Jerzy Maksymiuk was born in Grodno, Poland, and studied violin, piano, conducting and composition at the Warsaw Conservatory. In 1964 he won first prize in the Paderewski Piano Composition. Conducting, however, soon became his principal career and while working at the Warsaw Grand Theatre he formed the highly successful Polish Chamber Orchestra, which made its British debut in 1977 and has subsequently toured all over the world. Between 1975 and 1977, Jerzy Maksymiuk also held the post of Principal Conductor of the Polish National Radio Orchestra.

Since 1984, Jerzy Maksymiuk has been Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra with which he appears each season at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts in London. Together they have made many overseas tours. In Britain Mr Maksymiuk has also conducted the BBC Welsh and Philharmonic Orchestras, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestras and The Philharmonia. In addition he has conducted many orchestras in Europe, the USA and Japan, Australia and Israel.

In April 1990 he was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by Strathclyde University.