prof. dr hab. Marek Stefański
Born in Rzeszów in 1969, he continued his musical studies with Joachim Grubich at the Music Academy in Cracow from where he graduated with distinction in 1994.
Marek Stefański made his concert debut at the very beginning of his studies during two tournees as the organist – solist with the Academic “Organum” Choir which gave numerous concerts in the European cities.
Successful participation in the international festivals of sacral and organ music
and the numerous prizes he won made him the doors to other festivals of organ music, as well as to the concert halls and churches open. Not only in the European countries, but also all over the world (for example USA, Israel, Russia among others).
In 1996 – 2007 Stefański was the organist at the church of St. Mary in Cracow, where until now he not only played during the church celebrations, but also perform over a dozen recitals every year.
In 1999 he accepted the post at the Music Academy in Cracow, where he teaches in the Faculty of Organ. In 2007 he defended doctor’s thesis from for devote styles of organ improvisations from the 18th through to the 20th century. In 2013 “doctor habilitatus” ( description of a CD recording: “Sources of artistic inspirations and forms of their expression in organ music of cracov’s composers 20th century”).
Marek Stefański has already given concerts in Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Ukraine, Lithuania, Romania, Moldova, Israel, USA, Equador, Russia, Uzbekistan and Hungary.
Marek Stefański is a great propagator of Polish organ music, especially 20th century music, which he performs together with the organ improvisation.
He also made numerous archival recordings for the Polish Radio, Polish TV and foreign broadcasting stations, as well as for the phonographic company “DUX” (for which he recorded nine albums), Musicon, Art Bene (Russia).
Apart from being active as a solist, Marek Stefański cooperates with the choir ensembles and with many outstanding vocalists and instrumentalists.
In cooperation with Radio Kraków, Marek Stefański realizes a programme series “An Anthology of Cracovian Organs”. For Radio Rzeszow, he records archival organs of the Subcarpathian region, which are later broadcasted on the Radio.
Artistic Director of organ music festivals: “Evening performances of organ an chamber music in Rzeszow cathedrale”, “Organ music in Jaroslaw Abbey” and “Days of organ music at the Basilica of Jesuits in Cracov”.