MARIUSZ SMOLIJ is considered one of the most exciting conductors of his generation. Frequent recording artists for NAXOS International, he has been consistently gaining international critical acclaim including praises by the New York Times for “compelling performances”. Maestro Smolij led over 130 orchestras in 28 countries on five continents appearing in some of the most prestigious concert halls of the world, including the Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Zürich Tonhalle, Salle Gaveau in Paris, Concertgebauw in Amsterdam, and National Art Center in Beijing, China. In North America among many others, he conducted the Houston Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Orchestra of the Chicago Lyric Opera, St. Louis Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, New Orleans Philharmonic, Hartford Symphony and Symphony Nova Scotia. Internationally, he enjoys notable reputation appearing with important orchestras of Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Holland, Portugal, Spain, Israel, South Africa, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Poland. The engagements include collaborations with the Berner Symphony, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Switzerland (CD recordings and series of concerts including the Tonhalle in Zürich); performances with Sinfonia Rotterdam, Florence Chamber Orchestra, Israel Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, Orchestre Lamoureux-Paris, Jena Philharmonic, Gottingen Symphony and Kiel Philharmonic in Germany, Belgrade Philharmonic, Budapest Symphony, Sofia Philharmonic, Bogota Philharmonic in Columbia, Johannesburg Philharmonic in South Africa, Slovak State Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, the Warsaw National Philharmonic as well as all leading orchestras in his native country of Poland.

The artist recorded for Hungaroton, Universal Poland, National Radio in USA. Since 2004, he regularly produces and conducts CDs for NAXOS. Among 12 discs are world premiere recordings of Eastern European composers. CD with Polish Chamber Orchestra and music by A. Panufnik was highly praised by the London’s Evening Standard and CD featuring works of G. Bacewicz with Capella Bydgostiensis received “Fryderyk Award” and excellent international reviews.

In Poland, the conductor often works with orchestra Sinfonia Varsovia, making recordings and touring (Japan, France and the USA). He also led most of the Polish symphonic ensembles, including the National Philharmonic in Warsaw. Between 2002-2004 he served as the Artistic Director of the Wrocław Philharmonic and International Festival Wratislavia Cantans, and between 2016-2019 was at the artistic helm of the Toruń Symphony Orchestra.

In United States, he is the Artistic Director of Riverside Symphonia in New Jersey as well Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in Louisiana. Between 1996-2000 he served as professor of conducting at the Northwestern University in Chicago – Evanston, as the youngest at the time, conducting faculty at all leading American music universities. He is highly sought-after pedagogue giving master classes and guest appearances at educational institutions in Czech Rep., USA, China, South Korea and Switzerland. Since 2009 he serves as visiting professor at Tianjin University (China).

Mariusz Smolij graduated from Music Academy in Katowice, Poland. As the founding member of the internationally recognized Penderecki Quartet he left to the United States pursuing further studies, among others, at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He received doctoral degree from that institution in 1998. In 2019 he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for his artistic achievements and promotion of the Polish culture abroad.