News

January 2021

Happy New Year! It has been an unprecedented year for all of us. Marek was disappointed that all of his performance trips had to be cancelled since last March, and…

December 2020

In time of the pandemic, musicians have been not able to perform on stage. Even a recording session is conducted under the COVID protocols (mask wearing, social distancing and sanitizing).…

November 2020

Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne (PWM), a prominent Polish music publisher, launches an international campaign to promote piano pieces by Polish composers. “Music from Chopin’s Land” features works by such composers as…

October 2020

Artists are back on stage– without the audience for the time being. Marek was featured in “A New Stage,” an exciting performance of various arts and dances produced by CLI…

September 2020

As the COVID-19 prevails, most schools and universities offer remote teaching during the fall semester. Marek continues to teach via Zoom and other online platforms and keeps encouraging and motivating…

August 2020

Composer’s Studio, a podcast for conversations with contemporary composers, features an award-winning composer Adrienne Albert in its latest episode, which included her piece “NightFall” performed by Marek and pianist Kevin…

July 2020

The world’s first dual-screen digital music score GVIDO has been Marek’s steady accompanist for the last 2 years, traveling with him everywhere. It has been his pleasure to meet with…

June 2020

Marek stands in solidarity with people in the U.S and abroad in support of the Black Lives Matter movement for changes in systematic injustice. He looks forward to promote and…

May 2020

When things are grim and no end in sight with the ongoing pandemic, music could reached people’s hearts. Marek thanks Mr. Yo-Yo Ma for his everlasting generosity and inspiration. His…

April 2020

Marek is deeply heartbroken by the news of the marvelous cellist Lynn Harrell’s passing. Mr. Harrell has been a source of great inspiration, and Marek is determined to pass along…

March 2020

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Azusa Pacific University started offering online education in mid-March, before California state placed a “stay-at-home” mandate. Marek has been teaching individual instruction and chamber music…

February 2020

At the recent recital presented at the Irvine Valley College Performing Arts Center, Marek had an opportunity to collaborate with talented young musicians. The Pacific Symphony Youth Octet played the…

January 2020

Happy New Year! Marek is looking forward to what this year will bring– new encounters with people and more music. He can’t wait to perform with the Soma Children Orchestra…

December 2019

A memorial book of Prof. Ryszard Łosakiewicz, Marek’s mentor and first cello teacher in his hometown Lublin, Poland, was recently published in Polish. Prof. Łosakiewicz made a huge impact on Marek’s…

November 2019

Three distinguished artists have been recently invited to Azusa Pacific University, where Marek serves as Director of String Studies and Director of Chamber Music. On November 14th, the renowned violinist…

October 2019

It is heart-breaking to learn that Soma city in Fukushima, Japan, was severely affected by the recent monster-sized Typhoon Hagibis. Many members of the Soma Children’s Orchestra and their families…

September 2019

Marek was thrilled about collaborating with the award-winning film composer Akihiko Matsumoto again on an upcoming TV drama series in Japan, titled “Nippon Noir.” His orchestration and cello solo can…

August 2019

Two youth orchestra in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Orquesta Escuela de Don Bosco and the Orquesta Escuela de Ezpeleta, have received used violin and cello strings, initiated by one of…

July 2019

This year’s Montecito International Music Festival welcomed renowned violinist Cho-Liang Ling as a special guest. It was Marek’s pleasure to collaborate with Mr. Ling; they have played the Brahms Piano…

June 2019

It’s with a heavy heart Marek shares news that pianist Eugene Alcalay, his colleague at Azusa Pacific University, unexpectedly passed away on June 26 evening. They have just performed the…

May 2019

Marek successfully completed his first China tour as APU Trio with his colleagues, violinist Alex Russell and pianist Joel Clifft. The tour included a performance for the popular Shanghai Weekly…

April 2019

This summer Marek will be back to Idyllwild Arts Academy Summer Program in Idyllwild, CA and Montecito International Music Festival in Riverside, CA. He is excited to work with talented…

March 2019

Next month, Marek will embark on the 12-day China tour, along with the members of APU Trio, violinist Alex Russell and pianist Joel Clifft. Their performances include ones at the…

February 2019

As Director of String Studies and Chamber Music at the Azusa Pacific University’s School of Music, Marek enjoys organizing concerts and master classes, among other events. During this semester, Marek…

January 2019

In an upcoming Japanese TV drama series on the Nippon Television, titled “3-nen A-gumi: From this moment, you are my hostages (Mr. Hiiragi’s Homeroom),” Marek’s cello solo is featured. He…

December 2018

A digest version of the live recording of Marek’s recital at the Yamaha Hall in October can be heard on the PrimeSeat website here. The excerpt includes Bach’s Adagio from…

November 2018

Marek completed his successful 2-week tour in Japan! The highlights of the tour were: his recital at the Yamaha Hall in Tokyo, a performance with the Tsunami Cello in Minamisanriku,…

October 2018

Before embarking on his Japan tour, Marek has a recital at Azusa Pacific University to support the Soma Children’s Orchestra in Fukushima, Japan, on October 20. His interview article appeared…

September 2018

In late October and early November, Marek will share his music with the Japanese audience, in Tokyo and Fukui. The recital in Tokyo takes place at the Yamaha Hall, featuring…

August 2018

An international cello festival held in Krakow, Poland, named “Hello Cello Festival,” in which Marek was invited as a special guest artist, concluded with a successful final recital with all…

July 2018

During the Montecito International Music Festival this month, it was Marek’s honor to play chamber music with such renowned artists as Mr. Andrés Cárdenes and Mr. Shumuel Ashkenasi. And of…

June 2018

Marek was honored to be part of the debut album “Transcendent” by the Asia/America New Music Institute (AANMI), released by Delos. The CD is now on sale! The album presents…

May 2018

The soundtrack to Japanese TV drama “Hotel on the Brink!” will be on sale in Japan on May 30th! Marek has joined the team as an orchestrator and a solo…

April 2018

Marek was selected to be a featured faculty of the month at Azusa Pacific University’s College of Music and the Arts website. The profile article includes his achievements as a…

March 2018

You can hear Marek’s cello in the Japanese TV drama series starting next month. Marek joins the team of creating music to the Japanese TV drama series titled “Hotel on…

February 2018

It is the time of the year for Bach Week! Selected cello students from Marek’s studio at Azusa Pacific University will participate in the collaborative recitals featuring Bach solo pieces…

January 2018

Between August 7 and 17, Marek will appear in the Hello Cello Festival, held in Krakow, Poland, as a special guest artist. During the summer, he will be also on…

December 2017

The cello ensemble consisting of Marek and his students at APU has visited a retirement center to bring Christmas music. The program included such familiar tunes as “Silent Night,” “Joy…

November 2017

This month, Marek was excited and honored to invite Mr. Martin Chalifour, Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic to Azusa Pacific University for the Chamber Music Master Class Series he…

October 2017

One of the great joys as a musician is connecting and communicating with other people through music, Marek says. His encounter and ongoing friendship with amazing young musicians of the…

September 2017

From this fall, Marek started serving as Director of String Studies at Azusa Pacific University’s School of Music. He has been teaching cello and chamber music at APU since 2005…

August 2017

Marek is thrilled to come back to the Azusa Pacific University campus after a busy summer. During this semester, Los Angeles Philharmonic Concertmaster Martin Chalifour will coach chamber music ensembles…

July 2017

During the Montecito International Music Festival, Marek performed Mendelssohn Trio in D minor with other guest artists– Austrian violinist Johannes Fleischmann and Korean pianist Jonghee Ryu. The summer festivals are…

June 2017

Spring 2017 issue (Vol.30, No.3) of “String Along,” an official journal of the Los Angeles Section of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), published Marek’s article about his teaching philosophy:…

May 2017

This summer Marek will be back to both Idyllwild Arts Academy Summer Program in Idyllwild and Montecito International Music Festival in Riverside, both in California. He is looking forward to working with…

April 2017

Between April 7th and 9th, the Metzler Violin Shop in Los Angeles will host “The Contemporary American Violin & Bow Maker Exhibition,” showcasing contemporary American violins, violas, cellos and their…

March 2017

Teaching has become Marek’s passion, and he is excited to launch Chamber Music Master Class Series at Azusa Pacific University this month. For this inaugural series, renowned violist Karen Dreyfus,…

February 2017

NativeDSD just released Marek’s live recording of his debut recital in Tokyo in 2015 “Live in Tokyo 2015” from the SDM & LiveRec label in a DSD format. More information about…

January 2017

Happy New Year! Marek is thrilled to be back to teaching and performances after a brief holiday season. This year, Marek will launch the Chamber Music Masterclass Series at Azusa…

December 2016

Happy Holidays! Marek’s live recording from his March 2015 recital in Tokyo is now on sale at e-onkyo music in a DSD downloadable format. Please check here: Marek Szpakiewicz Live…

November 2016

Marek truly enjoyed his return appearance in Tokyo at the end of last month. Seventeen members of the Soma Children’s Orchestra in Fukushima, which Marek had been supporting, joined him…

October 2016

Marek’s upcoming recital in Los Angeles and his support for the Soma Children’s Orchestra, organized by El Sistema Japan, was featured in the Los Angeles Daily News. Here are some…

September 2016

Marek is excited to serve in a new capacity as Assistant Professor at Azusa Pacific University’s School of Music, from this fall, where he has been teaching cello and serving…

August 2016

Marek’s interview article was published in the September issue of Japanese classical music magazine “Ongaku Gendai (Music Modern Times).” He talks about the repertoire of his upcoming recital in Tokyo, including…

July 2016

Marek will be back in Tokyo this fall with pianist Jiayi Shi for their recital. The tickets go on sales in Japan on July 11, 2016. Date/Time: October 29, 2016 (Saturday),…

June 2016

Marek is passionate about teaching the young generation of musicians. This summer, he is back to Idyllwild Arts Academy Summer Program in Idyllwild, CA and Montecito International Music Festival in…

May 2016

Los Angeles becomes a mecca of cellists all over the world during the 2nd Piatigorsky International Cello Festival between May 13 and 22, 2016. This Cello Festival is held under…

April 2016

In the last few months, Marek was featured in several magazines, newspapers and online publications, both in English and Japanese, regarding his performance on March 13 in memory of 2011 earthquake and tsunami…

March 2016

Marek was featured in recitals with renowned pianist Fuzjko Hemming to commemorate the 5th anniversary of earthquake and tsunami in Northern Japan. March 13 recital, jointly supported by the Consulates…

February 2016

For the last two years, cello students from Marek’s studio at Azusa Pacific University were featured in the Collaborative Bach Solo Recitals with violin students from Prof. Midori Goto’s studio…

January 2016

Happy New Year! Marek will enjoy collaborating with amazing artists this year again. For the next couple of months, his performances can be heard, among others: In February, he will…

December 2015

Seigen Ono recorded Marek’s March performance in Tokyo. Mr. Ono is a pioneer recording engineer in the use of Direct Stream Digital (DSD) technology. DSD samples at a rate of…

November 2015

  Fundraising through music-making is one of Marek’s passions. On November 14, he participated in a benefit concert in Huntington Beach, CA, organized by David Chang, an amazing friend of…

October-2015

Inspired by Yo-Yo Ma, Marek has been broadening his horizons into film music, tango, jazz and more. He believes in great music, regardless of genres. He hopes that the audience will enjoy the sound of cello…

September 2015

  Marek visited the Academy of Music in Łódź (Akademia Muzyczna im. Grażyny i Kiejstuta Bacewiczów w Łodzi) where he received his Bachelor’s degree in September. The Academy is currently under…

August 2015

On August 10, students from Idyllwild Arts Summer Program had a successful performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles, as a culmination of the four-week summer…

July 2015

Marek teaches at Idyllwild Arts Academy Summer Program in Idyllwild, CA, and Montecito International Music Festival in Riverside, CA. He performed Shostakovich G minor Piano Quintet, Dvorak Dumky Trio and…

June 2015

Two consecutive articles on Marek have appeared in Japanese classical music magazine “Ongaku Gendai (Music Modern Times)” in its May and June issues, written by Ichiro Kudo.

May 2015

The reviews of Marek’s performance in Tokyo are published in three prominent classical music magazines in Japan: “Ongaku no Tomo  (Music’s Friends),” “Ongaku Gendai (Music Modern Times)” and “Sarasate.” Excerpts…

April 2015

Various classical music blogs in Japan have mentioned Marek’s concert in Tokyo last month, including one by renowned music critic Yoshiko Ikuma. In addition to the packed concert at Oji…

March 2015

On March 7, Azusa Pacific University hosts a benefit concert with Marek in memory of 2011 earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. All proceeds will go toward a purchase of…

February 2015

Marek’s interview articles will be found in “Ongaku Gendai (Music Modern Times),” a Japanese classical music magazine, and  “A’cordes,” a web-based magazine on classical music in Japan. His upcoming concert…

January 2015

Marek’s cello studio at Azusa Pacific University will present the 2nd annual collaborative Bach solo recitals with renowned violinist Midori’s studio at the University of Southern California in March. Selected…

December 2014

Marek’s interview article is featured in a Japanese stringed-instrument magazine “Sarasate” vol. 62, now on sale. This volume specializes in cello.  

November 2014

Marek visits Soma-city in Fukushima, Japan, to teach cello and bass section of Children Orchestra organized by El Sistema Japan and share his music with them. Finally, he meets with…

October 2014

Marek joined Salastina Music Society to celebrate its 5th anniversary by featuring five young composers from Los Angeles area in the October 5 concert at Thayer Hall, Downtown Los Angeles.…

September 2014

Marek is featured in the Virtuosi Concert Series on September 27 in Encinitas, performing Brahms Sextet No.1 in B-flat Major, Op.18. Other musicians include concertmaster Martin Chalifour, principal cellist Robert DeMaine…

August 2014

Marek is appointed to be Director of Chamber Music at Azusa Pacific University, where he has been teaching cello and chamber music since 2005. He will bring his expertise in…

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