Violinist and violist Blanka Bednarz holds a DMA and MM from the New England Conservatory in Boston and a BM from the University of Kansas. A native of Poland, she is an alumna of the J. Kaliszewska Talent School in Poznań and studied with Eric Rosenblith, Ben Sayevich, and James Dunham. She also participated in master classes and chamber music studies with members of the Borromeo and Cavani Quartets, James Buswell, and Patricia Zander.

As a soloist, Dr. Bednarz has appeared with the Changsha Symphony, Connecticut Virtuosi, the New England Conservatory Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonietta Polonia, Utah Valley Symphony, Sinfonietta Vidin and other ensembles. During the 2007–08 season, she served as first violinist of the Vega String Quartet, Quartet-in Residence at Emory University, praised by The Strad as a “marvelous foursome.”

An active chamber musician and orchestral performer, she has collaborated with distinguished artists including Barry Snyder, Rita Sloan, John Novacek, Doris Stevenson, Vedrana Subotić, Ning Lu, Simon Gollo, Stephanie Chase, Airi Yoshioka, and Richard Stoltzman. She has also performed with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Alarm Will Sound, the Baltimore, Utah, Harrisburg, and Changsha Symphonies.  She has collaborated with artists from the Park City Chamber Music Festival and Market Square Concerts (PA). In Utah, she has performed in the Intermezzo, NEXT, Nova, and Timpanogos Chamber Music Series and has served as concertmaster of the Utah Metropolitan Ballet.

Dr. Bednarz has performed throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Italy, China, Finland, and Lithuania. Her appearances have taken her to renowned venues including Jordan Hall (Boston), Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York), Beijing Concert Hall, the Philadelphia Ethical Society, Miller Hall, and Aula UAM in Poznań.

Her recordings are available on Capstone Records, Acte Préalable, and Musica Omnia. Her 2017 recording of works by Karol Szymanowski with pianist Matthew Bengtson received a Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards and earned her an Honorable Mention from The American Prize.

Dr. Bednarz has previously served on the faculties of Emory University, Dickinson College, and the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. She currently teaches violin and chamber music at the University of Utah, the Peterson School of Music (formerly the Gifted Music School), and the International Musicians Academy in Bulgaria. Among her students are numerous competition winners, UMTA. She has served as a judge in competitions such as MTNA and UMTA.

Dr. Bednarz serves as Executive Director and Conductor of the Utah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra and as Associate Conductor of the Utah Valley Symphony, with which she presented concerts at the Scera with Jeremy Jordan and Loren Allred, Dallyn Bayles, Mindy Smoot Robbins, among others.

Selected Reviews

“Bednarz is clearly a remarkable violinist.” — Daniel Morrison, Fanfare Magazine

“Bednarz’s violin playing illuminates every detail of these sometimes nigh-impossible works.” —
O’Connor, American Record Guide

“Outstanding Polish violinist.”— Marek Zaradniak, Głos Wielkopolski (Poland)