Jan Bobek

---

Jan Bobek, a Chicago native born in 1983, began violin lessons with his father at the age of nine, later studying with Aleksander Rępałan and Bogdan Pawlikowski. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Northeastern Illinois University, studying under Joseph Glymph.

Jan has performed with the Protégé Philharmonic, Classical Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Español, NEIU String Ensemble, Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, and Chicago Metropolitan Orchestra, and is a frequent soloist at events across Chicagoland and the United States.

Deeply dedicated to preserving Polish Highlander traditions, Jan founded the violin group Zawaternik and authored four widely used instructional books: Elementarz do Nauki Gry na Skrzypcach w Stylu Podhalańskim, Metoda Nauki Gry na Skrzypcach w Stylu Góralskim, Harmonia — Metoda Nauki Akordeonu w Stylu Góralskim, and Czardasze. In 2020, he also founded the Lemont Music Academy.

Jan performs with his family band, Kapela Hajducy, at private events throughout the region and beyond. He is married to violinist Bernadetta, co-leader of Zawaternik, and they are proud parents of two sons, Philip and Oliver.

From 2007 to 2013, Jan served as Orchestra Director at Lane Tech College Prep, Associate Orchestra Director at Adlai Stevenson High School, and Professor of String Pedagogy at Northeastern Illinois and North Park Universities. Since 2013, he has taught orchestra, guitar, and piano at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Illinois, where he became Chair of the Music Department in 2024.