The jury of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, led by Garrick Ohlsson, selected 11 pianists for the final round. Poland’s Piotr Alexewicz remains the nation’s last hope in the prestigious Warsaw contest.
The classical music community now celebrates the announcement of the finalists, with Alexewicz standing as the only Polish performer to advance.
First held in 1927, the Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition ranks among the oldest and most respected piano contests in the world. Since its creation, the event has exclusively featured the works of Fryderyk Chopin, keeping the composer’s legacy alive across generations.
International Talent Fills the Final Line-Up
The jury named ten other pianists alongside Alexewicz: Kevin Chen (Canada), David Khrikuli (Georgia), Shiori Kuwahara (Japan), Tianyou Li (China), Eric Lu (United States), Tianyao Lyu (China), Vincent Ong (Malaysia), Miyu Shindo (Japan), Zitong Wang (China), and William Yang (United States).
Each finalist will perform Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61, followed by one of two Chopin piano concertos — either E minor, Op. 11, or F minor, Op. 21. They will perform with the National Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Andrzej Boreyka.
The competition’s final stage will run from October 18 to 20, with sessions beginning at 6 p.m. daily.
A Prestigious Prize Awaits the Next Chopin Laureate
The competition’s winner will receive a €60,000 cash prize and a gold medal, joining a distinguished lineage of past laureates who have shaped global piano artistry.
This year’s finalists will compete not only for the top award but also for the enduring honor of joining the world’s finest interpreters of Chopin’s music.
As Warsaw prepares for the final performances, anticipation builds among audiences and musicians alike — eager to witness who will become the next great Chopin champion.
