Born on March 1, 1972, in Żary (Poland). In 1997, he graduated from the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław in the composition class of Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil (diploma with distinction). During his studies, he honed his skills by participating in the 2nd International Young Composers Meeting in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, organized by the Gaudeamus Foundation (1996) and in experimental and computer music workshops at the University of Ghent (1997).

Since 1998, he has been professionally associated with the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. In 2003, he obtained a Ph.D. in musical arts in composition, and in 2012, he achieved a post-doctoral degree (habilitation) in musical arts in composition. In 2020, he was awarded the title of professor of arts by the President of the Republic of Poland.

Currently, he teaches composition and computer music at his alma mater.

Marcin Bortnowski’s compositional work constitutes the core of his activities. It encompasses various musical forms and genres: symphonic, chamber, electroacoustic, choral, and solo music. His works have been performed by ensembles such as the National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio in Katowice, the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester in Berlin, the Wrocław Philharmonic, the New Music Orchestra, Aukso – Chamber Orchestra of the City of Tychy, the Amadeus Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra, Orkest de Ereprijs, oh-tone Ensemble, Silesian Quartet, Camerata Silesia – The Katowice City Singers’ Ensemble, and the NFM Boys’ Choir. He has also collaborated with renowned soloists such as Marek Andrysek, Klaudiusz Baran, Andrzej Bauer, Maciej Frąckiewicz, Geir Draugsvoll, Jakub Jakowicz, Christine Pryn, Aleksandra Rupocińska, and Marcin Zdunik.

Marcin Bortnowski’s works have been presented at festivals both in Poland and abroad, including the International Festival of Contemporary Music “Warsaw Autumn”, Ultraschall (Berlin), Kiev Music Fest (Kyiv), Aksamitna Kurtyna (Lviv), Audio Art Festival (Cracow), Polish Contemporary Music Festival “Musica Polonica Nova” (Wrocław), Festival of Premieres (Katowice), and the Autumn Music Festival “Alkagran”. His compositions have also been performed at concerts in Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Belarus, Ukraine, Luxembourg, and China. They have been broadcast by radio stations affiliated with the European Broadcasting Union (56 countries) and Polish Television.