Emilia Baranowska, born in Sofia, is a distinguished Franco-Bulgarian cellist and educator. She began her musical journey with piano lessons at the age of four, taught by her mother, Maria Dimitrova-Baranowska. At nine, she transitioned to the cello, studying under the esteemed Bulgarian cellist Zdravko Yordanov, a protégé of Rostropovich. Her path was significantly influenced by encounters with Elefterios Papastavro, a student of Pablo Casals, and the art patrons Ernst and Margrit Hermann. This led her to study at the École Normale Supérieure de Musique in Paris, where she graduated with a 'Licence de Concert' diploma.

Baranowska's international career commenced with her debut at the Donaueschinger Musiktage in Germany in 1969. She gained recognition by winning a special prize for Spanish music interpretation at the 1975 Granada International Music Competition. Her recording "Cello and Voice" with Bulgarian bass Boris Christoff was released by Deutsche Grammophon in 1977. Her performance of Bach's Suite No. 5 on French television in 1979 caught the attention of Leonard Rose, who invited her to the Juilliard School in New York.

Returning to Paris in 1981, Baranowska collaborated with composers who dedicated works to her, including Gheorghe Zamfir and Sergio Calligaris. She has performed globally with prestigious orchestras such as the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Sofia Philharmonic, and the China National Symphony Orchestra, interpreting concertos by Haydn, Schumann, and others.

In addition to her performance career, Baranowska is a dedicated educator, having taught at various conservatories in France. Her contributions to music were further highlighted in the 2012 documentary "Chez elle: Ailleurs - Les voyages d'Emilia Baranowska." Today, she is celebrated as one of the world's leading cellists.