Piotr Sułkowski

Prof. Dr. hab. Piotr Sułkowski serves as Professor of Conducting at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz and General and Artistic Director of the Warmia-Masuria Philharmonic in Olsztyn. His distinguished career includes leadership roles as Artistic Director of the Kraków Opera, Music Director of Wildwood Festival Opera Orchestra (USA), and co-founder of the Kraków Chamber Opera, with extensive international collaborations across Europe and North America.

His academic credentials feature a doctorate (2010), postdoctoral degree in musical arts (2015), and professorship in art (2021). He conducted the Frederic Chopin State Secondary School Orchestra in Kraków for 23 years (1993-2016), implementing educational programs for French youth in France, and originated the Barbican Festival in Kraków.

Professor Sułkowski's artistic research focuses on conducting techniques, opera revival, and cross-disciplinary music applications. He pioneered world premieres including Szymanowski's "The Lottery for Husbands, or Fiancé No. 69" (2007) and Beethoven's "Fidelio – to the victims of the Holocaust" (2010), with performances acclaimed internationally including in Opera magazine. His work extends to film music, producing scores for the historical series "Czas Honoru".

His major honors include:

• Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis (2014)
• Silver Cross of Merit (2016)
• Pegasus statuette for Warmia-Mazury cultural contributions (2015)
• Best performance award at Bydgoszcz Opera Festival (2004)

As an educator, he mentors conducting students at the Academy of Music while directing large-scale initiatives like the "Great Piano Concertos" series at Warsaw's National Philharmonic. He serves on the Program Council of Radio Olsztyn and as Vice-Chairman of the Polish Philharmonic Association Board since 2014.

Professor Sułkowski leads the Warmia-Masuria Philharmonic Orchestra and co-founded the Kraków Chamber Opera, with recent international tours including Spain (Bilbao/Pamplona) and collaborations with artists like Maxim Vengerov. His Barbican Festival remains a cornerstone of Kraków's summer cultural programming.