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born in Żary, Poland, on 1st March 1972. He studied composition with Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, graduating with honours in 1997. During his studies, he improved his skills by taking part in the 2nd International Meeting of Young Composers 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 doctorate in musical art in the field of composition, and in 2012 a postdoctoral degree in musical art in the field of composition. In 2020, he received the title of professor of art from the President of the Republic of Poland. Currently he teaches composition and computer music classes at his alma mater.
The compositional output of Marcin Bortnowski represents the core of his activity. It encompasses various forms and genres of music: symphonic, chamber, electroacoustic, choral and solo music. His works have been performed by such ensembles as the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice, National Philharmonic in Warsaw, Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester in Berlin, Wrocław Philharmonic, New Music Orchestra, Aukso - Chamber Orchestra of City of Tychy, Amadeus Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra, Orkest de Ereprijs, oh-tone Ensemble, Silesian String Quartet, Camerata Silesia Katowice City Singers’ Ensemble, NFM Boys' Choir. He also collaborates with outstanding soloists: Marek Andryek, Klaudiusz Baran, Andrzej Bauer, Maciej Frąckiewicz, Jakub Jakowicz, Christine Pryn, Aleksandra Rupocińska, Marcin Zdunik.
Marcin Bortnowski's work has been presented at festivals in Poland and abroad, including the International Festival of Contemporary Music "Warsaw Autumn", Ultraschall (Berlin), Kiev Music Fest (Kiev), Velvet Curtain (Lviv), Audio Art Festival (Krakow), Festival of Polish Contemporary Music "Musica Polonica Nova" (Wroclaw), Festival of Premieres (Katowice), Autumn Music Festival "Alkagran". His works have also been performed at concerts in Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Belarus, Ukraine, Luxembourg, China. They have also been broadcast by radio stations associated with the European Broadcasting Union and Polish Television.
Marcin Bortnowski's compositions have been awarded at national and international composition competitions. He is a laureate of the Tadeusz Baird Young Composers' Competition, where in 1995 he received the 1st prize for "String Quartet No. 2" and the 2nd prize for "String Quartet No. 1", and in 1997 the 2nd prize for "Music for..." for two percussions and two accordions. In addition, in 1997 he won the 3rd prize at the National Composition Competition in Gdańsk for "Symphony No. 1" for a large symphony orchestra, and in 2000 he received the 1st prize at the International Composition Competition „PanAccordion 2000” for "Music in Lent" for accordion and string quartet. In 2011, his piece "And night will be no more" for accordion and chamber orchestra represented Polish Radio at the 54th International Rostrum of Composers UNECO in Paris. He was a scholarship holder of the Ministy of Culture, Society of Authors ZAiKS, Friends of Warsaw Autumn Foundation, Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung and Deutschlandfunk.
Together with Stanisław Krupowicz and Marcin Rupociński, he forms the ‘Tonus Finalis Ensemble’, specialising in electroacoustic music performance.
Marcin Bortnowski's work has been the subject of articles, analyses, academic publications and radio broadcasts.
Marcin Bortnowski is the author of scientific and journalistic publications. He has participated in scientific conferences, conducted courses and composition workshops. He has been a reviewer in doctoral and postdoctoral dissertations and in proceedings for the conferment of the title of professor. He is invited to the juries of music competitions (composition and performance). In 2017-2018 and 2022, he was an expert of the Evaluation Team for Arts Science and Artistic Creation at the Committee for the Evaluation of Science.
He is a member of creative associations: Polish Electroacoustic Music Association (since 2005) and Polish Composers' Union (since 1999). Since becoming a member of the Polish Composers‘ Union, he has been involved in the activities of this association, participating in the work of the Board of the Wrocław Branch of the Polish Composers' Union, as secretary, treasurer and president. He took part in establishing the „Musica Electronica Nova” International Festival of Electroacoustic Music in Wrocław (2005). He is currently a member of the Main Board of the Polish Composers' Union.
