Ewa Strusińska

Ewa Strusińska is a Polish-British symphonic and operatic conductor, regarded as one of the most compelling artistic personalities of her generation. A finalist and laureate of the prestigious Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition in Bamberg, she has garnered international acclaim for her expressive clarity and distinctive musical voice.

From 2018 to 2024, she served as General Music Director (GMD) of the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau and Music Director of the Neue Lausitzer Philharmonie. During her six-year tenure, she brought invigorating energy and new artistic standards to the region, drawing attention both locally and nationally through radio and television broadcasts, as well as numerous press features. Earlier, from 2013 to 2016, she held the position of Principal Conductor and Music Director of the Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic in Szczecin, leading the orchestra into its new concert hall, expanding its repertoire, and guiding the institution into a dynamic new phase.

Ewa Strusińska is also notable as the first woman in history to be appointed assistant conductor in the United Kingdom, and the first Polish conductor to hold such a position abroad. From 2008 to 2010, she served as Assistant Conductor of the legendary Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, working under Sir Mark Elder. Her success was widely recognized in both the Polish and British media (The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone).

Internationally, she has worked with numerous renowned orchestras, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Hallé Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Magdeburgische Philharmonie, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt, Jenaer Philharmonie, Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester, Northern Sinfonia, Uppsala Chamber Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Gävle Symfoniorkester, Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra, Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock, Staatskapelle Halle, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz, Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, Orquesta Filharmónica de Gran Canaria, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Sinfonietta, Jönköpings Sinfonietta, and Arktisk Filharmoni. She has also collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra and The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden. In Poland, she has conducted nearly all leading orchestras, including the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice, and Sinfonia Varsovia.

A passionate advocate for music education and the development of young talent, Strusińska began her teaching association with the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester after winning the Junior Fellowship in Conducting in 2006. She regularly works with the Landesjugendorchester Berlin and the South African National Youth Orchestra, and was the initiator of the International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra (ILYO) in Szczecin. She has also led many cross-border youth projects in the German-Polish-Czech border region, including the Lausitzer Orchesterakademie "Young Philharmonic." Increasingly in demand as a juror, she conducted the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition (2019), chaired the jury of the Aeolus Wind Instrument Competition in Düsseldorf, and served on the jury of the Ferenc Fricsay International Conducting Competition in 2023.

Strusińska’s operatic repertoire is extensive and includes performances at the Royal Swedish Opera, Royal Danish Opera, Theater Chemnitz, Theater Magdeburg, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz, and the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera in Warsaw.

Her recordings include works by Moniuszko, Chopin, and Lutosławski with the Beethoven Academy Orchestra and pianist Martin Labazevitch, as well as Grażyna Bacewicz’s Symphony No. 4 with Sinfonia Varsovia.

In recognition of her achievements, Maestra Ewa Strusińska was named an Ambassador of Stalowa Wola, her hometown.

Photo by Magda Hueckel