Żaneta Rydzewska is a composer, clarinetist, improviser and sound designer.
In her music, she often refers to nature, contemporary social problems, literature, philosophy and physics. She employs the latest technologies, builds sound installations, and intertwines music with movement, scent, light, and video.
Rydzewska collaborated with i.a. WDR Sinfonieorchester, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Klangforum Wien, Ensemble Modern, Musikfabrik, NOSPR, Sinfonia Varsovia, Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Trio Catch, Mivos Quartet, hand werk, Ensemble Garage, electronic ID, Internationale Ensemble Modern Akademie, Kwartet Śląski, AUKSO, Spółdzielna Muzyczna, Hashtag Ensemble, Kwartludium, airborne extended, Ensemble Schwerpunkt, United Instruments of Lucilin, Ensemble for New Music Tallinn, Broken Frames Syndycate, Kollektiv3:6Koeln, Chopin University Modern Ensemble, Ko-MAT Ensemble, Delirium Ensemble, Lüneburger Philharmoniker, Molot Ensemble, AKOM Ensemble.
She teaches electronic music composition and orchestration at the Frederic Chopin University of Music. She earned her PhD in 2026.
She studied with Brigitta Muntendorf at Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln (composition), with Aleksander Kościów and Stanisław Moryto at the Frederic Chopin University of Music (composition and electronic composition) and with Wojciech Mrozek (clarinet). She studied also philosophy at the University of Warsaw (post-graduate studies). In 2025, she took part in Max training courses at IRCAM.
She received the 2019 Bernd Alois Zimmermann Composition Prize of the City of Cologne, awards of the Society of Authors "ZAiKS" for prominent young composers at the Fryderyki Festival and "The Best Original Score" at the WIFFEN Festival.
Her works were performed during festivals: ManiFeste (IRCAM), Lucerne Festival, Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik (WDR3), Ultraschall Berlin, Acht Brücken, ImpulsTanz (Wien), Warsaw Autumn, Orgel-Mixturen (Deutschlandfunk), Ad libitum, Tampere Biennale, AvantArt in Warsaw, Sacrum Profanum in Cracow, Resounds in Warsaw, Containerklang Cologne, Cluster - Lucca, AvantGarten Liedberg, High Noon Music 2000+ Konstanz, "Eksperymentalne Wtorki" Sinfonia Varsovia, Warszawskie Spotkania Muzyczne.
She participated in ManiFeste Academy 2023 (IRCAM), Luxembourg Composition Academy 2020, Lucerne Festival Academy 2019, Donaueschinger Musiktage "Next Generation" 2015, 2016, 2018.
She has won national and international composers competitions: Internationaler ACHT BRÜCKEN Kompositionswettbewerb 2025, "The Science of Fiction" in 2020 (IAM / Klangforum Wien), II International Composition Competition Patri Patrie (2014), Composition Competition "... when I think Berio ..." in Wroclaw (2015), International Composition Competition AKOM Ensemble in Rotterdam (2016), Zygmunt Mycielski Composition Competition in Warsaw (2016), III Marek Stachowski Composition Competition in Cracow (2018).
Her scholarships include the Bernd Alois Zimmermann in Cologne, Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage’s, Young Poland programme, the Marshall of the Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship, and the Rector of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. She has chaired the Youth Circle of the Polish Composers’ Union between 2016 and 2018, and is now a member of its Board.