Michal Sobieski

Violinist Michal Sobieski joined The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in 1979, having previously served as concertmaster of the Canton Symphony Orchestra in Ohio and first violin of the resident string quartet. He has been concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra of the State of Mexico and co-concertmaster of Venezuela’s Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra. Born in Warsaw, Poland, Sobieski graduated from the Warsaw Academy of Music and was a member of the Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble, Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, and the leader and soloist with Con Moto Ma Cantabile chamber orchestra. He toured throughout Poland as a soloist and recitalist with the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Bureau. After winning a special diploma of honor at the 1970 Jean Sibelius International Violin Competition, Sobieski studied at Indiana University. Currently, Sobieski is concertmaster and soloist with the Minneapolis Parks Pops Orchestra and the North Star Opera Orchestra, and has appeared with the Chamber Music Minnesota, The Schubert Club and Thursday Musical. Sobieski has made five LifeScapes recordings and has collaborated with Layton James on a recording of Brahms’ Sonata in G Major for Violin and Piano. He is also founder and first violinist of the Sobieski String Quartet. Formerly the violinist in the Macalester Trio, Sobieski taught at Gustavus Adolphus College from 1992 to 1996.