Today is a break day in the Ignacy Jan Paderewski International Piano Competition, whose auditions are being held for the first time in the new building of the Academy of Music. Only 10 talented musicians remain in the competition, and on Tuesday and Wednesday (November 18 and 19) they will perform twice before the jury.

The most represented nation in the semifinal is Japan, with as many as three competitors: Tsuzumi Namikawa and her two colleagues Shunei Aoshima and Takuma Onodera. South Korea has two representatives — Roh Hyunjin and Kim Jiyoung. The competition also features one remaining participant each from Poland, Taiwan, France, Italy, and Ukraine. Of the three Polish pianists who qualified for the competition, only Michał Oleszak remains. Born in Wrocław, he studied music in Rzeszów and Warsaw.

The semifinal results are expected late Wednesday evening. A total of 234 pianists from 36 countries entered the 13th edition of the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Competition. Fifty-one qualified for the finals in Bydgoszcz — but only the top ten remain in the competition.