Marta Karbownicka, born in Poland, started to learn piano at the age of 6 with her Godmother, Professor Zofia Wezyk, at the State School of Music in Radom. At the age of 13 she was a boarder at the Nowowiejski School of Music in Gdansk, where she studied with Professor Elzbieta Bielicka-Sokolnicka and was awarded a diploma with distinction. Between 1975 and 1980 she studied at the Fr. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw with the pre-eminent Professor Jan Ekier. In 1984, under the auspices of the British Council, she came to the Royal Northern college of Music for postgraduate studies under Professor Ryszard Bakst. Throughout her education, Marta was privileged to work with people who were not only great artists and teachers, but highly ethical, self-disciplined and sympathetic individuals.

The greatest influence on her development has undoubtedly been the result of a meeting in 1967 with the legendary pianist Witold Malcuzynski who, having received an enormous impression of the young girl's talent, looked after her pianistic and musical progress for the next decade, until his untimely death in Majorca in 1977.

Marta's orchestral debut took place at age 16 with a performance of Chopin's Rondo a la Krakowiak at the Baltic Philharmonic Hall in Gdansk, followed by the Grieg Concerto a year later. Since that time she has played all over Poland as well as abroad, including recordings for Polish Radio and Television.

In addition to her solo career, she was for many years involved in the life of the famous Warsaw School of Drama and the Theatre Stara Prochownia, where she arranged music, coached and accompanied the performances of such great artists as Wojciech Siemon, Ewa Zietek, Grazyna Szapolowski and Mazena Trybala.

She was the founder and organiser of the first Night of Polish Composers in Warsaw, a 24 hour event of 20th century music and has also given masterclasses at a number of summer festivals. Since 1986 Marta has resided in Manchester where she teaches piano at both the Junior School at the RNCM and at Chetham's. She is now in demand from far and wide as a teacher and, where time permits, as a jury member at various competitions.

In the Spring of 1999 she was the subject of a Polish documentary about her life including extensive footage with her pupils in action at Chetham's.

Dedicated to working with the younger generation of musicians, her goal is to pass on to them all the knowledge and experience she has herself gained during her life.

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