Biography

Joanna Kielar-Zachlod was born in 1984 in Sanok, Poland, and began playing the cello at the age of nine.

She completed her Master’s studies in 2012 under Prof. Reiner Ginzel at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich. In parallel, she also studied with Prof. Victoria Yagling in Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and Prof. Andrzej Orkisz in Chopin Academy in Warsaw. Further artistic inspiration came from masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Bernard Greenhouse, Anner Bylsma, and Karine Georgian.

Joanna is a prizewinner of numerous national and international competitions, including 2nd Prize at the Beethoven Cello Competition in Hradec (Czech Republic), 3rd Prize in Liezen (Austria), and both 1st Prize and Grand Prix in Wroclaw (Poland), as well as awards in Elbląg and Poznań.

As a soloist, she has performed in prestigious concert venues such as the Lutosławski Studio of the Polish Radio in Warsaw, the Warsaw National Philharmonic with the Warsaw String Orchestra, and with the philharmonic orchestras in Rzeszów and Jelenia Góra.

In 2004, she was invited to perform with her cello ensemble at the anniversary concert “Rostropovitch and Friends” at the BASF Concert Hall in Ludwigshafen, an event dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich.

Joanna has received numerous scholarships and awards, including a scholarship from the Polish Prime Minister, a prize from the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage, and the DAAD Prize in Munich.

Before graduating, she joined the Nuremberg Philharmonic’s cello section. Two years later, she was appointed principal cellist at the Meininger Theater. Since 2013, she has served as associate principal cellist with the Göttingen Symphony Orchestra.