LASOŃ, Aleksander (*1951)

Polish composer, educator and conductor. He graduated with honours in composition from the State Higher School of Music in Katowice, in the class of Józef Świder. He honed his skills during numerous courses held by Ton de Leeuw, Marin Goleminov and Andrei Eshpai, and twice took part in the International Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt. Lasoń has won numerous awards at Polish and international competitions and festivals, including: three times highly placed at the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers in Paris (1st place for his 1st Symphony – 1980, distinctions – for his 2nd String Quartet – 1988 and his Concerto festivo for violin and orchestra – 1997); the Bonn Beethoven Prize for his “Concert” Symphony No. 2 for piano and orchestra (1980); the Witold Lutosławski award in 1987 and in 1989; and the award of the Polish Composers’ Union for outstanding achievement in new music (2002). Aleksander Lasoń’s work is contextualised in the ideological basis of the Generation ‘51 group, which crystallised in opposition to the avant-garde of the ‘50s and ‘60s, connecting with tradition in a visionary manner.