As I reflect on my journey as a musician, I realise that no one truly prepares you for the reality of being a full-time artist—not during my time at the conservatory, at least. For five years, while pursuing my master’s, I lived in a sort of musical cocoon. My life revolved around music almost 24/7, breathing it in at every moment. If you were fortunate enough not to need a job or at least not much of one during your studies, you could fully immerse yourself in music. Now, I appreciate the advice I once heard: during your student years, you must dedicate as much time as possible to practice. Later, in the “real world,” time for practice becomes a rare luxury, and you find yourself wishing you’d taken that advice more seriously.
Once you leave the conservatory and step into reality, supporting yourself with music alone can be a challenge. It takes immense perseverance, determination, and a deep love for your art as well as a bit of luck. For me, that post-graduation period was all about making a living through music while traveling the world. I was lucky to begin my career performing on cruise ships—first in a piano trio, and later as a solo pianist. While this experience may not have been the best for some aspects of my piano skills, it was invaluable in other ways. I matured as a person, traveller, and musician, and it sparked my curiosity about life outside of Poland. It was also during this time that I first visited Malta, and it made a big impression on me.
After four years of working on cruise ships, I moved to Dublin, Ireland, where I stayed for around a year and a half. This was a wake-up call for me. After years of non-stop performing on ships, my technique had deteriorated. There was little time to practice, only time to play and perform. While my sight-reading skills had improved significantly, my technical ability needed a serious overhaul. It took a good six months, if not more, to get my playing back in shape.
In 2012, I made the decision to move to Malta, beginning a new chapter of my life as a pianist on this Mediterranean island. Relocating as an artist is never easy. Establishing yourself in a close-knit community, where you must prove your worth and showcase your talent alongside other accomplished professionals, can be daunting. But with persistence and passion for music, I gradually built my reputation and found my place in this beautiful country.
The first few years in Malta were tough. I took on as much work as I could, juggling roles as a piano collaborator and piano teacher. It was a constant hustle, and while I enjoyed what I was doing, I knew I wasn’t reaching my full potential as a performer. For a long time, I hesitated to step back into the world of solo concerts. The idea of performing alone on stage again was intimidating, and it took me years to build up the courage.
Then in 2019, I had a breakthrough. I finally found the confidence to return to solo performances. It felt like a turning point—not just for my career but also for my relationship with the piano. Once I put myself out there, more opportunities began to open. I started receiving invitations for concerts and collaborations, which led me to where I am now.
Looking back, I realise how crucial it was to take that step forward into playing solo again. It was safe to stay in the comfort zone, but it would not advance me, and it would not improve my playing. It would just stay stagnant. Since then, my musical journey has expanded in ways I never imagined, and I’m happy for that.
These moments are just a glimpse into the experiences that have shaped me into the musician I am today—a pianist, chamber music collaborator, and teacher. Music continues to be my passion, and my journey is far from over. I invite you to stay connected and explore more of my musical endeavours.
Welcome to my page, and I hope you’ll enjoy being part of my story.