"...of the intelligence and artistry on display there is no doubt"

BBC Music Magazine

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At the age of 19, Maciej won 1st Prize and a special award at the Lutoslawski International Cello Competition. He was a Laureate in the Finals of the 2017 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, and a prize winner at the 2019 YCAT International Auditions in London. In 2022 he  completed his studies at Kronberg Academy with Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

Highlights in the 2022/23 season included concerts at Wigmore Hall, Berlin Konzerthaus and the Kronberg Festival. He took part in the Cello Biennale in Amsterdam and gave recitals at the Bath, Newbury Spring, Brighton and Machynlleth Festivals in the UK.

As soloist he appeared with Kymi Sinfonietta conducted by Jascha von der Goltz, the Orchestra of Opera North, Firebird Orchestra (London), the Brighton & East Sussex Youth Orchestra, and with orchestras across Poland.

Maciej joined Chamber Music at the World's Edge (AWE) in New Zealand and returned as a Faculty Guest to Morningside Music Bridge in Boston, USA. 

In 2022 Delphian Records released his debut album of French music ‘Beau soir’ to critical acclaim.  He went on to record Penderecki’s complete solo cello music, due for release in 2023.

Upcoming engagements in the 23/24 season include performances at the Wigmore hall, Frankfurt Alter Oper, Kiel Musikfreunde and the Leverkusen stART Festival. 

Maciej also makes numerous appearances in his homeland of Poland, performing alongside artists such as Omar Massa, the Gorzów Philharmony, Philharmonu in Wałbrzych, Zielona Góra Philharmony and Baltic Philharmony. 

Maciej has performed widely as soloist highlights including the Warsaw Philharmonic, Baltic Philharmonic, Sinfonietta Cracovia, London Mozart Players, Silesian Philharmonic, Deutsches Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Brussels Philharmonic, Calgary Philharmonic and the Klassiche Philharmonie Bonn at the Laieszhalle Hamburg.  He has been fortunate to work with Krzysztof Penderecki, Yaroslav Shemet, Frank Braley, Marek Moś, Eivind Gullberg Jensen and Stéphane Denève, among many others.

An avid chamber musician, he has taken part in festivals across Europe, and participated in the Piatigorsky Cello Festival in Los Angeles and Beijing Super Cello Festival.  Recent collaborations include Viviane Hagner, Stephen Waarts, Kian Soltani, Mischa, Lily and Sascha Maisky, Charles Neidich, Emanuel Ax, Jan Vogler and Lawrence Power.

Born in Poland, to a family of classical and jazz musicians, Maciej studied at the Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, Mannheim University and the Franz Liszt University of Music in Weimar, prior to entering the Kronberg Academy.  

Maciej plays a Giovanni Baptista Ruggeri Cello made in Cremona, 1700 on loan from a Charitable Trust.

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Press reviews

"Soloist, Maciej Kulakowski has a deceptively relaxed stage persona...but his insouciant manner belies the passion of his playing...we got some magnificent lyrical playing especially in the third movement and the lightness of the cello sound over muted strings in the central allegretto was expertly judged."

Lark Reviews / Maidstone SO Saint-Saëns Concerto No. 1 / February 2023

"One to watch...Kulakowski shows himself to be an already formidable performer and collaborator." 

Gramophone Magazine / Delphian Records 'Beau Soir' / January 2023

"…the ‘wackiness’ of Debussy, Ravel and Poulenc has rarely been better demonstrated…of the intelligence and artistry on display there is no doubt."

BBC Music Magazine 5 star review / Delphian Records ‘Beau Soir’ / November 2022

Contact

To book Maciej please contact

Etta Dainty – Senior Artist Manager [email protected]

Adam Maxey - Assistant Artist Manager [email protected]

0207 379 8477

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Photos © Kaupo Kikkas