Artistic Director of Silesian Philharmonic, Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk studied in Kątowice, where his conducting teachers included Karol Stryja. He was a prize-winner at the 4th Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conductors’ Competition in 1991 and two years later was awarded a scholarship from the American Society for Polish Music, with a period spent in Los Angeles. In 1986 he became conductor of the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra and artistic director of the State Symphony Orchestra in Zabrze. In 1990 he became principal conductor and artistic director of the State Philharmonic Orchestra in Bialystok, and in 1996–98 was principal conductor and artistic director of the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra. Since May 1998 he has been artistic director of the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra in Kątowice and of the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conductors’ Competition. In September 2008 he was appointed musical director of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Lower Silesian Philharmonic in Jelenia Góra.
His career has brought engagements throughout Poland and internationally, with a series of acclaimed premières and recordings. He received the Mayor of Kątowice Cultural Award for promoting Polish music, with special emphasis on contemporary music, and for the achievements with the Silesian Philharmonic in 2001. In 2009 he was appointed a Knight of the Silver Medal “Gloria Artis”.