Jan A.P. Kaczmarek passes away at 71

Kaczmarek was born into a musically inclined family on April 29, 1953, in Konin. He learned to play the piano during his childhood, drawing on his grandfather who played live music for silent films.

His first significant success came in high school, where he composed the school’s anthem and created music for theatrical productions. Though he initially aspired to be a diplomat and studied law at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, his passion for music prevailed.

Kaczmarek’s musical career took off when he composed a cabaret song for his high school theater group in Konin.

In 1989, Kaczmarek relocated to Los Angeles, where his international career thrived.

In 2004, he established the Rozbitek Institute, a creative center for film, music, and theater artists located in the village of Rozbitek, 60 km west of the city of Poznań.

A significant milestone in his career was winning an Academy Award in 2005 for his score for Marc Forster’s "Finding Neverland".

Kaczmarek also composed music for films such as Agnieszka Holland’s "Total Eclipse" and "Washington Square," Janusz Kamiński’s "Hania," Jonas Åkerlund’s "Horsemen," Aaron Schneider’s "Get Low," and John Kent Harrison’s "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler."

In 2011, he founded the Transatlantyk Festival, with its inaugural edition held in Poznań.

More recently, Kaczmarek has composed scores for movies, including Lech Majewski’s "Valley of the Gods," Maciej Bochniak’s "Magnesia," Ryszard Brylski’s "The Death of Zygielbojm," and Daniel Fridell’s "Van Gogh".