Violinist, violist and conductor Blanka Bednarz received DMA and MM in violin performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston and BM from the University of Kansas. She is an alumna of the J. Kaliszewska Talent School in Poznan, Poland. She studied with Eric Rosenblith, Ben Sayevich, James Dunham, and participated in master classes and chamber music studies with members of the Borromeo, Cavani quartets, James Buswell, Patricia Zander. As soloist Bednarz performed with the Changsha Symphony, the Connecticut Virtuosi, Symphony and Chamber orchestras of the New England Conservatory, Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonietta Polonia, UVU Symphony and Chamber Orchestra and others. In 2007-8 she was first violinist of the Vega String Quartet-In-Residence at Emory University in Atlanta, GA (“marvelous foursome” --Strad).

She collaborated with artists such as Barry Snyder, John Novacek, Rita Sloan, Monte Belknap, Simon Gollo, Stephanie Chase, Richard Stoltzman, artists of the Beethoven Festival Park City, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Alarm Will Sound, Baltimore, Utah and Changsha Symphonies.  She performs in the USA, UK, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Italy, China, Finland, Lithuania, at venues such as Jordan Hall, Miller Hall, Beijing Concert Hall, Philadelphia Ethical Society, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, Aula UAM, etc. She can be heard on Capstone Records, Acte Prealable and Musica Omnia. Her Szymanowski CD (2017) was awarded Silver Medal in Global Music Awards and honorable mention in American Prize.

Previously she taught at Emory University, Dickinson College, Gifted School of Music and NEC Preparatory Division. Currently, she is faculty at the University of Utah where she teaches violin and string chamber music.

Bednarz studied conducting with Richard Hoenich and Frank Battisti, also observed classes with Jorma Panula at Royal Stockholm Conservatory. As concertmaster in conductorless settings Bednarz led a number of ensembles: NEC Chamber orchestra (which she co-coached with Donald Palma), Dickinson Orchestra, Changsha Symphony, UVU Chamber Orchestra and many others. Bednarz assisted with conducting of ballets Alice in Wonderland and Snow Queen (music by Gabriel Kaczmarek, productions at Poznan Grand Opera Theater and Opera Nova, Bydgoszcz) with Sinfonietta Polonia and conducted Sinfonietta Polonia in New Year concerts at venues such as the renowned Aula UAM in Poznan, on tour of Greater Poland area and in Cinecitta Studios in Rome, Italy. In Fall 2021 Bednarz directed UVU Chamber Orchestra. She is also Executive Director and a conductor of Utah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra since 2020. And in 2023, she joined the Utah valley Symphony as an Associate Conductor.

Bednarz “… is clearly a remarkable violinist.” Daniel Morrison, Fanfare Magazine.

“Bednarz’s violin playing illuminates every detail of these sometimes nigh-impossible works [of Szymanowski CD].”

O’Connor, American Record Guide, 2018.

“Outstanding Polish violinist.” --Marek Zaradniak, Glos Wielkopolski (Poland)