In Memory: Arek Tesarczyk

The Minnesota Orchestra family mourned in May when Orchestra cellist Arek Tesarczyk passed away at age 59 after an illness that he faced with great dignity. Across two decades with the Orchestra, he was known among colleagues for his wry wit, kind nature and gorgeous cello sound.

Tesarczyk joined the Orchestra in 2004 after serving as principal cello of the Winnipeg Symphony for 11 years. He made his Minnesota Orchestra solo debut in 2006, won a McKnight Fellowship in 2008, and in 2010 gave the world premiere of Rautavaara’s Cello Concerto No. 2, Towards the Horizon, jumping in when Truls Mørk bowed out due to illness. He joined the Orchestra on tours to Europe, South Africa, Cuba and across Minnesota. Throughout his career he presented a full range of concerto repertoire, including works by Dvořák, Elgar, Saint-Saëns and Haydn.

Born in Poland, Tesarczyk loved chamber music and won three consecutive first prizes in Poland’s National Cello and Chamber Music competitions before graduating from Katowice’s Karol Szymanowski School of Music. In the U.S., he earned degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and subsequently played in chamber music festivals in Europe, Canada and the U.S. He and his wife, pianist Claudia Chen, were frequent recital partners.

Respectful and gentlemanly, Tesarczyk was an unfailingly supportive colleague who made a point of warmly welcoming new musicians into the Orchestra. Principal Cello Anthony Ross describes him as “the rock of the cello section who created a lush pillow of sound that enhanced the whole section.”

“Arek had a wonderful sense of humor and never took himself too seriously,” adds trombone player Kari Sundström. “His name translates to ‘Brave and Strong,’ and that’s how I remember him, brave and strong.”

The Orchestra family shares its profound condolences with Claudia and children Viktor and Katia. Speaking at a June concert dedication to Tesarczyk, Ross summarized: “music and family were Arek’s great loves.”