Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki (23 November 1933 – 29 March 2020) was a renowned Polish composer and conductor, celebrated for his innovative and masterful orchestration. Born in Dębica, Poland, Penderecki studied composition at the Superior School of Music in Kraków, graduating in 1958, and later became a professor there. He gained international attention in 1959 at the Warsaw Festival of Contemporary Music with his work "Strophes." His notable compositions include "Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima," "St. Luke Passion," "Polish Requiem," and "Anaklasis."

Penderecki's work is characterized by his use of quarter-tone clusters, glissandi, and other unique effects, which he applied to both instrumental and vocal compositions. His operas include "The Devils of Loudun" and "Paradise Lost." Throughout his career, Penderecki received numerous prestigious awards, including the Prix Italia, the Wihuri Sibelius Prize, four Grammy Awards, and the Wolf Prize in Arts. In 2012, he was recognized as "arguably Poland's greatest living composer" by The Guardian. His alma mater, the Academy of Music in Kraków, was named in his honor in 2020. Penderecki passed away in Kraków at the age of 86.