In 2012 he was nominated for "Fryderyk" – the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (Związek Producentów Audio-Video, ZPAV) in the category "Composer of the Year".

Maciej Zielinski's contemporary classical music is frequently performed at major contemporary classical music festivals, including: the Warsaw Autumn (Warszawska Jesień) in Poland, the Warsaw Music Encounters (Warszawskie Spotkania Muzyczne) in Poland, the Poznan Spring Festival (Poznańska Wiosna) in Poland, the Musica Polonica Nova in Wrocław, Poland, the International Festival of Sacred Music "Gaude Mater" in Częstochowa, Poland, the 14th Synthesizer-Musik-Festival in Braunschweig, Germany, Musica del Novocento in Rome, Italy, the Park Lane Festival in London, UK, the ISCM World Music Days, Romania, and the Presteigne Festival, Wales.

He was nominated for "Fryderyk 2012" Award in the category "Composer of the Year" (co-nominees: Krzysztof Penderecki and Wojciech Kilar).

His song "Who Knows" performed by De Su girls band, premiered in 2001 has reached radio top charts in two consecutive years (2000, 2001).

His songs from the film "The Stand-ins" performed by Kayah and "Tango de amor" from the movie "Never Ever" have also enjoyed significant popularity in Poland.

Maciej Zieliński received scholarships from the Minister of Culture and Art (1995) and the British Council (1998).

He was a member of the National Jury of the ISCM World Music Days (2002, 2004), and of the Tadeusz Baird and "Musica Sacra" Composers’ Competitions.

In 2011-2012 he has been giving lectures as a visiting professor at the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź (postgraduate studies).

During the 2011 - 2012 art seasons Maciej Zielinski was appointed Composer-In-Residence at the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra.