Alexander Humala

Alexander Humala: A Conductor's Journey Through Excellence

Alexander Humala is a distinguished conductor renowned for his dynamic presence and profound musicality. He completed his studies in choral conducting at the Belarusian State Academy of Music and symphonic conducting at the Rotterdam Conservatory. Further honing his craft, he attended masterclasses with esteemed figures such as Colin Metters, Yuri Simonov, Marin Alsop, and Jorma Panula.

Humala began his journey as a conductor with the chamber orchestra of the Belarusian Academy of Music. This debut was soon followed by engagements with the Symphony Orchestra Young Belarus and the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra. His talent and dedication have since led him to guest conduct the Italian Orchestra Giovanile della Saccisica.

Participation in prestigious masterclasses has been a significant aspect of Humala's development. He has worked with Péter Eötvös at the Lucerne Festival Academy, Neeme and Paavo Järvi at the Summer Festival in Pärnu, and collaborated with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the London Sinfonietta at the St Magnus International Festival in the Orkney Islands.

He served as assistant conductor to Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Christoph Eschenbach, and Antoni Wit. At the Castleton Festival, he was Lorin Maazel’s assistant and also assisted Martin Brabbins with the production of Alexander Raskatov’s opera "Dog’s Heart" at the Lyon Opera. He replaced Jerzy Semkow on short notice for Scriabin’s "Le Divin Poème" with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra.

His numerous accolades include first prize at the Jāzeps Vītols 4th International Choral Conductors Competition in Riga and the 5th International Choral Conducting Competition Towards Polyphony in Wroclaw, where he also won all additional prizes. Humala was also a recipient of the "Gaude Polonia" scholarship, completing internships at the Wroclaw Opera and the National Philharmonic in Warsaw. He served as assistant conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice and as principal conductor of the Belarusian ensemble Capella Sonorus. Additionally, he was a fellow conductor with the Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2021, Alexander Humala was appointed Artistic Director of the Krakow Philharmonic.

As music director, he organized several notable music festivals, including a baroque festival and a contemporary music festival spotlighting young Belarusian and European composers.

Humala's leadership in music competitions is notable. He has conducted during the first Karol Szymanowski International Competition and the International Mieczysław Wajnberg Violin Competition.

Throughout his career, Humala has collaborated with prestigious orchestras, including the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Warsaw, the National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio, the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, the Latvian National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra, “INSO-Lviv” Symphony Orchestra of Lviv National Philharmonic, and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.

He has worked with distinguished soloists such as Gautier Capuçon, Marc Coppey, Claudio Bohórquez, Arto Noras, Boris Berezovsky, Dmitry Masleev, Szymon Nehring, Leticia Moreno, Rosanne Philippens, Geneviève Strosser, Urszula Kryger, Iwona Sobotka, and Andrzej Lampert. His repertoire also includes performances with jazz legends such as Chick Corea, Adam Makowicz, Branford Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval, Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Randy Brecker, Jamie Cullum, Kurt Elling, and Pat Metheny.

Humala has collaborated with renowned composers like Krzysztof Penderecki, Paweł Mykietyn, Alexander Raskatov, Ståle Kleiberg, and Elliot Goldenthal. With the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra, he recorded the original version of Karol Szymanowski's Symphony No. 2, among other notable recordings. His performances and recordings have been featured on platforms such as Mezzo, Arte TV, and the Culture channel on Polish Television and Radio.

In the upcoming season, Alexander Humala will perform with distinguished orchestras, including the National Music Festival (Chestertown, MD), Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto, Budafok Dohnanyi Orchestra, Krakow Philharmonic, Szczecin Philharmonic, Katowice Philharmonic, and other esteemed ensembles. He will collaborate with renowned soloists such as Ivo Pogorelić, Jan Lisiecki, Baiba Skride, and Aleksandra Kurzak.

Alexander Humala's journey is a testament to his dedication, skill, and passion for music. His contributions continue to enrich the global music landscape, making him a conductor truly worth knowing.