The emotions following the Chopin Competition are slowly subsiding, but that doesn’t mean the end of attractions for classical music lovers this year. On Sunday, the 13th Ignacy Jan Paderewski International Piano Competition will begin. Although its prestige is somewhat lower than that of the Chopin Competition, it is mainly aimed at young musicians. The competition’s history shows that for many pianists, it has been a significant stepping stone to an international career.

This year’s edition attracted 234 pianists from 36 countries. The qualifying auditions were held in cities such as Warsaw, Tokyo, New York, and Shanghai. As a result, 51 pianists from 15 countries have been selected to compete in the new building of the Academy of Music in just a few days.

Among them, there are only three Poles, which also highlights how strong the international lineup is. The most represented nation among the participants is Japan. Poland will be represented by Kacper Kukliński, Michał Oleszak, and Dr. Michał Sikała. Unfortunately, no local talent managed to qualify this time.

The first stage of auditions will take place next week, followed by the second stage starting on Friday, November 14. The results will be announced on November 22. Until then, audiences will have the chance to enjoy a series of performances by the contestants. The competition will also be streamed online by the organizers.

The Paderewski Competition is held every three years.