Conversations with Klara Poznachowska

Today we’d like to introduce you to Klara Poznachowska.

Hi Klara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
My journey playing harp began when I was 7. I attended a school in Warsaw, Poland, where my primary focus was classical music. After 12 years of studying classical harp, I decided to continue my education in composition and apply contemporary style to my play. In 2020 I was honored to enter Berklee College of Music with a Full-Tuition scholarship and start expanding my music interest. Through Berklee, I got to collaborate with wonderful musicians who have shaped my musicality and made me the musician I am today. Since 2022, I have been a member of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, a music program that provides opportunities to explore creativity to the highest level and encourages “non-traditional jazz” instruments to find their place in improvisation. I am very fortunate to be a part of that community. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest challenges for me was to overcome my instrument’s narrow capabilities and work with it. I began shifting my understanding to be able to improvise and play freely. I am aware it is a process, and it will take me years to achieve it. So far, I am happy to continue the journey and the progress that I have made so far. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional performer who portrays endless possibilities and music styles for the harp. I compose for my small and big ensembles where harp has different roles. Currently, my biggest project is trio Klemer, which I formed in May 2023 with clarinetist Mehrpouya Daneshvar and bassist Lucas Phillips. We are working on original music that unites influences from around the world. Our main goal is to cure and send hope to those who need it the most through performing musical experience. We believe that music can heal the wounds, can change the past that allows you to reconcile with them, and simply make one happy. I am very much looking forward for the mission we want to accomplish to make the world a better place for the younger generation. I am also very excited about my second project, recording a debut album with Mario Salvador Rodriguez, tres player from Cuba. We want to showcase the original and classical music using a unique combination of two instruments, harp and tres, which were never used before. The album will present two cultures, Polish and Cuban, merging traditional music from those two places in an original set. 

Through those main projects, I want to manifest that the harp can be used not only in classical music but also world music, jazz, and contemporary. 

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
During the first year of the global pandemic, I spent time finding my voice on my instrument harp. It was a very intimate time that allowed me to learn about myself, what I like, who I want to be, and what I want to express through playing my instrument. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mira.paxon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klara.poznachowska
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jazzedharpist?si=KQQ_0HmnK6F-dPdp
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mira-paxon

Image Credits
Antonio Perez Coca