Biography

• MM, Philadelphia Musical Academy (now University of the Arts)
• BM, University of Kansas
• Studies at Aspen Music Festival, CO; Ecole des Beaux Arts , Fontainebleau, France

Jan Krzywicki is active as a composer, conductor and educator. As a composer he has been commissioned by prestigious performers, and organizations such as the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, the Chestnut Brass Company, and performed across the United States by ensembles such as the Colorado Quartet, the Network for New Music, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Alea III, and others. His music has been heard across the country, at conferences of contemporary music (College Music Society, Society of Composers, Inc., etc.), at various universities, on national public radio, and in Europe, South America and Asia. He is the recipient of a 1996 Pew Fellowship in the Arts, a Rockefeller Foundation residency (Bellagio, Italy), a Bogliasco Foundation residency (Bogliasco, Italy), ASCAP and Meet the Composer awards, and has been a Fellow at artist colonies such as The MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, Millay, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. His work is published by Alphonse Leduc & Cie, Theodore Presser Co., Tenuto Publications, Lyra Music Company, and Heilman Music. Krzywicki’s music is available on Albany Records (two solo CDs) as well as on Capstone Records, North-South Recordings, De Haske Records, and Long Tone Music.

As a conductor he has led chamber and orchestral groups in literature from the middle ages to the present, including a large number of local and world premieres. Since 1990 he has been conductor of the contemporary ensemble ​Network for New Music having premiered over seventy works by composers such as Bernard Rands, David Rakowski, Richard Wernick, Mario Davidovsky, Augusta Read Thomas and others. With Network he has recorded three CDs for Albany Records., as well as works by Folio and Barker and his own works.

Krzywicki has taught at Beaver College (now Arcadia University), Haverford College, the Philadelphia Musical Academy, the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, and the New School of Music. He has been a member of the music studies department since 1987.

Krzywicki's musical training began with piano study at an early age. After early composition studies with Joseph Castaldo he then studied at the Juilliard School of Music with Vincent Persichetti and Elliott Carter, at the Ecole de Beaux Arts (Fontainebleau, France) with Nadia Boulanger, and at the Aspen Music Center with Darius Milhaud. He subsequently received a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from the University of Kansas studying with John Pozdro and Edward Mattila, a Master of Music degree from the Philadelphia Musical Academy, studying under Theodore Antoniou, and pursued studies in medieval music and twentieth century music at Temple University. 

Works and Publications

Divertimento: Pieces of Six for soprano and piano quintet (2011)
Commissioned by Community Music School. Trappe PA

Concertino bucolico for clarinet, bassoon, string and harp (2011)
Commissioned by Philadelphia Classical Symphony

Recall and Reprise for flute, clarinet, violoncello and piano (2010)
Commissioned by Network for New Music

Three Variants on Capanna for mixed quintet and string orchestra (2009): 
an adaptation of Robert Capanna’s Three Pieces for String Orchestra
Commissioned by Settlement Music School

Five Lyrics for flute and piano (2008)
Commissioned by Philadelphia Chamber Music Society 
Recorded on Albany Records (Troy 1317)

Triquetra for string orchestra (2008)
Commissioned by Settlement Music School

In Evening’s Shadow for soprano, guitar, violin, viola, violoncello (2007)
private commission in memory of Peter Segal
Recorded on Albany Records (Troy 1317)

Fortuna for chorus a capella (2006)
Commissioned by the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia

Bear’s Dance for violoncello, piano and percussion (2005)
Commissioned by Network for New Music

Stairway to California for guitar duo (2005)
Commissioned by Chamber Music Now

Vogelfänger for solo piano (2005)
Commissioned by Kimmel Center Presents

Partita for oboe and piano (2004)
Commissioned by Fredric Cohen
Recorded on Albany Records (Troy 1317)

Alchemy for solo piano (2003)
Commissioned by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia of Illinois Wesleyan University
Recorded on Albany Records (Troy 1317)

StarSongs for violin, harp and chorus (2002)
Commissioned by The Music Group of Philadelphia

Septet for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, harp, piano & percussion (2002)
Commissioned by Network for New Music

Nocturnals for solo piano (2001)
Commissioned by pianist Susan Nowicki

Fable for baritone saxophone and piano (2000)
Commissioned by Matthew Sexauer
Published by Tritone-Tenuto Press
Recorded on Albany Records (Troy 1182), and Albany Records (Troy 1182)

Concertino for oboe, trumpet, harp and string orchestra (1999) 
Commissioned by Orchestra 2001
Published by Theodore Presser Co.

Prelude, Fugue and Chorale for symphonic wind ensemble (1998) 
Composed for the Temple University Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Published by Theodore Presser Co.

Come to Me, for chorus a capella (1998)

This is thy hour, O Soul for violin and chorus (1997)

A Precipice Garden for chorus and chamber orchestra (1997)
Commissioned by The Music Group, Philadelphia, PA
Published by Theodore Presser Co.

Dithyramb for string orchestra (1997)
Commissioned by Greenwood Music Camp, Cummington, MA
Published by Theodore Presser Co.

Dirge in Woods for mezzo soprano and piano (1997)
Composed for the AIDS Quilt Songbook
Published by Theodore Presser Co.

Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (1996-97)
Commissioned by Paul Krzywicki, tuba, Philadelphia Orchestra
Published by Tuba-Euphonium Press

Four Songs after Rexroth (1995) for mezzo soprano, piano, harp and percussion
Commissioned by the Network for New Music 
Published by Theodore Presser Co. 
Recorded on Albany Records (Troy 337)

Four Songs after Rexroth (1995) for mezzo soprano and piano
Published by Theodore Presser Co.

Lute Music for chorus and four instruments (1995, rev. 2011)
Commissioned by the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia
Published by Theodore Presser Co.

Sonata for Trumpet and Piano (1994)
Commissioned by Terry Everson
Published by Alphonse Leduc & Cie 
Recorded on De Haske Records (DHR 197.006), and Albany Records (Troy 337)

String Quartet (1993-94)
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
Published by Theodore Presser Co.
Recorded on Albany Records (Troy 337) 

Two Poems for chorus a capella (1993)

Night Robin for woodwind quintet (1992, rev. 2012)

Fantasia for two guitars (1992)
Commissioned by the Newman-Ghezzi Duo
Published by Theodore Presser Co. 

Planctus for oboe and harp (1990)

Variations on a Hymn of Persichetti for brass quintet (1989)
Composed for the Chestnut Brass Company
Published by Theodore Presser Co. 

Deploration for brass quintet (1988)
Composed for the Chestnut Brass Company
Published by Theodore Presser Co. 
Recorded on Albany Records (Troy 233)

Nocturne II for soprano, vibraphone, harp and piano (1985/87)
Published by Theodore Presser Co. 
Recorded on North/South Recordings (N/S R 1012)

Nocturne I for soprano and four guitars (1985)
Published by Theodore Presser Co.

Starscape for solo harp (1980/83)
Published by Lyra Music Company
Recorded on Albany Records (Troy 337)

Snow Night for marimba and piano (1977)
Published by Penn Oak Press
Recorded on Capstone Records (CPS 8631)

Ballade for tuba and piano (1968/83)
Published by Heilman Music
Recorded on Long Tone Music CD (Craig Knox)

Rondeau: Les Ondes (arr. from Couperin) for trombone, baritone horn and tuba
Published by Theodore Presser Co.

Pastorale for baritone horn and wind ensemble (1970)
Published by Tuba-Euphonium Press

Motet Passionale for chorus and orchestra (1970)

Four Songs for soprano and piano (1966) 
Published by Theodore Presser Co.