Fot. T. Koprowski |
The 2nd Australian International Chopin Piano Competition will commence this coming Monday the 15th September and will culminate with the Finals, Prize Winners Ceremony and a Prize Winners concert on Sunday the 21st September.
There is a very strong Polish Australian involvement in the 2nd edition of this competition.
Maciej Pawela, Artistic Director; the following members of the Friends of Chopin Australia [Andrew Alwast, Malgorzata Anczewska, Jolanta Gallagher, Wanda Horky, Rosanna and Emily-Rose Horn, Andrew Kopras, Eta Rogoyska], partners with the ANU School of Music and the Polish Embassy in Canberra.
There is another v.strong involvement from Poland
Professor Wojciech Switala, jury member will also be performing the complete cycle of Chopin Preludes on an original 1847 Pleyel, Chopin's preferred grand piano. There will be three competitors from Poland, Maciej Wota, Lukasz Krupinski and Piotr Nowak. There is also one Polish Australian competitor, Konrad Olszewski who participated in the first edition. The other 11 competitors come from Canada, China, Chinese Taipei , Korea, Japan, Ukraine/USA and Australia.
The Polish Embassy is one of three partners (with the ANU School of Music) and has been instrumental in the formation of the Competition in 2011 as well as its financial support for this 2014 edition. The current Ambassador Mr Pawel Milewski and his Deputy Head of Mission Mr Piotr Buszta have provided much support and they will be providing the 3rd prize of $5,000.
The Friends of Chopin Australia is one of two legacies of the Chopin Bicentenary Year in 2010, the second being the Australian International Chopin Piano Competition, and helps run the competition together with the ANU School of Music. It will be providing a 2nd prize of $10,000. It is a national not-for-profit organisation with members in the ACT, NSW, Vic. and WA and was recently recognised by the Australian government as a significant cultural organisation and placed on the Register of Cultural Organisations which also allows it to give tax deductions to donations of $2.00 and more.
Another non-Polish members on its committee who is available for interview is Benjamin James, Vice-President and a young Australian who has deep commitment and passion for our Polish son, patriot and universal genius.
The Friends have three streams to their activities. The Competition, Chopin activities and performances, and identifying the reception of Chopin's music in Australia since 1843 when his music was first being sold in Sydney, during Chopin's lifetime. This last stream through research provides the society with an opportunity to document and create innovative programs and forward this to the National Institute of Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw.
Please visit the following websites for more information
Competition website - music.anu.edu.au/chopincompetition
Friends website - www.friendsofchopin.org.au/competition.html
Media contact
Wanda Horky, President, Friends of Chopin Australia
0438 195 183 ; 02 62595 099 ; wwhorky@gmail.com
| 
