Meet Klara Poznachowska | Professional Contemporary Harpist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Klara Poznachowska and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Klara, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks is a crucial part of the human experience and I believe that is why I am here. I can learn so much from being courageous and not being afraid of failure. In my profession, I am taking risks every day because playing jazz and contemporary music on “non-traditional” instruments such as the harp is challenging. I am discovering the possibilities and pushing the limits that were given to me when I started playing harp.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a professional harp performer who enjoys stretching the possibilities on this instrument. I look at the challenges as doors that bring me closer to freedom and the more tools I have the more I can compliment other musicians. The most exciting project I have is my trio Klemer with clarinetist Mehrpouya Daneshvar and double bassist Lucas Phillips. Our original compositions overlap with World Music, Jazz, and Contemporary. Playing with them taught me a lot about how to be the leading instrument and also supporting the harmonic structure. I learned the importance of musical interactions and how to communicate through my playing. One of my main projects is recording a duo album with an incredible Cuban tres player, Mario Salvador Rodriguez. We want to present the original music from Poland and Cuba as well as classical music that was never performed on harp with tres.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Currently, I live in Boston and I need to say this city has lots of cool spots to offer. My favorite needs to be the Boston Common Park which is located on the hill in the middle of Downtown Boston. Around this area, there is a Chinatown that is always my go-to when it comes to pastry. All the bakeries have sweet almond cookies, mooncakes, and many savory buns. After eating one of these I would always go for good Boba Tea at Tea-Do which is located in the heart of Chinatown. With the drink, I usually like to go for long walks and sometimes it can be even out of Boston where you can find the Coolidge Corner Theatre which is New England’s most successful independent, nonprofit cinema. It was built in 1906 and has many old movies to offer. That is how I would spend one of my evenings.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to mention my harp teacher who taught me for 12 years. Professor Alina Baranowska-Liese is one of the most important mentors in my life whom I look up to every day. Her professionalism and dedication to teaching have led me to apply and get accepted to Berklee College of Music with a Full-Tuition Scholarship. She is the person I want to give the full credit to. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mira.mira.harp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klara.poznachowska

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jazzedharpist?si=O5on8zatUe1Wtkyt

Image Credits
Erin Clark Gabriel Arvelo