prof. Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk

Conductor, artistic director of the Silesian Philharmonic

Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk graduated with honours from the Academy of Music in Katowice, where he studied conducting with Karol Stryja. In 1993, having won a scholarship from the American Society for Polish Music, Błaszczyk went to the United States to hone his conducting skills while working with philharmonic orchestras in Los Angeles and New York City.

In 1984-1986 Błaszczyk led an orchestra composed of Grand Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio and Television at the Warsaw Autumn Festival and the Silesian Contemporary Music Days. In 1986 he was appointed Artistic Director of the State Symphony Orchestra in Zabrze, and in 1990 became General Manager and Artistic Director of the State Philharmonic in Białystok, taking the latter on a tour of the United States in 1995. In 1996–98 he was General Manager and Artistic Director of the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra.

Since 1998 he has held the joint post of Artistic Director of the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra in Katowice and of the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors (at which he won an award in 1991).

In 1999-2002 he served as principal conductor at the Porto International Piano Competition (Portugal) and in 2003 was member of the jury and conductor at the International Piano Competition in Morocco. In 2008 he was appointed Musical Director of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Lower Silesian Philharmonic in Jelenia Góra. Two years later he took the post of Artistic Director of the 2nd International Violin Competition in Toruń, Poland, while in 2011, chaired the jury of the 8th Lutosławski International Cello Competition in Warsaw. 2010 brought yet another in the long list of Błaszczyk's conducting engagements, this time with the President Symphony Orchestra of Ankara, Turkey.

Błaszczyk has performed at all major venues in Poland, including the National Philharmonic Hall, and in many countries worldwide (Albania, Austria, Belarus, China, Czech Republic, France, Spain, Ireland, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Lithuania, Latvia, Morocco, Mexico, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine and the United States). In addition to his busy conducting schedule, he is a prolific recording artist, making numerous recordings with the Silesian Philharmonic Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, including many premiere performances.

He received the Mayor of Katowice Cultural Award for promoting Polish music, with special emphasis on contemporary music, and for the achievements with the Silesian Philharmonic. On August 7 2012 he was conferred the title of Professor of Music.