Polish born and educated Marzena Lilian Szlaga holds diplomas from her native country, including both a bachelor and master’s degree in piano performance and pedagogy from the School of Music at the University of Wrocław (Uniwersytet Wrocławski). Continuing her studies in the United states, she completed her American master of music degree from Chicago Musical College at Roosevelt University in 1995.
She has performed extensively with Polish symphonic orchestras, and has been featured as a soloist, collaborator, and chamber musician throughout Europe and North America. She was a member of the prestigious Civic Symphonic Orchestra of Chicago, and has appeared as a chamber artist at Chicago Orchestra Hall. In addition to her many recitals, she has been featured numerously as a performer and speaker in live radio broadcasts both in the USA and abroad.
Her extensive teaching career has included teaching posts and faculty positions as both a solo artist-teacher and instructor of theory at the Wrocław Conservatory, Beverly Art Center School of the Arts in Chicago, and others. Today Ms. Szlaga has a successful piano studio in Kirkland, Washington. Her past students have been accepted into music programs throughout the USA, including the Berklee School of Music, Boston, among others. She is an active performer locally, performing regular solo and chamber music recitals, accompanies ensembles, conducts master classes, and is a chief organizer of the Seattle Polish Festival in Seattle.