Record interest among young pianists from around the world. The

Record interest among young pianists from around the world.
The 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition
450 pianists from 45 countries have applied to take part in the 17th International
Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. This record interest is much higher than five
years ago, when 353 applications were submitted. The deadline for sending applications
passed on 1 December 2014.
Pianists from the Far East feature heavily on the list of applications. The Competition Bureau
has received 88 applications from Japan (31 more than for the last competition), 77 from
China (and Taiwan) and as many as 56 from Polish pianists. There are also large groups from
South Korea (47), Russia (35) and the United States (34).
The applications include video recordings of the pianists’ performance of the programme of
the first round of the Competition, and they will be assessed by a Selection Committee headed
by Professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń. The names of the 160 pianists selected for the public
Qualifying Round, to be held in Warsaw from 13 to 24 April, will be announced by 9 March
2015. The two leading Polish pianists in the All-Poland Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition,
held in Warsaw from 31 January to 8 February 2015, will secure a bye to the Competition
proper, without needing to qualify.
In accordance with the Rules, 80 pianists born between 1985 and 1999 will qualify for the
Competition. They will be judged by an international jury led by Professor Popowa-Zydroń
that features many former prize-winners of the Competition, such as Adam Harasiewicz (First
Prize, 1955), Martha Argerich (First Prize, 1965), Garrick Ohlsson (First Prize, 1970), Dang
Thai Son (First Prize, 1980) and the youngest among them, making his debut as a juror,
Yundi Li (First Prize, 2000).
The Competition will be streamed live around the world on the competition’s website,
http://konkurs.chopin.pl, and also on a special mobile application.
Bank Zachodni WBK Patron of the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, Warsaw 2015
ul. Tamka 43, 00-355 Warszawa; tel. (+48) 22 44 16 117, fax: (+48) 22 44 16 113, e-mail: [email protected], www.chopin.nifc.pl