Born in 1995 in Cracow, Poland into a musical family, Edwin Podolski started learning the violin at
the age of 6 and was soon admitted into a specialist music primary school. His next educational step
was the Wladyslaw Zelenski Second Degree State School of Music and then Royal Birmingham
Conservatoire where he focussed on classical violin solo performance, with Simon Smith as his main
teacher. In addition to that, Edwin is determined to explore the widest possible world of music,
including everything that lies close to the domain of violin playing.
Edwin’s interests in folk music began with the Cracow Song and Dance Folk Ensemble “Krakowiacy”
with whom he participated in street parades and stationary performances in Greece and
Montenegro, playing traditional Polish music. Since 2016 until the last summer Edwin had been also
a proud member of Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble, having performed modern
arrangements of traditional tunes at several folk festivals across the country. In addition to playing
with the ensemble, Edwin occasionally enjoys fiddling Irish tunes on his own too, in a more
conventional manner.
Edwin’s experience with high standard orchestral music began in Poland, leading the 2nd violins in
Cracow Youth Chamber Orchestra on several concert tours. Edwin has also played a solo in a
recording with Cracow Chamber Orchestra. In the UK he has lead the CBSO Youth Orchestra and co-
lead YMSO. Edwin has also participated in orchestral schemes with CBSO, Royal Ballet Sinfonia and
WNO Orchestra.
Other ensembles include Street Orchestra Live and Nevis Ensemble, with whom in the couple last
years he has given a total of approximately 200 outreach performances in a variety of settings,
including homeless shelters, schools and the summit of Ben Nevis. Recently Edwin has also led
BISYOC (Intercultural Youth Orchestral Exchange) for the 3rd time in a row, in 2019 happening in the
Republic of North Macedonia.
In addition to the violin, Edwin has also been honing his skills as a violist and a performer of
contemporary music. This has included playing for Infinite Opera and collaborating with the Royal
Birmingham Conservatoire’s composers, with several events involving improvising on stage, both in
concert and theatre settings.
On the top of everything, Edwin is also a committed chamber musician, rehearsing and performing
music in a wide variety on genres as a member of MAKK string quartet.
