Krzysztof Wołek graduated from the Music Academy in Katowice in the composition class of Edward Boguławski, and then continued his studies in The Hague with Louis Andriessen. He developed his interest in electronic music and multimedia by participating in courses for young composers organised by ISCM Polish Section, STEIM and IRCAM. In 2001 he began his Ph D studies in composition and computer music at the University of Chicago, where a year later he became the manager of the Computer Music Studio. His teachers there included Marta Ptaszyńska, Shulamit Ran and Howard Sandroff. He obtained his doctorate in 2007.
He has taught composition, electronic music and music theory at the Academy of Music in Katowice, Columbia College in Chicago and University of Chicago. In 2008 he became Assistant Professor of Music Composition and Director of Digital Composition Studies at the University of Louisville. He takes an active part in musical life, organising numerous concerts in collaboration with dancers and visual artists, and being a board member of the electroacoustic music group Fire Wire Ensemble; he is also an electronic music improviser.
Krzysztof Wołek also serves on the jury of the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition, organised by the University of Louisville.
His works have been performed in Europe, the US and China, winning a number of awards. The most important of those are the 1st Prize awarded at the International Competition of Electroacoustic Music in Bourges for Mobile Variations, and the 2nd Prize awarded by ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) at its Composers' Competition for Eppur si muove.
Selected works: For Madmen only! for tenor saxophone and piano (2002), The Body for large ensemble (2003), Bend for flute, bass clarinet, piano, percussion, two violins, two violas and two cellos (2003), Empty for solo violin (2004), 4 Drums for four congas or darabuca drums (2004), Mobile Variations for six-channel spatial tape (2005), Changing Lanes for string quartet and electronics (2005), Eppur si muove for soprano, chamber ensemble, four-channel live and recorded electronics and video (2006), Fireflies for two improvising computers, Un claro del tiempo for soprano, flute, piano and live electronics (2008), Enter the Turtle for two improvising computers (2008), Turtles All the Way Down for two improvising computers, Arguro for flute and live electronics (2009), Elements for chamber ensemble and live electronics (2009).
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