From November 26 to December 2, 2023, the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław will host the 1st Karol Lipiński International Violin Competition. The competition will feature 20 participants from the following countries: Poland, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the United States, and China. We encourage you to read the participants’ profiles.
The competition is being organized as part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, which are held under the honorary patronage of Andrzej Duda, President of the Republic of Poland.
Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage
from the Culture Promotion Fund—a state-administered special-purpose fund.
Laureates
RESULTS OF THE 1ST KAROL LIPIŃSKI INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION
1st Prize – Karolina Podorska
2nd Prize – Barbara Żołnierczyk
3rd Prize – Milena Pioruńska
Honorable Mention – Reika Sato
Congratulations!
The awards ceremony will take place on December 2, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. during the Winners’ Concert at the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music in Wrocław.
For more information about the concert, click the link: https://amuz.wroc.pl/kalendarium/koncert-laureatow-i-miedzynarodowego-konkursu-skrzypcowego-im-karola-lipinskiego-842.html
Rules and Regulations
Rules and Regulations
Schedule
Application deadline:
October 31, 2023
Announcement of the list of participants:
November 10, 2023
Drawing to determine the order of participants’ performances:
November 20, 2023
COMPETITION:
November 26–December 2, 2023
Competition auditions:
Concert Hall of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław
Stage I:
November 27–28, 2023
Stage II:
November 29, 2023
Stage III – Final:
December 1, 2023
Final with the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław
Opening Concert:
November 26, 2023, 6:00 PM
Concert Hall of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław
Performers:
Jacek Ropski – violin
Alina Wojtowicz – piano
Program:
Ignacy Jan Paderewski – Sonata, Op. 13, for violin and piano
Henryk Wieniawski – Legend, Op. 17
Grażyna Bacewicz – Sonata da camera
Henryk Wieniawski – Polonaise Brillante in D major, Op. 4
Winners’ Concert with the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław:
December 2, 2023, 6:00 PM
Main Hall of the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music in Wrocław
ORDER OF COMPETITION PERFORMANCES
November 27, 2023
10:00 a.m. – Igor Makarski (Poland)
10:30 a.m. – Ok Sunjae (South Korea)
11:00 a.m. – Park Inhee (South Korea)
11:30 a.m. – Park Hee Jin (Australia)
12:00 p.m. – Małgorzata Pasierbska (Poland)
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – break
3:00 p.m. – Karolina Podorska (Poland)
3:30 PM – Sato Reika (Japan)
4:00 PM – Song Steven (United States)
4:30 PM – Tanaka Misaki (Japan)
November 28, 2023
10:00 a.m. – Gaja Wilewska (Poland)
10:30 a.m. – Barbara Żołnierczyk (Poland)
11:00 a.m. – Wojciech Chmielewski (Poland)
11:30 a.m. – Ding Jialin (China)
12:00 p.m. – Julia Grabska (Poland)
12:30 p.m. – Yuichiro Haruno (Japan)
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Break
3:00 PM – Michał Krajewski (Poland)
3:30 PM – Piotr Lasota (Poland)
4:00 PM – Lee Youngmin (South Korea)
4:30 PM – Lin Tina (Taiwan)
November 29, 2023
9:00 a.m.
Park Hee Jin
Pioruńska Milena
Podorska Karolina
11:30 a.m.
Sato Reika
Song Steven
BREAK
3:00 p.m.
Tanaka Misaki
Wilewska Gaja
Żołnierczyk Barbara
5:30 p.m.
Haruno Yuichiro
Krajewski Michał
December 1, 2023
10:00 a.m.
Pioruńska Milena, Karol Lipiński – Rondo alla Polacca in E major, Op. 7
Podorska Karolina, Karol Lipiński – Rondo alla Polacca in E major, Op. 7
intermission
11:15 a.m.
Reika Sato, Karol Lipiński – Rondo alla Polacca in E major, Op. 7
Barbara Żołnierczyk, Karol Lipiński – Rondo alla Polacca in E major, Op. 7
intermission
4:00 PM
Milena Pioruńska, Henryk Wieniawski – Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 22
Karolina Podorska, Henryk Wieniawski – Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 22
intermission
5:30 PM
Reika Sato, Henryk Wieniawski – Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 22
Barbara Żołnierczyk, Henryk Wieniawski – Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 22
Programme
The competition program includes:
1st Stage
1) one of Niccolò Paganini’s Caprices, Op. 1, excluding Caprices Nos. 13, 14, 16, and 20;
2) one of Henryk Wieniawski’s Caprices, Op. 10, excluding Caprice No. 1, or one of Karol Lipiński’s Caprices, Op. 29;
3) one of the Fugues with the preceding movement from J. S. Bach’s Sonatas BWV 1001, 1003, 1005, or the Ciaccona from J. S. Bach’s Partita BWV 1004;
2nd Stage
1) one of the Sonatas for Violin and Piano by the following composers: L. van Beethoven, R. Schumann, J. Brahms, E. Grieg,
C. Franck, R. Strauss, I. J. Paderewski, K. Szymanowski, M. Gąsieniec – Sonata for Violin and Piano (PWM Cat. No. 12746);
2) any virtuoso piece for solo violin or with piano accompaniment, not exceeding 15 minutes;
3) the first movement with cadenza from one of W. A. Mozart’s Violin Concertos – KV 216, 218, 219;
3rd Stage - Final
1) Rondo alla Polacca in E major, Op. 7, by K. Lipiński;
2) Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 8, by M. Karłowicz, or Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 22, by H. Wieniawski.
Jury
prof. dr hab. Konstanty Andrzej Kulka
Chairman of the Jury of the 1st Karol Lipiński International Violin Competition
He was born on March 5, 1947, in Gdańsk. From his time at the Music High School through the completion of his studies at the Gdańsk Academy of Music, he studied under Prof. Stefan Herman.
In 1964, while still a student at the Music High School, he participated in the Niccolò Paganini International Competition in Genoa. There, he received a diploma with special honors. In 1966, he won first prize at the International Music Competition of German Radio in Munich, and this event marked the beginning of his international career. From 1967 to the present, he has performed in over two thousand symphonic concerts and recitals around the world. He has played with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Minneapolis Symphony, the London Symphony, the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, and the English Chamber Orchestra. He performs at music festivals in Lucerne, Bordeaux, Berlin, Brighton, Prague, Barcelona, Warsaw, and elsewhere. In 1970, he took part in the grand Beethovenfest music festival in Bonn, dedicated to Beethoven on the 200th anniversary of his birth. Since 1968, he has performed in a duo with pianist Jerzy Marchwiński. He is a highly regarded chamber musician; together with Stefan Kamasa, Roman Jabłoński, and Jerzy Marchwiński, he co-founded the Polish Radio and Television Quartet.
He has made numerous recordings for CD, radio, and television. His discography includes concertos by Vivaldi, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Glazunov, Lalo, Bartók, Prokofiev, Beethoven, Brahms, Karłowicz, Penderecki, Hindemith, Szymanowski, as well as numerous sonatas and virtuoso pieces. He has participated in recordings of Polish contemporary music (Penderecki, Lutosławski, Knapik, Bloch, Jabłoński, and others). For his recording of all of Karol Szymanowski’s works, he received a special award from Polish Radio, and for his 1981 recording of two of Szymanowski’s concertos, he was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque in Paris. Abroad, he frequently performs works by Polish composers. He was the first performer after Stern of Krzysztof Penderecki’s Concerto No. 1, and has performed this work numerous times in Europe and North America, primarily under the composer’s baton. He has participated in numerous international tours with Polish orchestras. He has close ties to the National Philharmonic, where he held the position of soloist from 1984 to 2022, that is, until the position was eliminated. With this orchestra, primarily under the baton of Witold Rowicki and Kazimierz Kord, he has toured nearly the entire world on numerous occasions.
Since 1994, he has been a professor at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music (now the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music) in Warsaw. He has received numerous honors, including awards from the Minister of Culture and Art, an award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs for outstanding contributions to the promotion of Polish culture abroad, and the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. In 2014, he received the Golden Fryderyk Award for his lifetime musical achievements and contribution to the development of Polish music (having previously won three Fryderyk Awards in various categories). He holds honorary doctorates from the Academy of Music in Gdańsk and the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.
prof. dr hab. Bartosz Bryła
Bartosz Bryła began studying the violin at the age of six under the guidance of Prof. Adam Nowak at the State General Music School in Wrocław, with whom he continued his studies until he received his diploma from the State Music High School in Wrocław in 1979. He then began his studies at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg in the class of Prof. Wolfgang Marschner, which he continued at the Academy of Music in Poznań in the class of Prof. Jadwiga Kaliszewska, until he received his diploma with honors in 1983. He participated in music interpretation courses in the classes of Henryk Szeryng, Nathan Milstein, and Sir Yehudi Menuhin.
He is the winner of the National Competition for Young Violinists in Lublin (1978); a laureate of the 8th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poznań (1981), the L. Spohr International Violin Competition in Freiburg (1982), and the International Chamber Music Competition in Colmar (1986).
Since 1986, he has been a member of the “Chopin Trio,” with which he won a special prize for the best performance of a work by W. A. Mozart at the International Chamber Music Competition in Colmar (France, 1986). For many years, he has maintained an intensive concert schedule, performing as a soloist and chamber musician in the finest concert halls around the world. He has given concerts throughout Europe as well as in Cuba, China, Japan, the USA, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon.
He collaborates with the early music ensemble “Collegium Viridimontanum,” with which he has performed dozens of concerts playing period instruments.
His artistic output includes recordings made for various Polish and international record labels, including Polskie Nagrania, Wifon, Poljazz-Classik, Emscherland Classik (Germany), and Selene—the world premiere recording of Józef Wieniawski’s Violin Sonata with pianist Andrzej Tatarski, as well as EMG Victor (Japan)—participation in recordings of the complete works of Fryderyk Chopin. He has made many hours of archival recordings for Polish Radio, including the first-ever recording of Karol Lipiński’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor with the Polish Radio and Television Orchestra in Warsaw under the baton of Jerzy Salwarowski.
In addition to his concert activities, he is also active as a teacher. He is a professor of violin; from 2012 to 2020, he served as head of the Interdepartmental Chamber Music Department, and he is currently head of the Department of String Instruments, Harp, and Guitar at the I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań. Since 1998, he has also taught a violin class at the K. Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. Approximately eighty violinists have graduated from his class, many of whom have won dozens of prestigious violin and chamber music competitions around the world, including his student Agata Szymczewska won first prize at the 13th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poznań in 2006. Many of his graduates hold the position of concertmaster in symphony orchestras in Poland and abroad, including the Zielona Góra Philharmonic, the Poznań Philharmonic, the National Philharmonic in Wrocław, and The New York City Ballet. He has led master classes and given lectures at various institutions in Poland and abroad, including the University of Guanajuato (Mexico), the Beijing Conservatory, Hunter College of The City University of New York, the Peabody Institute of Music at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (USA), the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofia in Madrid, the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Würzburg (Germany), the Master Class in Musical Interpretation in Zell an der Pram (Austria), and the Master Violin Classes in Bilbao and San Sebastián (Spain).
As chairman and a member of the jury, he has participated in national and international violin, chamber music, and violin-making competitions in Poland and in countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Germany, China, and the United States; in 2011, he served as vice chairman of the jury at the 14th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poznań. For his many years of work, he has twice received the award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, and has been awarded the Medal for Distinguished Service to Culture, the Gold Cross of Merit, the Medal of the National Education Commission, the Bronze and Silver “Gloria Artis” Medals for Merit to Culture, and the Gold Medal for Long Service. From 2007 to 2017, he served as president of the Henryk Wieniawski Music Society
prof. Florin Croitoru
He graduated from the Bucharest Academy of Music. His violin teachers were (in chronological order): Ionel Nistor, Cristina Ardelean, Mihai Constantinescu, Valeriu Rogacev, Modest Iftinchi, Stefan Gheorghiu, Eduard Schmieder, and Victor Danchenko. He has performed in many countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States. He has also won 11 awards at international music competitions, including first prize at the 1992 “Fritz Kreisler” International Violin Competition in Vienna, Austria. He has also released numerous recordings and appeared in live broadcasts and recordings on American, Hungarian, Italian, French, Austrian, Japanese, Irish, Icelandic, Swedish, Polish, Norwegian, British, and Romanian radio and television stations. Following his solo debut with the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Christoph von Dohnanyi, Florin Croitoru was hailed by the Austrian press as a “phenomenal soloist” (O.O.Nachrichten – Linz) who had mastered “perfect technique” (Neue Kronen Zeitung – Vienna).
His repertoire and recordings encompass most violin concertos, from Baroque to contemporary, as well as several rare recital programs, such as: “Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin,” “Fritz Kreisler – The Complete Works,” “The Virtuoso Violin,” and “Florin Croitoru Plays His Own Transcriptions and Original Compositions.” In 2013, he released two world premieres: transcriptions of piano works for solo violin, based on some of the most beautiful and difficult virtuoso pieces ever written for the piano.
When he is not performing internationally, Prof. Croitoru spends time in his home country, putting into practice a new method of teaching the violin that he developed in his doctoral dissertation (research completed in 2003). Currently, many of his students are prize winners of various national and international violin competitions.
In addition to solo performances and conducting violin masterclasses, Prof. Croitoru is regularly invited around the world to serve as a jury member for International Music Competitions. Since 1999, he has been teaching at the National University of Music in Bucharest.
dr hab. Paweł Jabłczyński, prof. AMKL
Double bassist, composer, and author of numerous transcriptions and arrangements. A graduate of the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, where he studied under the legendary Professor Tadeusz Górny. He continued his education at the Hochschule der Künste Bern, where he completed his doctoral studies in 2014 under the supervision of Rinat Ibragimov and Ruslan Lutsyk.
In 2015–2016, he was a double bassist with the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden.
He has collaborated with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, the Chain Ensemble, the Baltic Neopolis Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic Academy Orchestra.
As a soloist, he has performed with the Berner Symphony Orchestra, the InterCamerata Orchestra, the R-20 Chamber Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Wrocław.
Since 2006, he has been professionally affiliated with the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. In 2018, he received the title of Doctor of Arts. The artist’s passion lies in his original double bass transcriptions.
In January 2021, Anagram released the album “Karłowicz. Songs,” recorded together with Justyna Skoczek and Bartosz Porczyk. It is the only recording that includes all 23 of Karłowicz’s surviving songs.
prof. dr hab. Jarosław Pietrzak
He graduated with honors from the Henryk Wieniawski Music High School in Łódź and the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, where he studied violin under Prof. Zenon Brzewski. He honed his skills under the guidance of professors Irena Dubiska, Jean Fournier, Wolfgang Marschner, Oleg Krysa, Renato de Barbieri, and Zachar Bron.
He is a laureate of the Young Violinists Festival in Lublin and the Karol Szymanowski Chamber Music Competition in Łódź. He was a member of the Polish Chamber Orchestra and the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra. With these ensembles, he has made numerous recordings and television appearances. He also participated in the Menuhin Festival Orchestra’s world tour, conducted by Sir Yehudi Menuhin. He maintains an active career as a soloist and chamber musician.
He has performed in the USA, France, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Switzerland, and South Korea. As a soloist, he has performed at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, City Hall in Glasgow, and Spivey Hall in Atlanta. Jarosław Pietrzak’s artistic interests also include contemporary music. His discography includes the album Polish Violin Duos, recorded together with violinist Bartłomiej Nizioł. Since 2010, he has been performing with pianist Julita Przybylska-Nowak, forming the Art Chamber Duo and the Art Chamber Ensemble.
Jarosław Pietrzak is also actively involved in teaching. He has taught master classes at Hacettepe University in Ankara, the Daejeon University of Music in South Korea, the University of Arts in Ostrava (Czech Republic), and the Faculty of Music at the University of Split (Croatia). He is a professor at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. Jarosław Pietrzak’s artistic and pedagogical achievements have been honored with the Bronze Cross of Merit (2012) and the Silver Cross of Merit (2018).
PhD Magdalena Ziarkowska-Kołacka
Jury Secretary
Magdalena Ziarkowska-Kołacka is an assistant in the violin class at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław (she has held a Doctor of Musical Arts degree since 2020) and the associate concertmaster of the Leopoldinum Orchestra of the National Forum of Music. From 2016 to 2019, she served as concertmaster of the Częstochowa Philharmonic.
She began her violin studies at the Music School Complex in Włocławek, and continued them at the Secondary Music School in Łódź under the guidance of Prof. Tomasz Bartosiak. In 2017, she graduated with honors from the I. J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań in the violin class of Prof. Jarosław Żołnierczyk.
From 2011 to 2016, she was a member of the Young Polish Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Adam Klock, with which she performed in the country’s most prestigious concert halls and took part in the MISA Festival in Shanghai. From 2013 to 2016, she served as concertmaster of the Łódź Region Youth Orchestra Sinfonietta. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has participated in numerous festivals, including: Warsaw Autumn and Crazy Days of Music in Warsaw, Colors of Poland at the Łódź Philharmonic, the Bronisław Huberman Violin Festival at the Częstochowa Philharmonic, Wratislavia Cantans, the Summer Music Academy in Lusławice, the Masters of Polish Violin Artistry Festival at the Zielona Góra Philharmonic, the Music Festival of Southern Greater Poland in Kalisz, the International Festival “All Corners of the World” in Puławy, Poznań Spring, the Witold Lutosławski Festival “Łańcuch XII” in Radziejowice.
In July 2018, she undertook a prestigious concert tour as part of the Baltic Neopolis Virtuosi program, performing 20th-century chamber music works in Poland and Estonia alongside concertmasters and principal players from leading European orchestras. She has also collaborated with pianist Barbara Karaśkiewicz, with whom she has toured extensively throughout Europe. As a soloist, she performs with Polish symphony and chamber orchestras, including the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, the Zielona Góra Philharmonic, and the Częstochowa Philharmonic, collaborating with conductors such as:
Adam Klocek, Rafał Jacek Delekta, Grzegorz Wierus, and Czesław Grabowski. She is also a visiting lecturer at the National Forum of Music’s Orchestra Academy. Magdalena Ziarkowska-Kołacka won first prize in the solo category and second prize in the chamber ensemble category at the Musica Insieme International Competition in Venice, second place at the Tadeusz Wroński Youth Competition for Solo Violin in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, and an honorable mention at the 10th J. Zarębski International Music Competition in Łomianki.
She is currently working to promote the legacy of Bronisław Huberman, about whom she wrote her doctoral dissertation titled *Bronisław Huberman: An Analysis of the Aesthetics of the Great Violin Virtuoso’s Playing Based on His Recordings, Arrangements, and Transcriptions*. The works described in the thesis were recorded on the album Bronisław Huberman: A Tribute to a Violin Genius, released by the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław in collaboration with the Częstochowa Philharmonic. In October 2020, Divine Art released the album *20th Century Polish Music*, recorded with Barbara Karaśkiewicz and Sergei Rysanov (Huberman Duo and Huberman Piano Trio), featuring works by Grażyna Bacewicz, Karol Szymanowski, and Andrzej Panufnik. The album has garnered acclaim from many critics, both in Poland and abroad, as evidenced by its nomination for the prestigious Fryderyk Award in two categories.
Magdalena Ziarkowska-Kołacka has the honor of playing an Italian violin crafted by Riccardo Antoniazzi, which once belonged to Bronisław Huberman himself.
Finalists
Milena Pioruńska
Program
IIII etap
Karol Lipiński - Rondo alla Polacca op. 7
Henryk Wieniawski - Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 22
Karolina Podorska
Program
IIII etap
Karol Lipiński - Rondo alla Polacca op. 7
Henryk Wieniawski - Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 22
Reika Sato
Program
IIII etap
Karol Lipiński - Rondo alla Polacca op. 7
Henryk Wieniawski - Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 22
Barbara Żołnierczyk
Program
IIII etap
Karol Lipiński - Rondo alla Polacca op. 7
Henryk Wieniawski - Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 22
Participants in the second stage
Park Hee Jin
Date of birth: July 10, 1999
Nationality: Australia
Instructor: Ole Bohn
Institution: Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Program:
Round 1
H. Wieniawski - Caprice, Op. 10, No. 9
J. S. Bach – Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Ciaccona
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1 No. 24
Round 2
L. V. Beethoven – Sonata in C minor, Op. 30 No. 2
E. Ysaÿe – Sonata in D major for solo violin, Op. 27 No. 3
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219, I. Allegro Aperto
Pianist: Anna Rutkowska-Schock
Milena Pioruńska
Date of birth: February 9, 2005
Nationality: Polish
Instructors: Prof. Bartosz Bryła, Ph.D., Karina Gidaszewska, Ph.D., Prof. at the Academy of Music
Institution: I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
Program:
First Round
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 2 “La Vélocité”
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1 No. 2
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: I Grave, II Fugue
Round 2
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in G major, K. 216, I Allegro
C. Saint-Saëns – Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28
K. Szymanowski – Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9
Pianist: Michał Francuz
Karolina Podorska
Date of birth: November 30, 1999
Nationality: Polish
Instructor: Jarosław Pietrzak
Institution: Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1 No. 1
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 6 Prelude
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: I Grave, II Fugue
Round 2
K. Szymanowski – Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9
H. Wieniawski – Polonaise in A major, Op. 21
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
Pianist: Julita Przybylska-Nowak
Reika Sato
Date of birth: August 14, 1999
Nationality: Japan
Instructors: Olivier Charlier, Virginie Buscail
Institution: Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 11
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 5 “Alla Saltarella”
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
L. V. Beethoven – Sonata in G major, Op. 30 No. 8
C. Saint-Saëns (arr. E. Ysaÿe) – Etude in the form of a waltz, Op. 52
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
Pianist: Julita Przybylska-Nowak
Steven Song
Date of birth: February 27, 1999
Nationality: United States
Instructor: Tai Murray
Institution: Yale School of Music
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1, No. 11
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 5, “Alla Saltarella”
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
R. Strauss – Violin Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18
H. Wieniawski – Fantasy on themes from the opera Faust by Ch. Gounod, Op. 20
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219, I. Allegro Aperto
Misaki Tanaka
Date of birth: January 6, 1999
Nationality: Japan
Instructors: Yuzuko Horigome, Pavel Wallinger
Institution: Conservatorium Maastricht, Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 24
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 5, Alla Saltarella
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
J. Brahms – Sonata in D major, Op. 108 No. 3
M. Ravel – Tzigane
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in G major, K. 216, I Allegro
Pianist: Anna Rutkowska-Schock
Pianist: Michał Francuz
Gaja Wilewska
Nationality: Poland
Instructors: Bartosz Bryła, Aleksandra Bryła
Institution: I. J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini - Caprice, Op. 1, No. 7
H. Wieniawski - Caprice, Op. 10, No. 6, Prelude
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
L. van Beethoven – Sonata for Piano and Violin in A minor, Op. 23 No. 4
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
H. Wieniawski – Fantasy on themes from Ch. Gounod’s opera Faust, Op. 20
Pianist: Michał Francuz
Barbara Żołnierczyk
Date of birth: September 29, 2000
Nationality: Polish
Instructors: Bartosz Bryła, Karina Gidaszewska
Institution: Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
Program:
Round 1
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: I Grave, II Fugue
H. Wieniawski – Caprice No. 2, Op. 10, “La Velocité”
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1, No. 15
Round 2
K. Szymanowski – Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in G major, K. 216, I Allegro
C. Saint-Saëns (arr. E. Ysaÿe) – Etude in the form of a waltz, Op. 52
Pianist: Michał Francuz
Yuichiro Haruno
Date of birth: March 10, 2004
Nationality: Japan
Instructor: Aki Sauliere
Institution: Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1, No. 19
K. Lipiński – Caprice No. 3, Op. 29
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
L. V. Beethoven – Sonata in E minor, Op. 12 No. 3
Henryk Wieniawski – Polonaise in A major, Op. 21
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219: I Allegro Aperto
Pianist: Anna Rutkowska-Schock
Michał Krajewski
Date of birth: February 25, 2003
Nationality: Polish
Instructor: Dalibor Karvay
University: Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien
Program:
Round 1
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 6 Prelude
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1 No. 12
Round 2
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219, I. Allegro Aperto
E. Grieg – Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45
C. Saint-Saëns (arr. E. Ysaÿe) – Etude in the Form of a Waltz, Op. 52
Pianist: Joanna Zathey
Participants in the first stage
WOJCIECH CHMIELEWSKI
Date of birth: June 19, 2001
Nationality: Polish
Instructor: Bartłomiej Nizioł
Institution: Bern University of the Arts
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1 No. 1
H. Wieniawski – Caprice Op. 10 No. 7 “La Cadenza”
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: I Grave, II Fugue
Round 2
L. van Beethoven – Sonata in C minor, Op. 30 No. 7
E. Ysaÿe – Sonata, Op. 27 No. 5
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
Pianist: Michał Francuz
JIALIN DING
Date of birth: April 28, 2006
Nationality: China
Instructor: Yuan Tian
School: Middle School Affiliated to the China Conservatory of Music
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice No. 1, Op. 1
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 4, “Le Staccato”
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: I Grave, II Fugue
Round 2
L. van Beethoven – Sonata in D major, Op. 12 No. 1
N. Paganini – Nel cor più non mi sento
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
Pianist: Anna Rutkowska-Schock
JULIA GRABSKA
Date of birth: March 18, 2003
Nationality: Polish
Instructor: Janusz Wawrowski
Institution: Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw
Program:
Round 1
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 5, “Alla Saltarella”
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1 No. 10
Round 2
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219: I Allegro aperto
R. Schumann – Violin Sonata in A minor, Op. 105 No. 1
P. de Sarasate – Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20
Pianist: Mischa Kozłowski
YUICHIRO HARUNO
Date of birth: March 10, 2004
Nationality: Japan
Instructor: Aki Sauliere
Institution: Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1, No. 19
K. Lipiński – Caprice No. 3, Op. 29
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio, II. Fugue
Round 2
L. V. Beethoven – Sonata in E minor, Op. 12 No. 3
Henryk Wieniawski – Polonaise in A major, Op. 21
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219: I. Allegro Aperto
Pianist: Anna Rutkowska-Schock
MICHAŁ KRAJEWSKI
Date of birth: February 25, 2003
Nationality: Polish
Instructor: Dalibor Karvay
University: Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien
Program:
Round 1
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 6, “Prelude”
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1, No. 12
Round 2
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219, I Allegro Aperto
E. Grieg – Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45
C. Saint-Saëns (arr. E. Ysaÿe) – Etude in the form of a waltz, Op. 52
Pianist: Joanna Zathey
PIOTR LASOTA
Date of birth: August 14, 2003
Nationality: Polish
Instructor: Jan Romanowski
Institution: Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz
Program:
Round 1
J. S. Bach – Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Ciaccona
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 7, “La Cadenza”
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1 No. 1
Round 2
J. Brahms – Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in G major, K. 216, I Allegro
W. Lutosławski – Subito
Pianist: Emilia Biskupska
YOUNGMIN LEE
Date of birth: April 17, 1990
Nationality: South Korea
Instructors: Laura Sunghee Shin, Huyi Zhou
University: Yonsei University College of Music
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1 No. 4
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 4
J. S. Bach – Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Ciaccona
Round 2:
L. V. Beethoven – Sonata in A minor, Op. 23 No. 4
C. Saint-Saëns (arr. E. Ysaÿe) – Etude in the form of a waltz, Op. 52
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218
Pianist: Joanna Zathey
TSAI-WEI TINA LIN
Date of birth: February 18, 1995
Nationality: Taiwan
Instructors: Edward Zienkowski, Leonid Sorokow, Elina Vähälä
University: University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1 No. 23
H. Wieniawski – Caprice Op. 10 No. 8
J. S. Bach – Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Ciaccona
Round 2
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in G major, K. 216, I. Allegro
E. Ysaÿe – Sonata in E minor, Op. 27 No. 4
K. Szymanowski – Sonata for Violin and Piano in D minor, Op. 9
Pianist: Julita Przybylska-Nowak
IGOR MAKARSKI
Date of birth: March 24, 2003
Nationality: Polish
Instructor: Christian Danowicz
Institution: Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw
Program:
Round 1
J. S. Bach – Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Ciaccona
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 4, “Le staccato”
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1, No. 1
Round 2
H. Wieniawski – Capriccio-Valse, Op. 7
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219, I. Allegro Aperto
K. Szymanowski – Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9
Pianist: Emma Pilch
SUNJAE OK
Date of birth: April 14, 1998
Nationality: South Korea
Instructor: Tomasz Tomaszewski
University: Berlin University of the Arts
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1, No. 16
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 7 “La Cadenza”
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: Fugue No. 2
Round 2
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, 1st Movement: Allegro
K. Szymanowski – Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9
C. Saint-Saëns – Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28
Pianist: Zuzanna Basińska
INHEE PARK
Date of birth: October 6, 1991
Nationality: South Korea
Instructor: Sebastian Hamann
Institution: Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1, No. 17
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 5 “Alla Saltarella”
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
K. Szymanowski – Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9
K. Szymanowski – Nocturne and Tarantella, Op. 28
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
Pianists: Julita Przybylska-Nowak, Anna Rutkowska-Schock
HEE JIN (JIMMY) PARK
Date of birth: July 10, 1999
Nationality: Australia
Instructor: Ole Bohn
Institution: Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Program:
Round 1
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 9
J. S. Bach – Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Ciaccona
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1 No. 24
Round 2
L. V. Beethoven – Sonata in C minor, Op. 30 No. 2
E. Ysaÿe – Sonata in D major for solo violin, Op. 27 No. 3
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219, I. Allegro Aperto
Pianist: Anna Rutkowska-Schock
MAŁGORZATA PASIERBSKA
Date of birth: September 14, 2004
Nationality: Polish
Instructor: Łukasz Błaszczyk
Institution: G. and K. Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1, No. 19
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 2 “La Vélocité”
J. S. Bach – Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Ciaccona
Round 2
L. van Beethoven – Violin Sonata in A minor, Op. 23 No. 4
C. Saint-Saëns – Havanaise, Op. 83
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
Pianist: Mateusz Piechnat
MILENA PIORUŃSKA
Date of birth: February 9, 2005
Nationality: Polish
Primary instructors: Prof. Bartosz Bryła, Ph.D., Karina Gidaszewska, Ph.D., Prof. at the Academy of Music
Institution: I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
Program:
Round 1
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 2 “La Vélocité”
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1 No. 2
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: I Grave, II Fugue
Round 2
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in G major, K. 216, I Allegro
C. Saint-Saëns – Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28
K. Szymanowski – Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9
Pianist: Michał Francuz
KAROLINA PODORSKA
Date of birth: November 30, 1999
Nationality: Polish
Instructor: Jarosław Pietrzak
Institution: Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1 No. 1
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 6 Prelude
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: I Grave, II Fugue
Round 2
K. Szymanowski – Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9
H. Wieniawski – Polonaise in A major, Op. 21
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
Pianist: Julita Przybylska-Nowak
REIKA SATO
Date of birth: August 14, 1999
Nationality: Japan
Instructors: Olivier Charlier, Virginie Buscail
School: Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 10 No. 11
H. Wieniawski – Caprice Op. 10 No. 5 Alla Saltarella
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
L. V. Beethoven – Sonata in G major, Op. 30 No. 8
C. Saint-Saëns (arr. E. Ysaÿe) – Etude in the form of a waltz, Op. 52
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
Pianist: Julita Przybylska-Nowak
STEVEN SONG
Date of birth: February 27, 1999
Nationality: United States
Instructor: Tai Murray
Institution: Yale School of Music
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 1, No. 11
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 5, “Alla Saltarella”
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
R. Strauss – Violin Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18
H. Wieniawski – Fantasy on themes from the opera Faust by Ch. Gounod, Op. 20
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219, I. Allegro Aperto
Pianist: Michał Francuz
MISAKI TANAKA
Date of birth: January 6, 1999
Nationality: Japan
Instructors: Yuzuko Horigome, Pavel Wallinger
Institution: Conservatorium Maastricht, Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 24
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10, No. 5, Alla Saltarella
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
J. Brahms – Sonata in D major, Op. 108 No. 3
M. Ravel – Tzigane
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in G major, K. 216, I Allegro
Pianist: Anna Rutkowska-Schock
GAJA WILEWSKA
Nationality: Polish
Instructors: Bartosz Bryła, Aleksandra Bryła
Institution: I. J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
Program:
Round 1
N. Paganini - Caprice, Op. 1, No. 7
H. Wieniawski – Caprice, Op. 10 No. 6, Prelude
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005: I Adagio, II Fugue
Round 2
L. van Beethoven – Sonata for Piano and Violin in A minor, Op. 23 No. 4
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in D major, K. 218, I Allegro
H. Wieniawski – Fantasy on themes from Ch. Gounod’s opera Faust, Op. 20
Pianist: Michał Francuz
BARBARA ŻOŁNIERCZYK
Date of birth: September 29, 2000
Nationality: Polish
Instructors: Bartosz Bryła, Karina Gidaszewska
Institution: Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań
Program:
First Round
J. S. Bach – Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: I Grave, II Fugue
H. Wieniawski – Caprice No. 2, Op. 10, “La Velocité”
N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1, No. 15
Round 2
K. Szymanowski – Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9
W. A. Mozart – Violin Concerto in G major, K. 216, I Allegro
C. Saint-Saëns (arr. E. Ysaÿe) – Etude in the form of a waltz, Op. 52
Pianist: Michał Francuz
Awards
First Prize
A cash prize of 18,000 PLN and the title of Laureate of the 1st Karol Lipiński International Violin Competition
A solo concert with the Józef Elsner Opole Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2024/2025 concert season
A solo recital at the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music in Wrocław
Second Prize
A cash prize of 12,000 PLN funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the title of Laureate of the 1st Karol Lipiński International Violin Competition;
A concert as a soloist with the Józef Wiłkomirski Sudeten Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2024/2025 concert season
Third Prize
A cash prize of 8,000 PLN and the title of Laureate of the 1st Karol Lipiński International Violin Competition;
Honorable Mention in the amount of 2,000 PLN.
The Competition Jury reserves the right to distribute prizes and honorable mentions differently.
All Competition participants will receive certificates of participation.
Review Workshop – Afternoon Session (November 29, 2023)
What’s in the Heart?
The second stage of the 1st International Violin Competition in Wrocław required participants to demonstrate their skills not only as solo violinists but also in collaboration with a pianist. Throughout the day of auditions, the young violinists were accompanied by the distinguished Dr. Anna Rutkowska-Schock, Dr. Julita Przybylska-Nowak, Dr. Joanna Zathey, and Michał Francuz, M.A., who rose to the challenge and performed an extensive program. Moreover, they performed alongside a diverse range of musical personalities.
The mandatory repertoire for the second stage of the competition was the first movement of one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s selected violin concertos. Our attention was particularly drawn to Michał Krajewski’s performance of the first movement (Allegro Aperto) of the Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219. The soloist’s immense energy was evident from the very beginning of his performance. The entire performance was presented with great coherence, with the delicacy and lightness characteristic of Mozart’s works. The violinist maintained this subtlety even in the minor-key passages, where there is a tendency toward excessive heaviness and bitterness in the sound. Krajewski also handled dynamic contrasts with exceptional brilliance, which he particularly emphasized in the cadenza.
Each of the participants in the afternoon session delighted us with their interpretation of a different piece. Misaki Tanaka, in Johannes Brahms’ Sonata in D Major, Op. 108 No. 3, enchanted us with her impeccable technique, skillful use of dynamics, and perfectly polished double stops. Throughout the performance of this piece, the audience’s attention remained focused on the artist until the spectacular finale.
We heard Camille Saint-Saëns’s Etude in the Form of a Waltz, Op. 52, performed by two participants. Barbara Żołnierczyk unfailingly showcased her superb technique and charisma. Her attention to detail, remarkable composure, and exemplary stage presence resulted in a very positive reception. The violinist’s excellent rapport with the pianist is also worth noting—it was clear that playing together was a shared pleasure for the artists. We heard the aforementioned piece a second time in an interpretation by Michał Krajewski. The violinist played the waltz-etude with extraordinary enthusiasm, a trait that characterized his entire performance. The performance was full of freedom, a play of timbres and contrasts that drew the audience into attentive listening.
Gaja Wilewska concluded her performance with Henryk Wieniawski’s Fantasy on a Theme from Charles Gounod’s Opera “Faust,” Op. 20, leaving the audience deeply impressed by her impressive technique, precision, and passion. Her virtuosity was highlighted by a multifaceted, dramatic interpretation. Wilewska’s playing captivated with its richness of moods—from lively and determined melodies, through sweetly sung passages, to a sound full of poignant sorrow. Her phrases, played with ease and a keen sense of musical timing, also did not go unnoticed. All of this, combined with exceptionally clear articulation and technical proficiency in the figurative passages, created a complementary, stunning performance that will undoubtedly remain in the audience’s memory for a long time.
Barbara Żołnierczyk delivered an equally compelling performance of Karol Szymanowski’s Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 9. Each movement was distinguished by its own individual character. The first (Allegro moderato patetico) was marked by long, light phrasing and the development of each note, which guided the audience throughout the performance. The second movement (Andantino tranquillo e dolce) surprised with a shift in tone to a darker, more delicate, yet still resonant sound. The resonant and clearly articulated pizzicatos were exceptionally successful. The rendering of the third movement (Finale. Allegro molto, quasi presto) captivated with its mystery and inner energy. These sensations were heightened by the contrasts and choice of timbres—such as the muted, slightly rough sound. With her naturalness and commitment, Żołnierczyk presented a rich and coherent interpretation that was simply impossible to look away from.
Yuichiro Haruno also demonstrated the lightness of virtuosity in his performance of Wieniawski’s Polonaise in A major, Op. 21. He conveyed the dance-like character in a dynamic manner, oscillating between a bright, bold sound and a more subdued, lyrical tone. The skill and brilliance of his execution of passages and melodic runs, combined with a fluid narrative and the instrument’s resonant sound, resulted in a stylistically coherent performance that captivated with its precision and airiness.
A similar verve was also the leitmotif of Michał Krajewski’s performance, in which he presented Edvard Grieg’s Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45. The piece took on a passionate and explosive character. The entire cycle was accompanied by a deep richness of sound and a wide range of expression, revealing many moods to the listener: spontaneity, mystery, and anxiety. The deep, full sound in the instrument’s lower registers and the gracefully drawn dynamic changes stood out. In the first movement of the Sonata, he played with moods, contrasting nervousness and boldness with delicacy and calm. The constant suspense created an anticipation of the next sounds. The fluidity with which transitions from one character to another occurred left a sense of cohesion in the performance. This was particularly impressive in the third movement (Allegro animato), brimming with a folk-inspired, vital character. He effortlessly shifted from an intimate, warm tone to an open, poignant sound, played with full chest projection. Each interpretive idea was presented clearly and evocatively, easily convincing the audience of the final performer’s concept.
The performances by the five young violinists brought the second round of the competition to a close. Packing all the performances into a single day certainly intensified the experience and the workload—for the jury, the audience, and, of course, the performers themselves. Nevertheless, the artists demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, delivering captivating interpretations.
Ewa Materak, Paulina Zaręba, Anastazja Delebarre-Debay