composer, pianist and conductor; b. 30th July 1966 in Wroclaw. He took his first piano lessons from Selima Morska-Wełmińska. In 1987 he graduated from the State Secondary Music School in Toruń, where he studied with Barbara Muchenberg. He studied at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, first at the Faculty of Choral Conducting and Music Education, and then at the Department of Composition and Music Theory. In 2005 he earned a doctorate in musical arts in conducting and in 2012 he obtained his postdoctoral degree. Since 2013 he has been an associate professor at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz.

He developed his compositional skills under the supervision of Karlheinz Stockhausem and during master classes of Interpretation and Composition Courses in Kuerten, Germany (1998-2002), and the 4th International Course for Composers in Gdańsk with Alain Savouret, Elżbieta Sikora and Ewa Synowiec (2000).

In 1985 Piotr Salaber won the Student Song Festival in Kraków, and a year later he participated in the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole. He is the author of music to several hundred songs, nearly a hundred theatre performances, radio and television programmes, films and tv series. He prepared numerous reportages, including from Indonesia, Singapore, Madagascar, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Egypt, Comoros, Mauritius, the United States and Mexico, which were published in the pages of "Ilustrowany Kurier Polski" and broadcast in original radio programmes on Polish Radio in Bydgoszcz. Performances with his music have been staged in theaters in Poland (Atheneum, TR Warszawa), Russia (Bolshoi Drama Theater in Saint Petersburg, Moscow Sovremennik Theatre), France (Atelier-Théâtre in Paris), Canada (Popular Theatre in Vancouver), Hungary (Csokonai Theater in Debrecen, Nemzeti Színház in Budapest) and Taiwan (Puppet and It’s Double Theater).

From 1994 to 2001 he worked as the musical director of the Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz. He collaborates with TVP1, TV Polonia, TV Polsat, Polish Radio Channel 2 and 3 and drama theatres in Poland. In 2000-2002 he was performing as a pianist with his own orchestra “Salaber Band” on "Na Każdy Temat" TV show in TV POLSAT. In 2004 the “Joker” TV programme co-created by Salaber was awarded with the Blue Hat Award as the "funniest Polish talk show" at the Festival of the Good Humor in Gdańsk. His music for "Karamazov Brothers′" was awarded as "The best music of 2006/2007" by the "Theater" magazine. His music to Witold Gombrowicz’s Operetta, directed by Andrzej Bubień and performed by the National Theatre of Budapest and Óbudai Danubia Zenekar, won the Grand Prix at the 11th International Gombrowicz Festival in Radom (2014).

As a pianist and conductor, he have been performing in Poland and abroad, including in Lithuania, Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, USA and Canada. He collaborated, among others, with Markus Stockhausen – son of Karlheinz Stockhausen. Since 1997 he has conducted many concerts with the Pomeranian, Kielce, Wrocław, Kalisz, Zamość and Łomża Philharmonic Orchestras. In 1997 he published his first CD Lokomotywa with music for children. He conducts recordings of his theatre and film music.

Since 2006 he has been giving lectures on film music at the Institute of Audiovisual Arts at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, and since 2010 at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. In 2016 he was a guest lecturer at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Currently, he is the dean of the Faculty of Conducting, Jazz and Music Education at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz (term of office 2020-2024).

Piotr Salaber has received many awards and distinctions for his artistic work. In 1997 he received the Bydgoszcz Voivode Award for significant artistic achievements, in 1998 the Bydgoszcz Cultural Informant Award, and in 2001 he was honored with the title of the "Bydgoszcz Citizen of the Year". For his activities for the disabled, he received the "Golden Heart" from the “Power of Life” Foundation (2003) and the "Amicus Foundation" title from the Pro Omnibus Foundation (2006). In 2017 he received the Amadeus Prize of the Polish Radio Theatre and the Honorary Pearl of “Polish Market” in the field of Culture.

Since 1997 he has been a member of the ZAIKS Authors’ Association, and since 2003 a member of the SWAP Association of Performers of Music and Music with Lyrics.

updated: 2020 (ac)

Artist's website: www.salaber.com.pl

Salaber's compositional work is focused on two types of music: theatre music (up to several dozen theatre performances) and pieces for children (over 100 songs, musical). Other compositions (about 10), of an occasional nature, are intended for choirs, vocalists, electronic media, orchestra. Characteristic for this work is the combination of sounds of traditional instruments (including folk instruments from different regions of the world) with electronic sounds. The problem of spatiality of sound and the principles of perception in building and shaping tensions are also of great importance for the composer.

Anna Nowak, Katarzyna Kliczewska
"Polish Composers 1918-2000", ed. Marek Podhajski

Nie kochaj, ty mała, artysty, poetry show based on poems by Mariusz Trzaska (1986)

Jak uwięziony motyl, poetry show based on poems by Halina Poświatowska (1990)

Prelude for piano (1993)

Taka już jestem, children's musical with text by Mariusz Trzaska (1994)

Non omnis moriar for speaking choir (1994)

Był sobie teatr, poetry show (1995)

Ciernie for mixed choir and string orchestra (1995)

Lokomotywa, a cycle of 12 pieces based on or inspired by poems by Julian Tuwim for vocal quintet and symphony orchestra (1997)

Alchera, electronic sounds (2000)

Missa Mundana for choir, orchestra, soloists, organ and electronic media (2005)

Music for the finale of the performance Szafa, dir. Artur Hofman (2008)

Music for the tv series Skorumpowani, dir. Jarosław Żamojda (2008)

Music for the performance Ludzie Chudego, dir. Wojciech Adamczyk (2010)

Music for the performance Ludzie Chudego 2, dir. Maciej Wojtyszko (2011)

Niech lampy naszej wiary nie gasną... for soloists, choir and orchestra (2011)

Non Omnis Moriar - We mnie jest miejsce spotkania, oratorio for choir, soloists and symphony orchestra (2017)

Suite-ness of Freedom for choir, orchestra and electronics (2018)

Film music

Music for the film Skorumpowani, dir. Jarosław Żamojda (2008)

Music for the film Kobiety bez wstydu, dir. Witold Orzechowski (2016)

Stage music

Music for the performance Boogie – Woogie, dir. Zbigniew Wróbel (1991)

Music for the performance Pożądanie schwytane za ogon, dir. Wiesław Górski (1995)

Music for the performance Anioł na dworcu, dir. Jan Kulczyński (1995)

Music for the performance Bajkowy Turniej, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (1996)

Music for the performance Malutka czarownica, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (1997)

Music for the performance Antygona w Nowym Jorku, dir. Marek Mokrowiecki (1997)

Music for the performance Stoi na stacji..., dir. Mirosław Różalski (1997)

Music for the performance Obmyślam świat, dir. Andrzej Błaszczyk (1997)

Music for the performance Dusia, Ryba, Wal i Leta, dir. Katarzyna Deszcz (1997)

Music for the performance Tomasz Mann, dir. Aleksander Berlin (1998)

Music for the performance Wagon z miejscami do leżenia, dir. Witold Rudzki (1998)

Music for the performance Tajemnice Olsztyńskiego Zamku, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (1998)

Music for the performance Dziady, dir. Andrzej Walden (1998)

Music for the performance Chłopiec z gwiazd, dir. Joanna Łupinowicz (1998)

Music for the performance Lot nad kukułczym gniazdem, dir. Wojciech Adamczyk (1998)

Music for the performance Sonet – Kraina kłamczuchów, dir. Jacek Andrucki (1999)

Music for the performance Makbet, dir. Andrzej Walden (1999)

Music for the performance Szkoła mężów, dir. Jan Bratkowski (1999)

Music for the performance Świniopas, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2000)

Music for the performance Urodziny Kubusia Puchatka, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2000)

Music for the performance Nas troje, dir. Jan Bratkowski (2000)

Music for the performance Kariera Artura Ui, dir. Wojciech Adamczyk (2001)

Music for the performance Podróże Guliwera, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2001)

Music for the performance Pinokio, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2001)

Music for the performance Kot w butach, dir. Andrzej Walden (2002)

Music for the performance Bracia Lwie serce, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2002)

Music for the performance Opera Mydlana, dir. Jan Bratkowski (2003)

Music for the performance Przy drzwiach zamkniętych, dir. Jan Bratkowski (2003)

Music for the performance Bajkopeja, dir. Antoni Gryzik (2004)

Music for the performance Demony, dir. Wojciech Adamczyk (2004)

Music for the performance Zbrodnia i kara, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2005)

Music for the performance Dom Pod Kocim Pazurem, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2005)

Music for the performance Mąż i żona, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2006)

Music for the performance Nieprzyjaciel dir. Jan Bratkowski (2006)

Music for the performance Emil rozrabiaka, dir. Zdzisław Jaskuła (2006)

Music for the performance Masz być szczęśliwy, dir. Jan Bratkowski (2006)

Music for the performance Seans – widowisko, dir. Andrzej Walden (2006)

Music for the performance Bracia Karamazow, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2006)

Music for the performance Pułapka, dir. Julia Wernio (2006)

Music for the performance Opowieści Lasku Wiedeńskiego, dir. Bogdan Tosza (2007)

Music for the performance Dziady, dir. Jacek Andrucki (2007)

Music for the performance Piękna i Bestia, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2007)

Music for the performance Kram Karoliny, dir. Konrad Szachnowski (2008)

Music for the performance Odyseja, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2008)

Music for the performance Trzy siostry, dir. Julia Wernio (2008)

Music for the performance Dzikie łabędzie, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2008)

Music for the performance Osiem świateł Chanuki, dir. Irena Dragan (2008)

Music for the performance Kuracja, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2008)

Music for the performance Widnokrąg, dir. Bogdan Tosza (2009)

Music for the performance Obłom-off, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2009)

Music for the performance Ballady i romanse, dir. Karel Brożek (2009)

Music for the performance Dyl Sowizdrzał, dir. Konrad Szachnowski (2009)

Music for the performance Sanatorium pod klepsydrą, dir. Julia Wernio (2009)

Music for the performance Córka króla smoka, dir. Irena Dragan (2009)

Music for the performance Tartuffe albo Szalbierz, dir. Bogdan Tosza (2010)

Music for the performance Judaszek, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2010)

Music for the performance Książę i żebrak, dir. Konrad Szachnowski (2010)

Music for the performance Parricides (Ojcobójcy), dir. Monique Stalens (2010)

Music for the performance Romane Paramisia – Baśnie cygańskie, dir. Irena Dragan (2010)

Music for the performance Dzikie Łabędzie, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2010)

Music for the performance Żółta szlafmyca, dir. Julia Wernio (2011)

Music for the performance Udając ofiarę, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2011)

Music for the performance Książę i żebrak, dir. Konrad Szachnowski (2011)

Music for the performance Fałszywa księżniczka, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2011)

Music for the performance Czarowna Noc, dir. Marek Czuma (2011)

Music for the performance Na pełnym morzu, dir. Marek Czuma (2011)

Music for the performance Pieszo, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2011)

Music for the performance Iwona księżniczka Burgunda, dir. Bogdan Tosza (2011)

Music for the performance Karrier (Koń ma cztery nogi a też się potknie), dir. Andrzej Bubień (2011)

Music for the performance King Matt the First, dir. Julia Wernio (2012)

Music for the performance Nas troje, dir. Jan Bratkowski (2012)

Music for the performance Rozalinda, dir. Krystyna Jakóbczyk (2012)

Music for the performance Miarka za miarkę, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2012)

Music for the performance Chłopcy, dir. Marek Czuma (2013)

Music for the performance Dziewczynka z zapałkami, dir. Cezary Żołyński (2013)

Music for the performance Operetka, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2014)

Music for the performance Słowik, dir. Chia-yin Cheng (2014)

Music for the performance Потанцуем (Let's Dance), dir. Andrzej Bubień (2015)

Music for the performance Śpiewająca Lokomotywa, dir. Krystian Nehrebecki (2015)

Music for the performance Wujaszek Wania, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2015)

Music for the performance Pułapka, dir. Julia Wernio (2016)

Music for the performance Władza, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2016)

Music for the performance Nightingale, dir. Chia-yin Cheng (2016)

Music for the performance Stara kobieta wysiaduje, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2016)

Music for the performance The Alchemy of Imperfection, dir. Cara Cruickshank (2016)

Music for the performance Leśmian - Autobiografia, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2017)

Music for the performance Ożenek , dir. Andrzej Bubień (2017)

Music for the performance Konopnicka - Autobiografia, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2017)

Music for the performance Uśmiech szczęścia, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2017)

Music for the performance On był samą Polską, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2017)

Music for the performance Lekcja miłości. Historia Kościuszki, dir. Adam Wojtyszko (2017)

Music for the performance Czas życia tak krótki, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2017)

Music for the performance O czym ludzie milczą. Monument, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2018)

Music for the performance Wszystko. Poezja Skamandra, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2018)

Music for the performance Teatrzyk Zielone Oko - Prawdziwe życie, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2018)

Music for the performance Chimeryczny lokator, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2018)

Music for the performance Ja, Feuerbach, dir. Zbigniew Rybka (2018)

Music for the performance Treny, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2018)

Music for the performance Romantyczność, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2018)

Music for the performance I ciągle widzę ich twarze, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2019)

Music for the performance Bea, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2019)

Music for the performance Powiedz to słowo, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2019)

Music for the performance Pistolet, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2019)

Music for the performance Tancerz mecenasa Kraykowskiego. Dziewictwo, dir. Tomasz Man (2019)

Music for the performance Czarne wdowy, dir. Józef Opalski (2019)

Music for the performance Ojcze nasz, dir. Mariusz Bieliński (2019)

Music for the performance Liberation, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2019)

Music for the performance Burza, dir. Andrzej Bubień (2019)

Music for the performance Nieporozumienie, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2020)

Music for the performance Tryptyk Rzymski, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2020)

Music for the performance Strach trawi sumienie powoli, dir. Janusz Kukuła (2020)

Muzyka bez formy, "Twoja Muza" 2006 nr 5, s.81-82