prof. dr hab. Urszula Marciniec-Mazur

She graduated from the cello class of Associate Professor Zdzisław Butor at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław in 1989. During her studies, she actively participated in master classes in interpretation and workshops, honing her skills under the guidance of outstanding cellists, including Siegfried Palm, Ivan Monigetti, Andrzej Orkisz, Roman Suchecki, Marina Czajkowska and Bogumiła Reszke. In 1987, while still a student, she began working at the Karol Szymanowski State Music School in Wrocław as a cello teacher, where she worked until 1996. After graduating in 1989, she was employed as an assistant in the cello class at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, and after completing her first-level qualification procedure in 1994, she was appointed assistant professor with first-level qualifications. In 2001, she passed her second-degree qualification procedure, and in December 2014, she was awarded the title of professor of musical arts. Under the supervision of Prof. Urszula Marciniec-Mazur, over 50 students and 3 third-degree doctoral students have completed their studies.

Prof. Urszula Marciniec-Mazur is a juror in national and international competitions and auditions, and also conducts masterclasses and methodological workshops in cello playing and chamber music both in Poland and abroad. She is a doctoral supervisor, reviewer of doctoral and habilitation theses, and a member of the committee for the award of the title of professor. Alongside her teaching activities, Prof. Urszula Marciniec-Mazur is also a concert performer. Chamber music is the main focus of her artistic activity.

Between 1987 and 2001, she collaborated as an orchestral musician with the Wrocław Chamber Orchestra Leopoldinum, the Opole Philharmonic Orchestra, the Wrocław Chamber Orchestra Wratislavia and the Menuhin Festival Orchestra, with whom she participated in recordings, festivals and concert tours in many countries. As a soloist with the Leopoldinum Orchestra, she has collaborated with outstanding artists such as Yehudi Menuhin, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Ewa Podleś, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Vadim Brodski, Jan Stanieda and Krzysztof Jabłoński.

Shortly after obtaining her second degree, in May 2002, she was elected Vice-Dean of the Instrumental Department of the Academy of Music in Wrocław. From 2012 to 2016, she held the honourable position of Dean of the Instrumental Department. During this time, she was responsible for the functioning of the academic community of almost 400 students and several dozen teachers, and oversaw the organisation of artistic and educational life. As an academic teacher and member of the Senate, she worked in many academic bodies, including the Senate Committee for Scientific and Didactic Affairs and the Steering Committee for the construction of the AMKL campus, and served as Head of Doctoral Studies and Head of Postgraduate Studies. In 2011, she was appointed by the Minister of Science and Higher Education to develop a project on learning outcomes for the Instrumental Studies programme, which were included in the list of model learning outcomes. She is also involved as an organiser and co-organiser of numerous cultural events in Wrocław not directly related to her place of work.

Prof. Urszula Marciniec-Mazur is an expert of the Polish Accreditation Committee and a consultant at the Centre for Artistic Education.

In recognition of her pedagogical, artistic and organisational activities, she has received numerous awards, including the Rector's Award of the Academy of Music in Wrocław and the Director's Award of the Primary and Secondary Music School in Wrocław. In 2011, she was honoured by the President of the Republic of Poland with the Gold Cross of Merit, in 2013 she received the Medal of the National Education Commission, and in 2019 she received the Gold Medal for Long Service.