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Janusz Olejniczak – winner 6th award VIII Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw (1970). He began learning piano at age six. After moving to Warszawa, he attended the Primary Music School, later going on to the Secondary Music School. In both institutions his teacher was Luiza Walewska. During the years 1967-69, he was taught by Ryszard Bakst and Zbigniew Drzewiecki. In 1967, he participated in the International Young Performers' Competition "Concertina Praha", where he won a finalist certificate. At the age of 17 (1979) he performed at the International Platform of Young Performers in Paris, this qualified him to take part in a concert taking place during MIDEM 1970 – the record fair – in Cannes. That same year, he won the 6th award at the IX Chopin Competition in Warszawa; two years later, he won the 4th award at the Alfredo Casella International Competition in Naples. During 1971-73, he studied in Paris under Constantine Schmaeling and Witold Małcużyński. After his return to Poland, he completed his studies at the State Music Academy in Prof. Barbara Hesse-Bukowska's class (1974). He completed post-graduate studies under Wiktor Mierżanow and Paul Badura-Skoda in Essen (1977-78).

He has performed in almost all the European countries as well as Japan, North and South America, Australia and Cuba; he took part in international music festivals in Duszniki, Warszawa, Marianbaad, Nohant, Aix-en-Provence and others. He has worked with such conductors as: Witold Rowicki, Kazimierz Kord, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Marek Pijarowski, Charles Dutoit, Grzegorz Nowak, Andrzej Markowski and others. In 1997, he gave the world premiere of Gija Kanczel’s Valse Boston for piano and orchestra. He has also performed chamber music with violin, cello and vocalists.

Janusz Olejniczak has made many live recordings for radio and television in Poland, France, Slovakia and Japan. For several record labels (Polskie Nagrania "Muza", Wifon, Tonpress, Selene, Camerata, Pony Canyon, Opus 111, CD Accord) he has recorded the works of Rameau, Mozart, Liszt, Chopin (Fantasy on Polish Folk Themes, two piano concertos, Sonata in B minor, Rondo in E flat major, Barcarole in F sharp major, Berceuse, mazurkas, polonaises, nocturnes, etudes, ballades, scherzos and others), Schubert, Prokofiev, Kilar (Piano Concerto), Górecki (Piano Concerto) as well as violin miniatures with Kaja Danczowska and a recital of Polish songs with Stefania Toczyska.

The artist participated in the making of the film "La note bleu" by Andrzej Żuławski, recorded the soundtrack for the movie "Chopin, pragnienie miłości" by Jerzy Antczak as well as to Roman Polanski's "The Pianist".

Janusz Olejniczak has taught piano classes at the Music Academy in Kraków as well as master's courses for pianists in Poland, Canada and Japan. He has sat on the juries of international piano competitions at home and abroad.