Interwiev with the trumpeter Alexander Kobus, winner of the 1st Prize of the 10th Michał Spisak International Music Competition, by Regina Gowarzewska

You thrilled the audience with your trumpet performance and convinced the jury. How did you get involved with this instrument?

I got to the music school at the age of 10. I wanted to learn to play the saxophone, but I was not accepted. Teachers, however, suggested that I could learn a different instrument. I was given a choice of several instruments, but then, as a child, I took the decision that it would be a trumpet. Why? After years, I cannot answer this question, but I know it was a very good choice.

Do you often compete?

Yes, if I have the opportunity to do so. Recently I participated in the Prague Spring International Music Competition, but unfortunately, I failed. I am even more than happy with the first prize at the Spisak Competition.


Is it a difficult contest for trumpeters?

Not really. The hardest thing was to withstand the whole programme conditionally. Especially the first two stages. However, this is to be expected in a large and demanding competition. There are four-stage competitions too and you have to deal with them.
In the second stage you played the programme of two instruments, including piccolo trumpet.
This is often a competition requirement, which tests our universal approach to the instrument and its understanding.
In the third stage all trumpeters performed Jan Nepomuk Hummel Trumpet Concerto.

Have you ever played with an orchestra before?

I do not have abundant experience, so far. As a soloist I played with the orchestra accompaniment at the concert, which was my diploma exam at the university. So the third stage was a challenge.
The prize in this competition is not only a title, a diploma and a statuette, but also a prize money.

Do you already know what you are going to do with it?

I will probably purchase an instrument. I do not have my piccolo trumpet, so finally there will be an opportunity to think about my own instrument.

Aleksander Kobus – graduate of the K. Lipiński Academy of Music in Wroclaw. As a student he won 16 prizes at national and international competitions, including 1st place at the 7th Polish Trumpet Festival in Kalisz, 1st place at the 14th International Chieri Competition in Italy, 2nd place at the International Competition Visegrad 4 in Sarospatak (Hungary), Honorable Mention at the International Brass Instrument Competition in Brno (Czech Republic). He developed his solo, chamber and orchestral skills at music courses and workshops with many prominent trumpeters. He is also a session musician and entertainer. In 2014 and 2015 he won many prestigious scholarships, among others, “Młoda Polska” scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education, the Mayor of Wroclaw and the Yamaha Music Foundation for Europe. He is currently a doctoral student at his home university.