Polish conductor Justyna Kwarcińska received her diplomas with Honours at Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków in both orchestral and choral conducting under the tutelage of Paweł Przytocki. As the scholarship recipient, she then continued her further studies at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hannover, Germany.

Since making her conducting debut with Artur Malawski Philharmonic Orchestra in Rzeszów (Poland), Justyna had worked with many orchestras and choirs, including George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra in Iași (Romania), Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra in Łódź (Poland), Kraków Opera Orchestra, Beethoven Academy Orchestra, Pitești Philharmonic Orchestra (Romania), Witold Lutosławski Płock Symphony Orchestra (Poland), CORda Cracovia Orchestra, Orchestra Senzaspine in Bologna (Italy) and the Polish Radio Choir.

Justyna attended the prestigious international music festivals such as the Chigiana International Festival & Summer Academy, Sacrum Profanum Festival of Contemporary Music, Kraków Film Music Festival, Opera Rara Festival and Wawel Royal Castle at Dusk. In 2019, she was the semi-finalist of Jeunesses Musicales International Conducting Competition in Bucharest.

She has also participated in numerous masterclasses with renowned conductors such as Daniele Gatti at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Marin Alsop with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Southbank Centre in London, Eiji Oue, Luciano Acocella, Martin Brauß, Matthias Beckert, among others.

Justyna is currently the co-founder and the music director of the Jagiellonian University "All In Orchestra" Chamber Orchestra in Kraków.

jason bae | founder & music director

Jason Bae is the Founder & Music Director of Afflatus Ensemble and has recently finished his two-year role as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Conducting Fellowship Programme Conductor in 2020/21. Jason made his debut in Stockholm, conducting the Aurora Festival Orchestra - presenting the Swedish premiere of "Violent, Violent Sea" by the American composer, Missy Mazzoli. Last year, Jason gave the New Zealand Premiere of Lotta Wennäkoski's "Nosztalgiaim" with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra National Youth Orchestra.

He has received masterclasses with renowned conductors such as Osmo Vänskä with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Jorma Panula with South Denmark Philharmonic Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Vaasa City Orchestra, Hamish McKeich, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Holly Mathieson and Gemma New with New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Formerly trained as a pianist, Jason received his Master of Arts in piano performance with the highest distinction award, 'DipRAM' at the Royal Academy of Music in London studied under the Professor Emeritus Christopher Elton and Joanna MacGregor in 2015. Jason then further studied orchestral conducting and was mentored by Jukka-Pekka Saraste. Currently, he has been accepted to study his second Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm as the only recipient receiving the entire full scholarship from the college.

@jasonbae1029