Kasia Smolarek | Classical Guitarist – Biography & Videos

Kasia Smolarek — full name Katarzyna Smolarek — is a Polish classical guitarist whose expressive playing style has brought her to the attention of audiences and instrument enthusiasts worldwide. She has appeared on the Siccas Guitars YouTube channel performing on exceptional concert instruments, demonstrating a refined technique and a deeply personal approach to the classical guitar repertoire.

Repertoire and Musical Focus

Kasia Smolarek's recorded repertoire at Siccas Guitars spans several centuries and styles, highlighting her versatility as a concert guitarist. Her programme includes music by Agustín Barrios Mangoré — one of the most beloved composers in the classical guitar canon — as well as works by Johann Sebastian Bach and the Spanish composer Antonio José.

Her performance of Barrios's Vals Op. 8 No. 3 is a particular showcase of her lyrical sensibility. Barrios composed a large body of original music for the guitar, and his waltzes are admired for their singing melodic lines and rich harmonic language. Smolarek brings these qualities to life with a tone that is warm, focused, and never forced — a hallmark of mature classical guitar playing.

Bach on the classical guitar is always a revealing choice. The counterpoint demands clarity of voice-leading and rhythmic precision, qualities that Smolarek demonstrates with evident command. Her interpretations suggest a player who has studied the music deeply and is not simply transferring notes from the page to the fingerboard.

Antonio José — full name Antonio José Martínez Palacios — was a Spanish composer whose guitar works have been championed by leading players in the modern era. His music combines a late-Romantic harmonic palette with distinctly Spanish character, and it sits naturally alongside Barrios and Bach in a recital programme that values depth and contrast.

Instruments: Dominique Field and Jochen Röthel

In her videos recorded at Siccas Guitars, Kasia Smolarek has performed on instruments by two distinguished luthiers: Dominique Field (2016) and Jochen Röthel.

Dominique Field is a highly regarded French luthier whose guitars are known for their balanced tonal spectrum, responsive attack, and refined craftsmanship. A Field guitar from 2016 represents a period in which the maker's approach was fully matured, and the instrument's qualities are reflected in Smolarek's playing — the guitar projects clearly across the dynamic range without losing warmth in the upper registers.

Jochen Röthel is a German luthier with a reputation for instruments that combine structural elegance with a singing, sustained tone. His guitars are sought after by professional players who require both technical reliability and expressive depth on stage. Hearing Smolarek on a Röthel instrument underlines how closely matched the player and the guitar can be when both are operating at a high level.

If you are curious about the kind of instruments Smolarek plays, you can explore our full range of classical guitars, which includes instruments by makers of comparable standing.

Playing Style and Artistic Identity

What distinguishes Kasia Smolarek in her recorded performances is a quality that can be described as intentionality. Every phrase has direction; every dynamic shift is purposeful. She does not rush, and she does not linger longer than the music requires. This kind of interpretive discipline is relatively rare, and it gives her playing a sense of coherence that holds the listener's attention from the opening notes to the final resonance.

Her tone production is noteworthy. Classical guitarists invest enormous effort in developing a reliable, beautiful sound from the instrument, and Smolarek's tone is consistently full without being heavy, clear without being thin. This balance is the product of years of technical work and a refined right-hand approach.

Her expressive playing style — noted by those who have heard her at Siccas Guitars — aligns her with a tradition of European classical guitarists who prioritise musical substance over technical display. In this respect she invites comparison with the wider tradition of great classical guitarists who have shaped the instrument's concert repertoire.

Kasia Smolarek and the Classical Guitar Tradition

Poland has produced several important figures in the classical guitar world, and Kasia Smolarek adds her voice to that tradition. The classical guitar in Central and Eastern Europe has benefited from strong conservatoire training and a culture that takes chamber and solo string playing seriously. Smolarek's musical formation reflects this background.

The repertoire she has chosen to record at Siccas Guitars — Barrios, Bach, Antonio José — connects directly to the canon established by the great twentieth-century masters. Andrés Segovia was instrumental in bringing Bach to the classical guitar, and his advocacy for composers like Antonio José helped rescue neglected works from obscurity. Performing this music today is a way of honouring and extending that legacy.

Barrios himself is a fascinating figure: a Paraguayan composer and virtuoso whose music has grown steadily in popularity since the mid-twentieth century. His Vals Op. 8 No. 3, performed by Smolarek, is one of a series of waltzes that show his gift for melody and his deep familiarity with the guitar's expressive range. For more on the composers and pieces that define the classical guitar canon, see our overview of famous classical guitar pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kasia Smolarek's full name?

Kasia Smolarek's full name is Katarzyna Smolarek. "Kasia" is a common Polish diminutive of Katarzyna, equivalent to "Kate" or "Katie" in English. She is sometimes searched for as "kasia smolarek wikipedia" or "katarzyna smolarek guitar."

What guitar does Kasia Smolarek play?

In her videos recorded at Siccas Guitars, Kasia Smolarek has performed on a Dominique Field (2016) and a Jochen Röthel — two high-quality concert instruments made by respected European luthiers.

What music does Kasia Smolarek play?

Her documented repertoire includes works by Agustín Barrios Mangoré (including Vals Op. 8 No. 3), Johann Sebastian Bach, and Antonio José. This programme reflects a broad stylistic range across Baroque, Romantic, and early twentieth-century music.

Where can I watch Kasia Smolarek perform?

Her performances recorded at Siccas Guitars are available on the Siccas Guitars YouTube channel and embedded on this page. The videos show her performing on top-level concert guitars in an intimate setting that allows the nuances of her playing to come through clearly.

Explore More

If Kasia Smolarek's playing has sparked an interest in the classical guitar repertoire or in the instruments she plays, the following pages may be useful starting points: