Zywieckie Suwakowanie 

XVIII edition of the biggest trombone and tuba festival in Poland

9-13 July 2023 

He was born in Żywiec, where at the age of 10 he began his music education on the trombone at the State Primary Music School with Szymon Piątek, MA. He continued his studies at the PSM in Bielsko-Biała under the supervision of prof. Zdzisław Stolarczyk. In 2002 he graduated with honors from the Academy of Music in Katowice, where he studied with 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 the supervision of prof. Terry Cravens (bass trombonist of the Los Angeles Opera) and legendary jazz trombonist Bill Watrous.

He also perfected his trombone skills playing at master classes with such teachers and soloists 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

Maciek is the winner of many music awards. The most important are: victory in the New World Symphony Concerto Competition, 2nd place in the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition in Pasadena (USA), 1st place in the National Chamber Ensemble Competition in Warsaw, 2nd place in the International Brass Instruments Competition in Gdańsk, Grand Prix at National Trombone Festival in Warsaw, Grand Prix at the International Wind Instruments Competition in Jastrzębie Zdrój. In 1997 he also received the prestigious award of the Ministry of Culture and Art "Apollin's Chariot".

He is the recipient of many artistic scholarships. In 1996 he received a scholarship from the Minister of Culture and Art. In 1998-2002 he was a scholarship holder of the Academy of Music in Katowice, and in 2002-2003 Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. At the same time, he also received twice a scholarship for the Brass Quintet "Novus" above. university. Maciej Pietraszko conducts a versatile musical activity as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician and teacher. Maciej's most important solo achievements include performances with the Silesian Philharmonic, the Krakow Chamber Orchestra Capella Cracoviensis, the Symphony Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Katowice, the American Youth Symphony in Los Angeles and the New World Symphony in Miami Beach.

As an orchestra musician, Maciek has performed with many orchestras in Poland and abroad. He had the honor to play under the baton of outstanding conductors, including, among others, Miachel Tilson Thomas, Franz Welser-Möst, Stéphane Deneve, Roberto Abbado, Hansa 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. Together with orchestras, he accompanied the most outstanding soloists, e.g. Placido Domingo, Roy Hargrove, Thomas Hampson, Yefim Bronfman, Hakan Hardenberger, Richard Stoltzman, Leila Josefowicz, Bill Watrous, Adam Makowicz, Leszek Możdżer.He also participated in many CD recordings. In 2001, together with the NOSPR Trombone Quartet, he released a CD containing both classical items and those from the world of jazz, popular music and film.

During his studies in Los Angeles, he also had the honor of playing as the first trombonist in Bill Watrous's big band - the USC Wildlife Refuge Band.

Maciej's great passion is teaching. During his studies in Poland, he worked as a trombone teacher at the Secondary Music School in Żywiec and as an instructor of wind instruments at the brass band of the OSP in Chocznia, sharing his passion with professionals and music enthusiasts. Maciej values the time spent with his students very much. Through an unusual methodical and pedagogical approach, he is able to establish great contact with them and become a musical authority. The participants of his courses are not only trombonists, but also other young instrumentalists and vocalists who want to deepen and expand their knowledge and skills.

In the years 2004-2008 Maciej was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida - a prestigious orchestra - an academy for young musicians. whose mission is to prepare talented instrumentalists to work in the best professional orchestras in the world. Every year, over 1,000 young people compete for around 35 places in the orchestra. The orchestra was founded and conducted by Michel Tilson Thomas - artistic director of the San Francisco Symphony.In November 2007 Maciej passed the New York City Opera orchestra exam and in February 2008 he started a new chapter in his career. Maciej joined the orchestra during the 64th season of the New York Opera, which has been serving the residents and countless tourists of the "City of Lights" since 1943. In addition, Pietraszko permanently collaborates with the Southwest Florida Symphony in Fort Myers and the Florida Grand Opera in Miami. For several years, Maciej has been honored to be a member and an ardent enthusiast of the Polish Trombone Association.