Marek Olma

Born in 1970 in Bielsko-Biała, Marek finished primary and secondary music school with top marks. In 1995, he graduated from The Academy of Music in Kraków in Professer Jan Pilch’s percussion class. Familiar with various music styles, Marek began his career as a soloist and performed in Poland and abroad, taking part in many festivals. He took many prizes, with Beaseptall Group during "Jazz Juniors," with Kraków Percussion Group during “Poznańska Wiosna Muzyczna” (PL), “Warszawska Jesień” (PL), Contemporary Music Festival “Inventionen” (Berlin), "Melos-Ethos" (Bratislava), and in Lvov, Prague and Finland. In 1995 also performed at The International L.H. Stevens Festival and Contest in New Jersey (USA).

Marek has cooperated with a number of outstanding jazz artists and groups during the ’96 Jazz Fest in Nurnberg and Stuttgard: Marek Bałata, Krzysztof Ŝcierański, Beel Street Band, Mr. Bober’s Friends, Kreszendo and Inside Drumming. Other prominent musicians Marek has collaborated with are Ewa Demarczyk, Grzegorz Turnau, Agnieszka Chrzanowska, “Muzyka Centrum” association, Ŝwietliki group, Jacek Dewódzki (ex Dźem), Tadeusz Pocieszyóski (Monkey Buiznes) and Paulina Bisztyga.
Marek took part in theater plays in Teatr Stary, Teatr Ludowy, Teatr STU, performing in Romania and Great Britain. He also played classical music with Sinfonietta Cracovia, Kraków Philharmony, Capella Cracoviensis. With Capella, he performed concerts in Ukraine, Germany and twice in Japan (in ’96 and ’97).

In addition, Marek has taken part in lots of TV and radio programs and recorded over 40 CDs. Since 1998 he has been playing with Big Gala Band accompanying such stars as VOX, Robert Rozmus, Robert Janowski, Teatr Rampa, Helena Vondraćkova. Since a few years ago, he has been cooperating with Marek Grechuta’s group and Wawele group, and has also been playing with young, promising artists like Agnieszka Chrzanowska, Magdalena Kudyk and from time to time supporting Hania Rybka’s group. He has had the pleasure to play with the ancient music group Floripari and taken part in a theatre play “Przygody Sindbada Źeglarza” in Teatr Ludowy.

With his many accomplishments, Marek is highly appreciated as a session musician and educator in Kraków Academy of Jazz and Entertainment and in Kraków Center of Culture.

Select discography:
Basia Stępniak-Wilk - "O obrotach" (Pruszyński i S-ka)
Paulina Bisztyga - "Nie ma co się bać" (Polonia Records)
Krakowska Grupa Perkusyjna - "Przestrzenie rytmu" (Universal)
Ŝwietliki - "Perły przed wieprze" (Pomaton EMI)
Ŝwietliki - "Złe misie" (Universal)
Simfonietta Cracovia, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Anna Bajor (DUX)
Simfonietta Cracovia - Kypros Markou, Conductor (Apollo Classics)
Warszawska Jesień 2000
Wawele & Jan Wojdak -"Źycie jest proste"(Amer-Pol)
Wawele & Jan Wojdak - "Zostań z nami melodio" (Amer-Pol)
Złote Wawele & Jan Wojdak vol 1. (Polonia Records)
Złote Wawele & Jan Wojdak vol 2. (Polonia Records)
Wawele & Jan Wojdak - "Niepokonani" (Universal Music Polska)
Wawele & Jan Wojdak - "Biały latawiec" (Pomaton EMI)
Magdalena Sekuła - "MiłoŚci piękne i trudne" (PWST)
Ada Fijał - "Próby z Piaf"
Paulina Bisztyga - "Idź po swoje" (Instytut sztuki)
Wawele i przyjaciele – (Marfix)
Kreszendo
Myslowitz - "Najwieksze przeboje" - Marek Grechuta with Anawa group "Kraków"
Marek Grechuta – "Niezwykłe miejsca” (Pomaton)