Elwira Ślązak, native of Warsaw, graduated from the K.Szymanowski High School of Music in Warsaw, Ecole Nationale de Musique (France), from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels –percussion instruments (Master) and the Royal Music Conservatory of Antwerp — as Soloist Postgraduate Studies with focus on marimba (as first student of Ludwig Albert`s class). Her diplomas hold the highest merits in all the Universities she finished.
In all these universities, she received diplomas with the highest distinctions (“La plus haute distinction”).She perfected her skills with prominent figures of international percussion art m.in John Beck (USA), Frédéric Macarez, Nicolas Martynciow (Orchestre de Paris, Babette Haag (Germany)
Elwira Ślązak is a laureate of many national and international awards and competitions.
Elwira Ślązak performed at:
- The Ten Days on the Island Festival (Tasmania)
- Braunschweig Festival Classix, Germany
- Auditorio de Tenerife
- International Marimba Festival, Belgium
- International Seoul Drum Festival, South Korea
- Festival of Contemporary Music “Warsaw Autumn”
- Musica Polonica Nova Festival
- International Chopin Festival Duszniki-Zdrój
- VII J. Waldorff Summer Festival in Radziejowice
- Cooltura Carousel
- Les Journées de la Francophonie
- Rachid Behboudov Theater, Baku , Azerbaijan
- Shanghai Concert Hall
- European Parliament(with Axoum Duo – as the first marimba duo in the world)
In the years 1996-1997 she was a member of the “Spring Orchestra of Warsaw Autumn”, with which she took part in the 39th and 40th festival “Warsaw Autumn” under the baton of outstanding conductors – Jacek Kaspszyk, Jerzy Maksymiuk and Victoria Zhadko.
She has performed many premieres of works as a soloist, with orchestras and with Gabriel Collet as Axoum Duo (also dedicated to them – m.in.composers – Krzysztof Wołek, Jacek Sotomski, Ryszard Osada, Jan Bus, Silvia Berg).
The artist has collaborated with renowned musicians and artists m.in. Janusz Olejniczak, Charles Kleinberg (dramatic actor, Belgium), Zeng Yi Gang (Shanghai Animation Studio).
Elwira Ślązak is a lecturer at master classes in Europe, Asia and Australia and a juror of international competitions (“IV Universal Marimba Competition” in Belgium, XXV Drum Fest Marimba and Vibraphone Competition, Opole, VIII Novosibirsk Music Assemblies).
AXOUM DUO
Together with Gabriel Collet, she forms AXOUM DUO – the marimbaphone duo. The duo presents mainly works composed by Gabriel Collet, as well as virtuoso performances of compositions of contemporary and film music, transcriptions of classical works; records music for films, cooperates with many artists of various fields of art.
Since 2010, the duo have collaborated with Marcin Bronikowski (baritone). The trio gives concerts in Poland and abroad with an original repertoire for baritone and 2 marimbas.