Chopin 2025: Forty pianists qualify for 2nd stage of Warsaw's Chopin Competition

Forty pianists, including four Poles, have advanced to the second stage of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition following a decision of the jury chaired by Garrick Ohlsson.

Jury chairman Garrick Ohlsson said on Tuesday evening that the decision was difficult, but pointed out that performing in the first stage was already a great success and honour for the young pianists. The director of the competition and the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, Dr Artur Szklener, read out the names of the pianists who had qualified for the second stage.

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National Philharmonic, Warsaw. Fot. PAP/Szymon Pulcyn

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Among them were four Poles: Piotr Alexewicz, Adam Kaldunski, Piotr Pawlak and Yehuda Prokopowicz. Nine pianists from Poland advanced to the second stage of the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in 2021, and eight Polish artists reached the second stage of the 17th Chopin Competition in 2015.

This year, the second stage will also feature Jonas Aumiller (Germany), Yanyan Bao (China), Kai-Min Chang (Chinese Taipei), Kevin Chen (Canada), Xuehong Chen (China), Zixi Chen (China), Yubo Deng (China), Yang (Jack) Gao (China), Eric Guo (Canada), Xiaoyu Hu (China), Zihan Jin (China), David Khrikuli (Georgia), Shiori Kuwahara (Japan), Hyo Lee (South Korea), Hyuk Lee (South Korea), as well as Kwanwook Lee (South Korea), Xiaoxuan Li (China), Zhexiang Li (China), Tianyou Li (China), Eric Lu (United States), Philipp Lynov (independent neutral pianist), Tianyao Lyu (China), Ruben Micieli (Italy), Nathalia Milstein (France), Yumeka Nakagawa (Japan), Vincent Ong (Malaysia), Hao Rao (China) and Anthony Ratinov (United States), Miyu Shindo (Japan), Gabriele Strata (Italy), Tomoharu Ushida (Japan), Zitong Wang (China), Yifan Wu (China), Miki Yamagata (Japan), William Yang (United States) and Jacky Zhang (United Kingdom).

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According to Cienkowska, interest in the competition continues to grow among both participants and audiences with each edition. Photo: PAP/Albert Zawada

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The second-stage auditions will begin on Thursday at 10am and will last until October 12. Participants will perform 40-50-minute recitals, the programme of which must include selected preludes and one of the following polonaises: Andante spianato and Grand Polonaise in E flat major, Op. 22; Polonaise in F sharp minor, Op. 44; Polonaise in A flat major, Op. 53, or both polonaises from Op. 26, as well as any other piece or pieces by Fryderyk Chopin.

The 19th edition of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, organised by Poland's Fryderyk Chopin Institute, runs from October 2 to 23.

The Polish Press Agency is a media partner of the competition. (PAP)

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