Georgi Vasilev and Aka Duo are the winners of the Third International Competition of Polish Music. The Jury picked the winners out of the finalists in two categories – pianists and chamber ensembles. The musicians competing in the final stage/round showed an extraordinary high level of interpretation and an interesting selection of repertoire.
International Competition of Polish Music is not a typical competition. Of course, the rivalry that creates huge emotions is at the centre of attention, also due to the precious main prizes in addition to a host of non-cash prizes, such as invitations to concerts and recitals at prestigious concert halls in Poland and other countries. Yet this competition is also a place where we rediscover the forgotten pages of Polish music, where the musicians are able to familiarise themselves with works by lesser-known composers. Thanks to the international character of the competition, as well as its online presence, the competition is an excellent ambassador of Polish music all around the world – said Paula Lis-Sołoducha, Director of the National Institute of Music and Dance.
In the category of Pianists, the winners are:
First prize – Georgi Vasilev
Second prize – Jan Wachowski
Third prize – Kiryl Keduk
Fourth prize – Linda Lee
Fifth prize – Danylo Saienko
Sixth prize – Tomasz Zając
The winner of a special main prize for the best performance of a work written by Antoni Stolpe is Kiryl Keduk.
In the category of Chamber Ensembles, the winners are:
First prize – Aka Duo
Second prize – Reverie Piano Duo
Third prize – Quintessence
Fourth prize – Shoven Quartet
Fifth prize – Silesian Wind Quintet
Sixth prize – Metropolis Piano Quartet
Honourable mentions
Wyróżnienie – Diverso String Quartet
Wyróżnienie – Aries duo
The winner of a special main prize for the best performance of a work written by Antoni Szałowski is Quintessence.
The week of competition performances has been, for us jurors and for the audiences alike, a genuine celebration of Polish music. We have heard plenty of interesting interpretations of works that have already been well known in the Polish chamber music repertoire, as well as unique discoveries of lesser known compositions. The jury appreciated not only the high level of performances as such but also the choice of the repertoire and its expressively convincing interpretations in the form of a concert. Polish music is an inseparable part of our national heritage and history. We hope that the winners – pianists and chamber ensembles through their concert activities will be the best promotion of our culture – said Paweł Zalejski, chairman of the jury in the category of chamber ensembles.
The Awards Ceremony connected with the Prize Winners Concert will take place on 9 July at 6.00pm.
The winners will be accompanied by the Artur Malawski Podkarpacka Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paweł Przytocki and Łukasz Borowicz. Tickets will be sold for the Prize Winners Concert.
In either category of the competition, separately for the Pianists and separately for the Chamber Ensembles, there are six main prizes each for the total amount of 100,000 euros. In the 2023 edition, 1000 euros each is awarded for the best performance of a work written by one of the following composers: in the Pianists category – Antoni Stolpe, Eugeniusz Pankiewicz (125th anniversary of death), Raul Koczalski (75th anniversary of death) and in the Chamber Ensembles category – again Antoni Stolpe, as well as Witold Maliszewski (150th anniversary of birth) and Antoni Szałowski (50th anniversary of death).
There are also additional special prizes, e.g. in the form of concerts held by cultural institutions, including artistic ones such as philharmonics, as well as media, cash and material prizes.
The competition is organised by the National Institute of Music and Dance in collaboration with the Artur Malawski Podkarpacka Philharmonic in Rzeszów, and financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland and by the Marshal of Podkarpackie Voivodeship.
The third edition of the competition received the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda.
Partners of the competition:
Polish Radio 2, YAMAHA, LOT Polish Airlines, PWM Edition, Ruch Muzyczny
STOART, Society of Authors ZAiKS, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
Karol Szymanowski Combined School of Music No. 1 in Rzeszów
Wojciech Kilar Combined School of Music No. 2 in Rzeszów
Media patrons:
Polish Radio, Culture.pl, Polmic.pl, Rzeczpospolita, TVP Kultura, ONET, Zwierciadło, Gość Niedzielny
Nowiny, Nowiny 24.pl, Podkarpacki Informator Kulturalny
Editorial cooperation – Kultura wokół Nas
The competition is a member of the network of piano competitions
Alink-Argerich Foundation
