Guest Artist Recital - Marian Sobula, piano

“Marian Sobula is one of the most talented pianist of his generation”.

He is a very active pianist, has performed on 5 continents, in 38 countries (Austria, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czechia, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, USA, Venezuela).

Marian Sobula gave concerts in prestigious concert halls: Sydney Opera House, Sala Sao Paolo, Palacio de Bellas Artes Mexico City, Lima Gran Teatro Nazional, Casa de la Musica Quito,Beethovenhalle in Bonn, Gasteig Munich, Auditorio Parco Della Musica Rome,Teatro Municipal Santiago de Chile, Hamer Hall and Town Hall Melbourne, Denki Bunka Kaikan Nagoya to name just a few.

In his concert alphabet we can find cities such as: New York, Miami, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Toronto, Ottawa, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Havana, Monterrey, Paris, Prague, Berlin, Geneve, Madrid, Milan, Copenhagen, Stockholm Budapest, Bratislava, Beirut, Amman, Jeruzalem, Shanghai, Xiamen, Tokyo, Tbilisi, Baku, Bishkek, Almaty, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, Gold Coast, Auckland, Wellington.

Marian Sobula is the winner of several national and international piano competitions; medalist at “Maria Canals Piano Competition” in Barcelona, laureate of the Special Prize during the International Music Competition “Dr. Luis Sigall” in Vina Del Mar, Chile, The Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Competition, and many contests in Italy.

He was only 12 when he played with a symphony orchestra for the first time (Wrocław Philharmonic). His debut with Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra took place in the Teatro Teresa Carreno in Caracas in Venezuela in 2008 with 1st Piano Concerto by Chopin. He gives concerts with symphonic orchestras in the world (Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Montenegro, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Lebanon, Australia). He has performed with the majority of Polish philharmonic orchestras.

He has received a number of awards and scholarships both from national and international foundations and institutions: UNESCO in Paris, JESC in Japan, Italian Government, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in Poland. In July 2008 Marian received a prestigious award of the City of Cracow “ARS QUAERENDI” for his remarkable activity in the development and promotion of culture.

Graduate of the Academy of Music in Cracow, Poland from professor Andrzej Pikul’s class in 2005, Marian Sobula has also completed his studies at Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome with professor Sergio Perticaroli (the best 2008 diploma award); additionally he participated in several Master Classes from professor Arie Vardi. In 2011 he received his PhD for Etudes d’execution transcendante by Ferenc Liszt.

He performed during prestigious Festivals e.g. Beethovenfest in Bonn, Easter Beethoven Festival, Campos do Jordao, KotorArt, Ohrid Summer, FIMA, Music & Beyond, Chopin Festivals in Marienbad, Buenos Aires, Geneve, Brussel. He also performed at World Exhibition EXPO in Aichi in Japan and Zaragoza in Spain, 20th Economic Forum in Krynica-Zdroj in Poland, Nobel-Prize meeting in Warsaw, for William Walton’s Foundation in London. His concert in Sydney Opera House celebrated the welcome of Consul General to Poland in Sydney.

He has cooperated with outstanding Polish and international conductors – Łukasz Borowicz, Tomasz Bugaj, Wojciech Czepiel, Michał Dworzyński, Michał Nestorowicz, Marek Pijarowski, Jacek Rogala, Jerzy Salwarowski, Bartosz Żurakowski, Jesus Medina, Juan Carlos Lomonaco, Masimiliano Caldi, Peter Guelke, Guido Ajmon-Marsan, Dietrich Paredes, Alejandro Posada, Wagner Polistchuk, Victor Hugo Torro, Roberto Tibiriçá. His recordings have been broadcasted by several international media (Deutsche Welle, TVP Polonia, RMF Classic, ABC Classic FM Australia, RAI).

In addition to concerts Marian Sobula realizes his passion for teaching, leading numerous piano masterclasses in Poland and abroad: in Bratislava, Leipzig, Lecce, Calgary, Central Conservatory in China. Since 2007 Marian Sobula has been working in the Piano Department of Academy of Music in Cracow (Poland). He served as a jury member in competitions for young pianists in Leipzig, Kosice, Usti nad Labem, Sabac, Shanghai.

Marian Sobula is President of the PianoClassic Association and Artistic Director of the International Royal Cracow Piano Festival (8 editions). He is head of Polish Music Days project.