Tomasz Arnold

Krakow Philharmonic

Tomasz Arnold is a percussionist and composer from Krakow, Poland. He is an active solo, chamber and orchestral performer with areas of focus that include: solo marimba, mallet percussion chamber performance, timpani in the orchestral setting as well as performing contemporary and historical music on marimba. He gave concerts as a soloist and chamber musician in USA, Poland, Germany, France, Bulgaria, Lithuania, China and Mexico. He is a member of the ensemble Arnold & Fraczek Percussion Duo as well as a percussion section leader and timpanist of the Cracow Philharmonic.

Before his return to Poland, Tomasz lived, worked, and studied in the USA in the years between 2009 and 2020. He earned four music degrees from US leading conservatories and universities while on full tuition merit scholarships every time. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in percussion and composition (double major) from the Eastman School of Music where he studied percussion with Michael Burritt. After that, he earned a Master of Music degree in percussion from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied percussion with Chris Lamb, timpani with Duncan Patton, and marimba with She-e Wu. Tomasz also holds a Master of Arts degree in composition from Wesleyan University, a PhD degree in composition from the University at Buffalo, and is currently pursuing his second doctorate degree in percussion performance at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow where he also teaches mallet percussion.

Tomasz Arnold was a winner of five first prizes at various international percussion competitions, which include the first prize at the 50th Anniversary International Solo Percussion Competition organized by Percussive Arts Society during PASIC at Indianapolis in November 2011. He also received many grants and scholarships such as PAS Armand Zildjian Percussion Scholarship, Howard Hanson Scholarship, Marshal Seeman Scholarship, Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Grant and others.

Tomasz is also an active composer and his music was performed and recorded by ensembles such as: Arditti Quartet, Ensemble Pamplemousse, Mivos Quartet, HANATSU Miroir, Eastman Percussion Ensemble, Mantra Percussion and many others. His music appeared in many renowned concert halls around the globe including the famous Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona where his piece SHIFT – Fajrant! for solo percussion was premiered in 2016. His piece Non-Aggressive Music Deterrent for flute, cello and vibraphone with live electronics was awarded the 2019 Morton Gould Young Composer Award in New York City.