About Us

Edyta and Sarah's musical journey began in 2019 when they crossed paths at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland during their Masters Degrees. They quickly realized their shared passion for the works of Schubert, Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninov, and Piazzolla, leading them to form a dynamic duo. Their talents were recognized when they reached the final of the Dunbar Chamber Music Competition at the RCS. Unfortunately, their final performance was disrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the competition was never resumed.

After patiently waiting for circumstances to improve, Sarah and Edyta eagerly reunited to continue their musical partnership. While they initially performed as a duo, their deep-rooted love for chamber music inspired them to expand their ensemble by inviting violinist Daria Patroniak, forming a passionate and versatile piano trio. Throughout the 2021/2022 season, they dedicated themselves to showcasing masterpieces such as Beethoven's Archduke Trio, Rachmaninov's Trio Elegiaque, and Brahms' Piano Trio No. 1.

In August 2021, the Soteria Duo embarked on a recording project, capturing lesser-known works by Vaughan Williams, Sulkahn Tsintsadze, Piazzolla, and Sibelius. Since the album's release, they have been invited to perform at various notable events. They played Leopold Stojowski's Cello Sonata at Pollokshields Church of Scotland in November 2021, presented Sibelius' "Malinconia'' at Sherbrooke Mosspark Church in March 2022, and had the honor of performing for HRH Princess Anne as part of the Scottish Church Trust Event, representing the Women in Chamber Music Collective in June 2022. In July 2022, they delivered two recitals at the Wellington Church of Scotland and the Bothwell Concert Series, captivating audiences with their album repertoire and arrangements of film music. They continued their musical journey with a recital at St. Bride's Episcopal Church in August 2022, featuring compositions by Dvorak and Brahms. Their accomplishments extended to October 2022 when they performed a Piano Quintet Concert at St. John's Cathedral in Oban, featuring works by Florence Beatrice Price and Amy Beach, as well as the world premiere of Max Welton's "PnQnt.ExE."

Collaboration has been a central theme in Edyta and Sarah's musical careers, leading them to join forces with various musicians. In the 2022/2023 season, they embarked on a series of concerts in Glasgow, showcasing piano trio and vocal performances. Their repertoire spanned the works of Brahms, Rachmaninov, Rossini, Bizet, and Weill. In December 2022, they collaborated with Women in Chamber Music for a Christmas Tour across Glasgow, Helensburgh, and Oban, enchanting audiences with Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" and delightful Christmas carol arrangements for Piano and Cello.

While both Sarah and Edyta have been occupied with their solo careers from January to May 2023, their passion for the Soteria Duo remains unwavering. They are excited to refocus on upcoming performances, which include a recital at St. Salvador's Episcopal Church in Dundee and a return to the Bothwell Concert Series in July 2023. In August 2023, they have the privilege of participating in a Fringe Festival Concert at St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh. Additionally, they have recitals planned at St. Bride's Church in Glasgow and St. Giles's Cathedral in Edinburgh in October and November 2023, respectively.

Originally from Poland, studied in Gdansk Music Academy and later moved to the UK to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Edyta received a Bachelor degree with Honours in 2018 and my Masters Degree in Piano Performance in 2020. Her musical career highlights include recent performances of Scriabin’s Piano Concerto with RSNO in May 2021 at the Royal Concert Hall and Tchaikovsky’s 2nd Piano Concerto in Edinburgh with Scottish Sinfonia Orchestra in September 2022. Moreover, two of the most prestigious events include a privilege to perform for HRH Princess Anne in May 2022 and HRH Prince Charles in 2019. 

Since graduating from the Conservatoire, Edyta has recorded 2 CDs; Bortkieiwcz’s op.17 Piano Solo Works and Selection of works for Cello & Piano in collaboration with cellist Sarah Nail. Edyta performed Chopin’s Ballades live on BBC Radio3 in 2015 and collaborated with ‘Cappella Gedanensis’ Chamber Orchestra in Radio Gdansk in Poland in 2009-2014. Her music has been promoted on Polish stations: Radio Szczecin and Radio Wrocław FM as winning prizes for the competitions in those cities. 

As a solo pianist, Edyta performed in competitions and piano festivals in the UK, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Slowenia, Russia, Romania and Germany. Most significant winning awards include Charleston Music Competition, South Carolina, RCS Concerto Competition, Agustin Aponte Competition in Tenerife, Piano Talents Competition in Milan, Lamond Prize and Peter Lindsay Miller Prize for Piano Duo in Glasgow, “Per Aspera ad Astra” in Kielce (Poland), Young Musicians in Enschede (Netherlands), Bela Bartok

Competition in Vienna, X Silesian Piano Competition in Zabrze (Poland), II Pomeranian Competition in Szczecin (Poland), Recital Award in “Polish Artists Association” in Wroclaw,

Honourable award in V National French Music Competition in Lodz, International Bluthner Piano Competition in Kaliningrad (Russia),V National Competition for Young Pianists in

Rybnik 2010, XIII International Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Zagan, International Piano Competition “Virtuosi per musica di piano forte” in Usti nad Laba (Czech Republic). She had a privilege to study with world-class pianists as Jonathan Plowright, Graham

McNaught, Sinae Lee, Aaron Shorr and has been a participant of many masterclasses and piano courses led by fantastic masters as Andrzej Jasinski, Piotr Paleczny, Roberto Prosseda, Lucas Geniusas, Dina Joffe, Zbigniew Raubo, Aquiles DelleVigne, Salvatore

Spano, Wojciech Switala and Ewa Poblocka.

Despite being a solo performer she is also a collaborator with chamber musicians and composers. Recently, in collaboration with filmmaker Fay Guiffo, they’ve recorded Manuel De Falla’s Spanish Dance for Violin and Piano. It received two awards at the Art Film Awards 2022, Oniros Film award and Honourable mention in Red Movies Awards 2021. 

One of Edyta’s greatest experiences was to perform at the Malcolm Arnold Festival in Northampton, 2016. The programme included Paul Harris’s Toy Symphony for Piano 4 hands and orchestra and Malcolm Arnold’s Piano Duo Concerto. Both performances were accompanied by ‘Janus Ensemble’ conducted by Ben Palmer. The Review from that concert can be found on Seen and Heard International, written by Rob.

In addition, she had the privilege to perform at various piano festivals since moving to the UK. PLUG - Contemporary music festival, including a recent world-premiere recording of ‘Waulking Songs’ for 6 pianos and electronics in Plug 2021, RCS Piano Festivals including

Multi-piano performances of Graham Fitkin’s ‘Totti’ and ‘Flak’ for 4 pianos, Royal Concert Hall Piano series in 2016 and Burton Theatre Piano series during Fringe Festival in Edinburgh.

Edyta’s future plans include piano solo recitals, piano trio concerts and a recording of a new CD with a selection of Cecile Chaminde’s piano works in 2025. Edyta’s recordings and upcoming performances can be found on the website: https://www.edytamydlowska.com/

Sarah Nail is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. She began her musical studies on the violin at the age of three before switching to cello at the age of six. She attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts and the renowned Interlochen Arts Academy. She then went on to obtain her Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from DePaul University, where she studied with Steven Balderston of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Nail was quite an active member of the arts community of both Birmingham, Alabama, and Chicago, Illinois. She was a frequent member of The Chicago Composers Orchestra from 2016 to 2019. In addition to being a member of the CCO, she also taught underprivileged students within the Music for Kids program, in Chicago.

Ms. Nail received her Masters from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she studied with Alison Wells and Martin Storey. Since moving to Glasgow in 2019, she has played in workshops with the Scottish Opera, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and the RSNO. Ms. Nail has also worked and performed with the Scottish Ensemble and the Brodsky Quartet. She has studied music in Italy, America, and the UK and has also participated in studio recording and film projects. In 2022, her piano trio performed at Wigmore Hall, in London, for the Cavatina Intercollegiate Competition and won the Audience Prize.

Ms. Nail is now an Instrumental Ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation as well as a string instructor for Dundee City Council and The Glasgow School of Music. In her free time, she enjoys freelancing and is an active chamber musician in her community.