Żywieckie Suwakowanie 

XIX edition of the largest trombone and tuba
event in Poland 
 July 20-26, 2025

Maciej Pietraszko was born in Żywiec, where at the age of 10 he began his musical education in the trombone class of Szymon Piątek at the State Music School of I degree. He continued his studies at the Music School in Bielsko-Biała under the guidance of Prof. Zdzisław Stolarczyk. In 2002, he graduated with honors from the Academy of Music in Katowice, where he studied under Prof. Jan Górny. In the same year, he received a scholarship from the Thornton School of Music and began his studies at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles under Prof. Terry Cravens, bass trombonist of the Los Angeles Opera, and the legendary jazz trombonist Bill Watrous. He also honed his trombone skills through masterclasses with pedagogues and soloists such as Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Joe Alessi, Warren Deck, Ralph Sauer, Ian Bousfield, James Miller, David Bilger, Don Harry, David Kirk, John Marcellus, Hakan Hardenberger, Marie Speziale, and many others.
 

Maciej is the recipient of numerous music awards. Among the most notable are: first place in the New World Symphony Concerto Competition, second place at the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition in Pasadena (USA), first place at the National Chamber Ensemble Competition in Warsaw, second place at the International Brass Instrument Competition in Gdańsk, Grand Prix at the National Trombone Festival in Warsaw, and Grand Prix at the International Brass Instruments Competition in Jastrzębie Zdrój. In 1997, he also received the prestigious Minister of Culture and Art Award "Rydwan Apollina."
 

He is the laureate of many artistic scholarships. In 1996, he received a scholarship from the Minister of Culture and Art. From 1998 to 2002, he was a scientific scholar at the Academy of Music in Katowice, and from 2002 to 2003, he studied at the Thornton School of Music at USC in Los Angeles. During the same period, he also received a scholarship for the Novus Brass Quintet at the aforementioned university.
 

Maciej Pietraszko has a versatile musical career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and educator. Notable solo performances include collaborations with the Silesian Philharmonic, City of Kraków Chamber Orchestra Capella Cracoviensis, Symphony Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Katowice, American Youth Symphony in Los Angeles, and the New World Symphony in Miami Beach.
 

As an orchestral musician, he has performed with many orchestras both in Poland and abroad. He had the honor of playing under the baton of distinguished conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Franz Welser-Möst, Stéphane Deneve, Roberto Abbado, Hans Graf, HK Gruber, Peter Oundjan, Roger Norrington, Alsdair Neale, Antoni Wit, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Krzysztof Penderecki, Gabriel Chmura, Jan Krenz, Larry Livingston, Sergiu Comissiona, John Barnett, John Williams, and many others. He has also accompanied top soloists, including Plácido Domingo, Roy Hargrove, Thomas Hampson, Yefim Bronfman, Hakan Hardenberger, Richard Stoltzman, Leila Josefowicz, Bill Watrous, Adam Makowicz, and Leszek Możdżer.

Maciej Pietraszko has participated in numerous recording sessions. In 2001, together with the NOSPR Trombone Quartet, he released an album featuring both classical works and pieces from the world of jazz, pop, and film music.

During his studies in Los Angeles, he had the honor of playing as the principal trombonist in the USC Wildlife Refuge Band, conducted by Bill Watrous.
 

Maciej's passion for teaching has been evident throughout his career. While studying in Poland, he worked as a trombone teacher at the Music School II degree in Żywiec and as a brass instruments instructor with the Chocznia Volunteer Fire Brigade Brass Band, sharing his passion with both professionals and music enthusiasts. He values the time spent with his students, using a unique pedagogical approach to establish excellent connections and become a musical authority. His courses are attended not only by trombonists but also by other young musicians and vocalists eager to deepen and expand their knowledge and skills.
 

From 2004 to 2008, Maciej was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida, a prestigious orchestra-academy for young musicians. Its mission is to prepare talented instrumentalists for work in the best professional orchestras in the world. Each year, over 1,000 young people compete for around 35 spots in the orchestra. The orchestra was founded and is led by Michael Tilson Thomas, the artistic director of the San Francisco Symphony.

In November 2007, Maciej passed the audition for the New York City Opera orchestra and, in February 2008, began a new chapter in his career. He joined the orchestra during its 64th season, serving the residents and countless tourists of the "City of Lights." Maciej also regularly collaborates with the Southwest Florida Symphony in Fort Myers and the Florida Grand Opera in Miami.
 

For several years, Maciej has had the honor of being a member and a passionate enthusiast of the Polish Trombone Association and Trombone Page of the World, the largest trombone association and database worldwide.