grand Prize and Special Prize at the Triumph of Art International Music Competition (Brussels, 2018) and honors at the International Karol Szymanowski String Quartet Competitions (2014, 2017).
Julia’s passion for teaching has been an important part of her life. She has taught cello at the Domosławice Music School, collaborating with the Krzysztof Penderecki Centre of European Culture in Lusławice. She has also led masterclasses at the Hello Cello Festival in Krakow and regularly works with the NOR59 Strykeinstitutt in Oslo, sharing her knowledge and encouraging young musicians to find their own voices.
Through her thoughtful performances, collaborations, and teaching Julia strives to bring music closer to people’s hearts, always seeking to honor the beauty and depth of her craft with humility and care.
Julia plays a cello crafted in 2020 by Jan Strick (Maison Bernard, Brussels), generously lent to her by Strings for Talent, a fund under the patronage of the King Baudouin Foundation. This instrument, with its warm and rich tone, is an integral part of her musical expression.
Since 1868, Jan Strick from Maison Bernard has been attending upon a wide clientele of professional musicians and amateurs of fine bowed instruments. Violin maker Jan Strick and Bow maker Pierre Guillaume, both appointed experts to the Prosecutor’s Office in Brussels, have been running together the oldest lutherie workshop in Europe. Settled in Brussels since 1986, they offer a constantly renewed, extensive and unique collection of violins, violas and cellos and their bows. Jan Strick and Pierre Guillaume have earned the trust of important foundations worldwide, of collectors and some of the greatest soloists.