Musician 1st Class Konrad Malinowski

Guitar

Musician 1st Class Konrad Malinowski is a native of Norridge, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Music Theory/Composition from Elmhurst College, where he studied with Frank Portolese, Mike Pinto, Doug Beach, and Dr. Mark Harbold. Malinowski has performed and led Jazz and Top 40 bands across the entire United States, performed at conferences such as NAMM and Midwest Clinic, and performed internationally in the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Recently, he was a finalist in the fifth International Jarek Smietana Jazz Guitar Competition in Krakow, Poland.

In 2021, Malinowski enlisted in the Navy and upon graduation from RTC Great Lakes, reported to the Naval School of Music at JEB Little Creek, VA. After completing Musician Basic Training, he reported to Navy Band Southwest in San Diego, California, where he served as Unit Leader of the Protocol Combo, lead CPPA and Travel, and as an assistant in Operations. In 2026, Malinowski returned to the Naval School of Music to complete the Unit Leader Course.

In February of 2026, Malinowski auditioned and was selected for assignment to the U.S. Naval Academy Band. He reported to Annapolis in August of 2026 as guitar instrumentalist with the Superintendent’s Combo and Electric Brigade.

Malinowski’s awards include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), and the Navy Good Conduct Medal. He was also named the 2023 Navy Band Southwest Bluejacket of the Year and 2025 Navy Band Southwest Junior Sailor of the Year.