The jury of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, led by Garrick Ohlsson, selected 11 pianists for the final round in Warsaw. Among them, Poland’s Piotr Alexewicz carries the nation’s hopes as the only local finalist.
The competition, founded in 1927, stands as one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious classical music contests. Since its creation, participants have performed exclusively the works of Fryderyk Chopin, honoring the legendary Polish composer.
Global Talents Prepare to Perform Chopin’s Masterpieces
The finalists represent nine countries from across the globe. Joining Alexewicz are Kevin Chen (Canada), David Khrikuli (Georgia), Shiori Kuwahara (Japan), Tianyou Li (China), Eric Lu (United States), Tianyao Lyu (China), Vincent Ong (Malaysia), Miyu Shindo (Japan), Zitong Wang (China), and William Yang (United States).
Each pianist will begin their performance with Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61, followed by a piano concerto by Chopin — either E minor, Op. 11 or F minor, Op. 21. The National Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Andrzej Boreyka, will accompany the finalists throughout their performances.
The musicians will showcase their mastery of Chopin’s emotional depth, technical precision, and artistic expression before an audience of global music enthusiasts.
Prestigious Award Awaits the Winner
The competition’s final auditions will run from 18 to 20 October, starting at 6 p.m. each evening. After three days of performances, the jury will announce the winner of the 19th Chopin Competition, who will receive a €60,000 cash prize and a gold medal.
The event continues to attract the finest young pianists worldwide, many of whom go on to achieve international acclaim. As anticipation builds, Polish audiences eagerly await to see whether Piotr Alexewicz can follow in the footsteps of past greats and bring the prestigious title home.
