Tadeusz Słodyczka



Born on 5 May 1954 in Dukla, Tadeusz Słodyczka was brought up in a highlander family, first living in Ząb, the highest-located village in Poland, and later in Zakopane, in Gubałówka area. He studied violin-making at the Violin Making Technical School in Nowy Targ, which he completed in 1974. The same year he started work at Lower Silesia Stringed Instrument Factory in Lubin. Simultaneously, he pursued his artistic interests, first building classical guitars, and later string instruments. In 1984, he began work on his own, and spent holidays practising at Franciszek Marduła’s workshop in Zakopane. He also practiced violin-making in other workshops: Volker Blay’s in Dortmund (two months in 1987 and 1988); Joseph Kun’s in Ottawa (nine months in 1989-1990, and four months in 1992); Gio Batta Morassi’s in Cremona (one month in 1998 and 1999). Completed expert courses organised by Polish Union of Artist Violin-Makers ZPAL (Poznań, 1991; Warsaw, 1992).

To date, he has built ca. 270 instruments, incl. ca. 200 violins, 60 violas, 7 cellos, a viola d'amore, and 2 bows. His first artistic achievement was one 3rd and two 4th prizes at 2nd National Z. Szulc Violin-Making Competition in Poznań in 1984. Other successes, mainly international, followed: 9th place at 7th International H. Wieniawski Violin-Making Competition in Poznań in 1986; 2nd prize (1st was not awarded) at National A. Stradivari Violin-Making Competition in Poznań in 1987; 6th place in the viola category and 7th place in the violin category at 2nd International Violin-Making Competition, Sofia-Kazanlak in 1987; 7th place in the viola category at 5th International Violin-Making Competition in Hradec Králové in 1988; 7th place in the viola category at 2nd International Violin-Making Competition in Mittenwald in 1988; 2nd prize and the “Silver Fan” prize of Tokyo Violin-Making School for the highest violin-making qualities at 8th International H. Wieniawski Violin-Making Competition in Poznań in 1991; 10th place in the viola category at 1st International Violin-Making Competition in Paris in 1991; 9th place in the viola category at 3rd International Violin-Making Competition in Mittenwald in 1993; 1st prize and gold medal, as well as honorary mention for the highest acoustic and violin-making qualities of the violin, 5th place in the viola category and Special Prize of the Tokyo Violin-Making School for the best violin-maker of the competition at 3rd International Violin-Making Competition in Prague in 1993; 3rd prize and bronze medal in the viola category, 6th place and honorary mention for the highest violin-making qualities of the violin at 2nd International P. Tchaikovsky Violin-Making Competition in Moscow in 1994; 2nd prize for a viola and two medals of ZPAL for the highest violin-making qualities of 3/4 violin and viola at 1st National W. Kamiński Violin-Making Competition in Poznań in 1994; 12th place in the violin category at 7th International A. Stradivari Violin-Making Competition in Cremona in 1994; 1st and 2nd prizes and gold medal for the highest violin-making qualities of a violin at International V. Metelka Violin-Making Festival in Náchod in 1997; 1st place and gold medal in the viola category (as well as 5th place for a second instrument), 8th place, as well as honorary mentions for highest acoustic qualities of the viola and highest violin-making qualities of the violin at 3rd International P. Tchaikovsky Violin-Making Competition in Moscow in 1998; 9th place in the violin category at 9th International A. Stradivari Violin-Making Competition in Cremona in 2000; 5th place in the cello category, financial prize, diploma and silver medal of the Union of Violin Makers of Russia for the highest violin-making qualities of the cello at 4th International P. Tchaikovsky Violin-Making Competition in Moscow in 2002; 2nd and 3rd prizes in the violin category, as well as prize for the highest acoustic qualities at 3rd National W. Kamiński Violin-Making Competition in Poznań in 2004; 3rd prize in the violin category at 4th National W. Kamiński Violin-Making Competition in Poznań in 2009; 4th prize in the violin category at International V. Metelka Violin-Making Festival in Náchod in 2012; 2nd prize, silver medal and prize awarded by the town of Cremona for the highest acoustic qualities of a violin at 5th International Violin-Making Competition in Dolny Kubin in 2013.

Has presented his instruments at 25 post-competition exhibitions, as well as at International Instrument Fair in Frankfurt in 1980, in Carlisle (United States) in 1992, at "Polska sztuka lutnicza" [Polish Violin-Making Art] at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw (accompanying event to 13th International F. Chopin Piano Competition) in 1995.

In 1999, he sat on the jury of 2nd National W. Kamiński Violin-Making Competition in Poznań. As member of the jury, he also represented Polish violin-makers at International V. Metelka Violin-Making Festival & Competition in Náchod in 2004 and 2008. In 2006 he was member of the jury at three competitions: the Wieniawski in Poznań, the Stradivari in Cremona, and the Warchal competition in Dolny Kubin, where he also sat on the body in 2007, 2008 and 2011. Has been invited to the jury at International Violin-Making Competition in Malta, which will be held in February 2015.
Has shared his vast practical experience and observations with Polish violin-makers at national violin-making seminars, where he read papers about contemporary violin-making in the Unites States, Canada, and in Italy. He was also initiator and first presenter of the series of meetings "Lutnictwo bez tajemnic" [Violin-Making Without Secrets]. Still an indefatigable champion of violin-making, he delivers talks and lectures for the inhabitants of his region. He also takes part in the annual Summer Music Academy meetings in Żagań.

Member of ZPAL since 1978, he has been active member of the Union’s board and committees: member of the Audit Committee (one term), deputy chairman of the Admissions Committee (1997-2001), member of the Board (1991-1997 and since 2002 to date, incl. Board Secretary 1993-1997 and 2002-2005).


[2014]