Matthew Jaskiewicz received his musical training at the Warsaw Academy of Music in Poland, and after graduating, he soon established his reputation as a conductor with the Warsaw Chamber Opera, Ars Antiqua Chamber Choir and Orchestra, and the Warsaw University Choir. He also directed an award-winning men’s and boys’ choir in France.

Soon after arriving in Canada in 1984, Mr. Jaskiewicz founded the Polish Canadian Society of Music and the Musica Antiqua chamber orchestra (now the Toronto Sinfonietta), of which he is still the Music Director, and co-founded the Oakham House Choir at Ryerson University. Since then he has been instrumental in establishing both the choir and the Sinfonietta as respected performers on Toronto’s musical scene.

Mr. Jaskiewicz is also well regarded for his work with the Northumberland Orchestra and Choir in Cobourg, Ontario, which he directed for 17 years, and for his work with the Baycrest Music Society.

More recently, he has directed the Polish Symfonia Choir in Hamilton and the Angel Choir, for children in Toronto’s Chinese community.

In 2005, he helped to establish the Toronto Sinfonietta’s annual Concerto Competition for young musicians and, since then, has served regularly on the jury as Artistic Director of the competition.

In recognition of his contribution to the arts and culture in his adopted home, Mr. Jaskiewicz was awarded the “Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta,” one of the highest honours bestowed by the President of Poland, and the “Gloria Artis” medal for his contributions to Polish culture.