Warsaw: SiltaNews – News Desk
Four Polish pianists have advanced to the second stage of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, joining 36 other musicians from around the world. Seen as one of the world’s most prestigious piano contests, the Chopin Competition began this year with 84 participants from 18 countries. After the first stage, 40 pianists were selected by an international jury.
China leads the group with 15 pianists qualifying for the next round, underscoring the country’s growing influence in classical music education. Japan follows with five performers, while Poland is represented by Piotr Alexewicz, Adam Kałduński, Piotr Pawlak, and Yehuda Prokopowicz. Other countries with participants in the second stage include South Korea, and the United States, Canada, Italy, France, Malaysia, Georgia and the United Kingdom.
According to commentators, the dominance of Chinese musicians was expected given the country’s strong showing in recent editions. However, the inclusion of a young Polish pianist, 19-year-old Yehuda Prokopowicz – one of the least experienced contestants – was seen as a pleasant surprise for local audiences.
The second stage of the competition begins on Thursday at Warsaw’s National Philharmonic Hall. In Poland, audiences can tune in via TVP Kultura, Polskie Radio Dwójka, and Polskie Radio Chopin. International viewers can follow every stage online through the official YouTube channel of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute and on the competition’s website.
Held every five years, the Chopin Competition is open to pianists under 30 and focuses exclusively on the works of Fryderyk Chopin, whose music is prized for its beauty and technical complexity. The winner of the first prize will receive €60,000 and a gold medal. The total prize pool exceeds €240,000, highlighting the event’s global importance and high standards.
Overseeing the competition this year is an international jury chaired by Garrick Ohlsson, the U.S. pianist who won the 1970 edition and who also served as a juror during the 2015 edition. Polish pianists have triumphed in the International Chopin Piano Competition on several occasions, with first prizes awarded to Halina Czerny-Stefańska (who shared the gold medal in 1949), Adam Harasiewicz in 1955, Krystian Zimerman in 1975, and Rafał Blechacz in 2005.