Stanisław Pajak

“I’ll never forget my first concert with the Berliner Philharmoniker as an Academy scholar! We played Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony. I already had goose-pimples in the first rehearsal. The sounds from every side went right through my body. Playing with such excellent musicians gave me great energy and satisfaction. We double-bass players have an important function in the orchestra. We’re its foundation. The double bass usually sets the musical atmosphere – happy, mysteriously sad or tragic. The outstanding tonal quality of the philharmonic basses, combined with perfect musicianship, is this section’s trademark.”

As a child, Stanisław Pajak learned to play the violin. Later, on account of the growing lad’s strong physical constitution, his teacher recommended the switch to a larger instrument. At first, he considered the trombone, but when Stanisław Pajak observed a double bassist practising, the decision was clear. He was instantly captivated by the dark, powerful tone of the double bass. From 2002 to 2004 he studied the instrument with Bonawentura Nancka at the Rostock Musikhochschule. In 2005 he became a pupil of Esko Laine at Berlin’s Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler”, where in 2009 he completed his training with a concert exam.

Stanisław Pajak was a scholarship student of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and the Oscar and Vera Ritter Foundation as well as a scholar of Berlin’s Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester and the Berliner Philharmoniker. He played with the Dresdner Philharmonie as well as assistant principal bass with the Bamberger Symphoniker before taking up his position with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Apart from daily practising, his favourite pastimes include skiing, especially Skki Trike. He and his wife are also passionate moviegoers and walkers.