Mikołaj Laskowski
is a composer interested in blurring borders between the performer and the listener, distance and intimacy, kitsch and sophitsication, irony and seriousness.
He combines various inspirations, such as science fiction, New Age, ASMR and plunderphonics creating concert music, participatory performances, and online pieces.
He was born in 1988 in Poland, and is based in Berlin.
He graduated with distinction from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where he was studying with Yannis Kyriakides and Peter Adriaansz in the years 2013-2015.
Previously (2009–2014) he studied with Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław.
His works have been performed in many countries at such festivals as e.g. Darmstadt International Summer Course for New Music, Donaueschinger Musiktage, Festival Presences, Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Klang Festival, Klangwerkstatt Berlin, Musica Polonica Nova, Musica Electronica Nova, Nordic Music Days, Ostrava Days, Tampere Biennale, Ultima, Unsafe+Sounds Festival, Warsaw Autumn, Young Composers Meeting.
In 2012 his string quartet "Gezaar Aefir" was awarded in the Generace competition, and in 2013 his piece "Na" won the main prize at the Young Composers Meeting. In 2014, he was awarded the Witold Lutoslawski Scholarship. In 2015, he received a recommendation at the 62nd UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers for his piece "The tiger left me unsatified". In 2016 he was awarded the Kranichsteiner Stipendienpreis at the 48th Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik in Darmstadt. In 2019 his piece "Deep Relaxation vol. 4: Self-Care" was selected for performance at the ISCM World New Music Days in Auckland. In 2020 he won The Science of Fiction competition. In 2021 he was awarded the Kompositionspreis der Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart for his piece "5 Things That Really Matter".
He has been working with such ensembles as Asko|Schönberg, Electronic ID, Ensemble Adapter, Ensemble Garage, Ensemble Nikel, Ives Ensemble, Klangforum Wien, Kwadrofonik, Kwartludium, LUX:NM, New European Ensemble, NOSPR, musikfabrik, Shallfeld Ensemble, Slaagwerk Den Haag, Spółdzielnia Muzyczna Contemporary Ensemble, orkest de ereprijs, Ostravska Banda, Quatuor Diotima, Royal String Quartet, The Black Page Orchestra, TWOgether Duo, Wet Ink Ensemble and others.