Jerzy Maksymiuk

Born in Grodno, he completed his musical studies gaining three diplomas: in composition (under Piotr Perkowski), piano (Jerzy Lefeld), and conducting (Bogusław Madey).

In 1972, he founded the Polish Chamber Orchestra (regarded by many critics as one of the best orchestras in the world), with which he has performed at the Carnegie Hall, the Wiener Musikverein, the London Proms, and many other venues and festivals.

In 1975, he became principal conductor of the Polish Radio Great Symphony Orchestra (today Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra). The years 1983–91 brought a fruitful period at the helm of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow, for which he received the title of Conductor Laureate. He has given concerts with such world-renowned orchestras as the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfonia Varsovia.

He has recorded around a hundred CDs for the most prestigious labels, including EMI (thirteen albums), Hyperion and Naxos.

Maksymiuk is also a composer of symphonic music, chamber and ballet pieces, songs and film scores. Among his older works, he is particularly fond of Expront (1980), and among his film music, his score for Wojciech Has’s The Hourglass Sanatorium.

Recent years have brought A Lonely Star over Be’er Sheva (2005) for quintet, Vivaldi in Boston (2010) for string orchestra and string quartet, Leaves Somewhere Falling (2011) for chamber orchestra and piano, and A Heart’s Lament. Kielce In Memoriam (2012) for orchestra, clarinet and soprano.

Maksymiuk is one of the founders of the Polish Society for Contemporary Music. He has received a number of medals, including the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland and the Gloria Artis Gold Medal. He also holds a Diamond Baton Award, presented by Polish Radio, and a Super Wiktor Award.

photo Wiktor Wołkow