Łukasz Zagrobelny – a voice noticed first by his mom, then by a respected music critic, and eventually by the whole of Poland

From childhood performances to major musicals and a solo career filled with passion, emotions, and unforgettable hits – his musical journey is truly inspiring. But how did it all begin?

Łukasz Zagrobelny – his story

Łukasz Zagrobelny was born on July 1 1975 in Wrocław, Poland. Even as a kid, he had a strong love for music and knew he wanted to build his future around it. Interestingly, he chose to attend a technical school for postal operations – not exactly a music path. In an interview for kobieta.pl, he admitted he picked that school because it was the easiest way to pass his final exams (matura), which he needed to get into music academy. And the plan worked. After high school, he went on to study at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, where he earned a master’s degree in music education with a focus on choral conducting.

But even before thinking about exams or college, Zagrobelny already showed musical talent. At just six years old, he sang Jarzębino czerwona for his mom. She liked it so much that she decided to enroll him in music school. He ended up completing both primary and secondary levels in accordion class. He played the instrument for 13 years but eventually decided singing was what he really wanted to do. Although he didn’t use the accordion in most of his career, there was one exception: in 2019, he sang and played it for a song called Makatka – prekursor, which was created for International Women’s Day.

Łukasz Zagrobelny on accordion

But for Łukasz Zagrobelny, it wasn’t just about “learning” music – he’s truly a naturally gifted artist. From the age of 15, he took part in national amateur music reviews, contests, and children’s festivals. At one of those festivals, he caught the attention of Elżbieta Zapendowska – a well-known Polish music critic and vocal coach. She invited him to join vocal workshops that she co-led with Andrzej Głowacki.

Those lessons with Zapendowska really paid off. In 1999, Zagrobelny performed the song Przyszli o zmroku at the “Debiuts” concert during the 36th National Festival of Polish Song in Opole. His performance stood out so much that after the festival, he was invited to collaborate with Natalia Kukulska and began singing backing vocals for her.

After Zagrobelny’s success in 2000, when he won an award at the Academic Youth Art Festival (FAMA), he was invited by Maciej Pawłowski, the music director of the Roma Musical Theatre in Warsaw, to audition for the musical Miss Saigon. He nailed the audition and ended up landing not just one, but three roles. That moment marked the beginning of his musical theatre career.

Zagrobelny and Musicals

After his breakthrough in Miss Saigon, Zagrobelny continued performing at the Roma Musical Theatre, taking part in shows like Grease, Cats, Dance of the Vampires, Mr. Kleks’ Academy, and Les Misérables. One of his biggest roles was the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera. Although Roma Theatre was his main stage, he also performed in other theaters from time to time.

In 2016, he played Clopin in Notre Dame de Paris at the Danuta Baduszkowa Musical Theatre in Gdynia. A year later, he took on the lead role in Doctor Zhivago at the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic, and also appeared in Les Misérables at the Musical Theatre in Łódź.

Besides his theatre work, Zagrobelny also tried his hand at voice acting. His dubbing debut came in 1999 in the anime Medabots. Over the years, he lent his voice to several well-known movies, including The Emperor’s New Groove, Shrek 2, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, and High School Musical 3.

Łukasz Zagrobelny – The Music

Although Łukasz Zagrobelny has played many great roles on stage, he’s best known for his music – and with good reason. Before launching his solo career, he supported other popular artists. He sang backing vocals for Natalia Kukulska, as mentioned earlier, and also for big names like Maryla Rodowicz and Ryszard Rynkowski. In 2003, he became the lead vocalist for a band called Offside, and together they released an album titled Moja obsesja. One of their songs earned them 12th place in the national finals for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.

Step by step, Zagrobelny built his popularity, and in 2007, he released his debut solo album Myśli warte słów (Thoughts Worth Words). The record blended pop, ballads, and elements of film music. On this album, he showcased his emotional singing style – something he had already become known for in musicals. The album quickly gained attention, mostly thanks to the hit song Nie kłam, że kochasz mnie (Don’t Lie That You Love Me), which became a massive hit in Poland. The track was also used to promote the film Nie kłam, kochanie (Don’t Lie, Darling) and stayed on the charts for a long time. The success of the album led to a Fryderyk Award nomination for Łukasz Zagrobelny in the “New Face of Phonography” category.

Łukasz Zagrobelny – Nie kłam że mnie kochasz

Łukasz Zagrobelny released his second studio album, Między dźwiękami (Between the Sounds), on April 24, 2009. The album, released by QL Music, featured 11 brand-new tracks. It reached number 17 on the official Polish sales chart (OLiS).

His third studio album, Ja tu zostaję (I’m Staying Here), came out on March 27, 2012. The album includes 11 tracks in a pop and pop-rock style. The lead single, also titled Ja tu zostaję, was accompanied by a music video directed by Roman Przylipiak. The album debuted at number 18 on the OLiS chart and was certified Gold in Poland.

Łukasz Zagrobelny’s most recent album, Symfonicznie (Symphonically), was released in 2013. The album is a live recording of a concert held on September 28, 2012, at the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw. During the performance, Zagrobelny was accompanied by the Polish Radio Orchestra, conducted by Tomasz Filipczak.
The album features symphonic versions of the artist’s biggest hits, including Życie na czekanie, Nieprawda, Jeszcze o nas, U mnie maj, and the title track Ja tu zostaję.

Łukasz Zagrobelny – Za nami błędy

Since 2013, Łukasz Zagrobelny hasn’t released another full studio album. However, one single definitely stands out – on April 26, 2024, he released Za nami błędy along with a music video. The song was created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his music career. And what a beautiful career it has been…

Łukasz Zagrobelny is a versatile artist who has spent years bridging the worlds of musical theatre and pop music. His career is a true example of consistency, talent, and the ability to move audiences – whether on stage or through his recordings. With his unique vocal style and emotional delivery, he has firmly secured his place in Polish music history.

Discography

1. Myśli warte słów (2007 rok)
2. Między dźwiękami (2009 rok)
3. Ja tu zostaję (2012)
4. Symfonicznie (2013)

Article: Paweł Skarzyński
Translate: Aleksandra Krzyżak
Zdjęcia: Facebook artysty

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