prof. dr hab. Marcel Chyrzyński
Marcel Chyrzyński (b. 1971) obtained his Master’s degree (with honours) from the Academy of Music in Krakow in 1995, where he studied composition with professor Marek Stachowski, orchestration with professor Krzysztof Penderecki, and computer music with professor Marek Chołoniewski and Fulbright scholars Richard Boulanger, Cindy McTee and Rodney Oakes. He perfected his compositional skills at many courses both in Poland and abroad, where he worked under the guidance of such prominent composers as among others: Paul Patterson, Sylvano Bussotti, Claude Lefebvre, Joji Yuasa, Bogusław Schaeffer, Lidia Zielińska, and Hanna Kulenty. In 1998 he was awarded a doctorate in composition and got his habilitation in 2010. 2014–19 he has been the head of the Institute of Composition, Conducting and Music Theory at the Krakow Academy of Music. Since December 2020, he is employed as a professor at his alma mater. On February 22, 2021, the President of the Republic of Poland awarded him the title of professor.
He has been a visiting Professor in Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City), South Africa (University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg), South Korea (Yeungnam University in Daegu, Inje University in Gimhae), Slovakia (Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava) and the United States (University of Southern California in Los Angeles, New York Conservatory of Music) and Poland (Institute of Musicology, Jagiellonian University), as well as at the Takefu International Composition Workshop in Japan, during the Seoul International Music Festival in South Korea and SCONTRI in Sopot (Poland).
He won many awards at various composition courses, like the 1st prize for Ferragosto per tromba, pianoforte e batteria at the Tadeusz Baird Composition Competition for Young Composers in Warsaw (1997). Haiku No. 3 for solo flute received a distinction in the National Flute Association (USA) competition in the Newly Published Music Competition (2021). In 2025, he was awarded the Silver Medal twice in the international Global Music Awards competition (USA) in the category of contemporary classical – composer: for pieces from the albums “Marcel Chyrzyński – Chamber Works” and “Marcel Chyrzyński – Clarinet pieces”. In the same year he received in the International Competition “Musical Eagles” the Main Prize in the composition category – the “Musical Eagle” statuette for Symphony No. 2. In 2025 he also received the highest awards: the Diamond Prize in the “Original Composition” category at the Debussy International Music Competition (UK) for Symphony No. 2, the Master Prize in the “Best Orchestral Music” category at the Mozart International Music Competition (UK) for Symphony No. 1, the Grand Prize in the “Original Composition” category at the Carl Reinecke International Music Competition (UK) for Symphony No. 2 and the Diamond Prize in the “Original Composition” category at the Berlioz International Music Competition (UK) for “Ukiyo-e No. 4” for Clarinet, French Horn, Piano and String Orchestra. In 2026, he was awarded the Silver Medal twice in the international Global Music Awards competition (USA) in the categories of contemporary music – composition/composer for Symphony No. 2 and in the category of contemporary music for “Ukiyo-e No. 4”. At the same year, he also received the Silver Medal at the Manhattan International Music Competition (USA) for “Death Valley” for alto flute, cello, percussion, and piano.
Since 1995 he has been a member of the Polish Composers’ Union and in 2005-07, 2009-11 and 2013-21 a member of the Main Board of PCU. Since 2005 he also became a member of the Polish Society for Electroacoustic Music. Since 2014 he has been a general and artistic director of the Krakow International Festival of Composers. Since 2016 he has been a president of the Krakow Branch of the Polish Composers’ Union.
His works have been performed in most European countries as well as in Georgia, Armenia, Estonia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Panama, USA, and Canada. His compositions are published by PWM and Edition Ferrimontana – Frankfurt, they appeared on 26 CD albums (by DUX, ZPR Records, Acte Préalable, Instytut Sztuki, PWM-DUX, Polskie Radio, AMKP in Krakow, Phasma-Music, PGMaudio, PWM Edition and Orpheus Classical) and on Polish Television and Korean KBS; they were also featured by many radio broadcasts in Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Estonia and Australia.
Marcel Chyrzyński has received numerous awards and distinctions for his work, teaching and organizational work promoting contemporary music, including: the Creative Scholarship of the City of Krakow (1994), the Scholarship of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage (2006, 2009, 2014, 2019), the Medal of the National Education Commission awarded by the Minister of National Education (2017), the Silver Medal for Long Service awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland (2022), the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis awarded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage (2023), the Honoris Gratia Badge awarded by the President of the City of Krakow in recognition of services to Krakow and its citizens (2024), the Annual Award of the Polish Composers’ Union (2024), the Award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for creative achievements (2024) and the ZAiKS Society of Authors’ Award for promoting Polish contemporary music (2026).
At the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow he has got a class of composition. His students and graduates have won top awards in international composition competitions.