Graduate of the Academy of Music in Wrocław, which he completed in Tadeusz Strugała's Class of Conducting, Marek Pijarowski perfected his skills at international master classes in Weimar under Arvid Jansons.

In 1974, he was awarded the First Prize at the National Competition for Conductors in Katowice, as well as Special Prize of the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1977, a grant from the Austrian government let him develop his conducting skills in Vienna at the famous Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst under Prof. Karl Österreicher.

Associated with the Wrocław Philharmonic since 1974, in 1980 he was appointed its General Manager and Artistic Director, and, at the same time, assumed the duties of Artistic Director of Polish Contemporary Music Festival in Wrocław; both functions he performed until 2001. Between 2002 and 2005, he was Artistic Director of the Łódź Philharmonic, and Principal Conductor of the Cracow Philharmonic. He was also Artistic Director of International Chopin Festival in Duszniki Zdrój.

Since the 2007/2008 season, Marek Pijarowski has been Music Director of Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra. The artist collaborates with Polish philharmonic and radio orchestras, as well as with numerous international ensembles.

He also runs the class of conducting at the Academy of Music in Wrocław and at the University of Music in Warsaw.