Polish cellist Marta Semkiw, a native of Elblag, is a distinguished graduate of the Academy of Music in Lodz. Her deep passion for early music and its authentic performance practices led her to pursue advanced studies, attending courses and masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Jaap ter Linden, Simon Standage in Warsaw, and Christine Kyprianides in Görlitz.
In 2002, Marta relocated to The Hague to further her studies at the Royal Conservatoire, where she refined her expertise in baroque cello under the tutelage of Jaap ter Linden, culminating in her graduation in 2006.
Marta has collaborated with an array of eminent musicians, including Simon Standage, Jaap ter Linden, Ton Koopman, Charles Toet, Enrico Gatti, Elizabeth Wallfisch, Marcel Beekman, Mitchell Sandler, Dirkjan Horringa, Dario Luisi, and Susanne Scholz. In 2004, she co-founded the early music ensemble Contrasto Armonico with Marco Vitale, through which she has performed at prestigious venues across Europe, the Middle East, and Canada, and has recorded several CDs for Brilliant Classics and Ayros.
In addition to her performance career, Marta has been dedicated to music education since 2011, working as a music teacher in schools. She has a particular talent for tutoring both children and adults, including amateurs, and guiding them in their exploration of the enchanting world of music.
She has cooperated with Pellegrina Early Music Workshops in both the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
This year marks her return to Denman Island, where she previously performed as a cellist in 2019 for the production of The Fairy Queen by Henry Purcell.
