Michał Szlempo

Dr. hab. Michał Szlempo serves as a university professor at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, where he holds the academic rank of Professor. He actively contributes to jazz and pop music education through performance, arrangement, and ensemble leadership within the institution's music programs.

His academic foundation includes:

• Graduate studies in jazz piano under Wojciech Niedziela at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice
• Specialization in Conducting Jazz and Popular Music at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music under Bogdan Hołownia, Adam Żółkoś, and Professor Andrzej Zubek

Professor Szlempo's artistic research bridges Jazz Performance and Classical Music Interpretation, with particular focus on integrating traditions of Haydn, Scriabin, and Mahler within contemporary jazz frameworks. His work as an arranger and conductor explores the technical and expressive boundaries between improvisational jazz and structured classical composition, while his piano pedagogy emphasizes stylistic versatility across genres. This interdisciplinary approach informs both his performance practice and educational methodology.

His major artistic recognitions include:

• First prize at the 2nd European Musical Integrations in Żyrardów (2006) with the 012 Acoustic Quartet
• Second prize at the 1st Student Jazz Festival in Bydgoszcz (2009)
• First prize in "And in Me Chopin Plays" Chopin interpretation competition
• Second prize at the 20th Big Band Festival in Nowy Tomyśl (2015)

As an educator, Professor Szlempo has mentored jazz vocal students since 2007 through accompaniment and arrangement work in Dr. Joanna Żółkoś-Zagdańska and Dr. Kamila Abrahamowicz-Szlempo's classes. His leadership of the Academy's big band since 2013 has provided significant performance opportunities for instrumental students, culminating in national competition success.

He directs the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music Big Band, which serves as both a teaching ensemble and competitive performance group, fostering advanced students' development in large-ensemble jazz interpretation and stagecraft.