First All-Polish
Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Piano Competition
Bydgoszcz, December 1 - 10, 1961

The first competition in the media:

Andrzej Szwalbe - Director of the Pomeranian Philharmonic:

"Our idea to organize a piano competition named after the patron of the Pomeranian Philharmonic tied in surprisingly well with the spirit of the Polish piano school. [...] The case of Professor Jerzy Żurawlew, who in 1927 succeeded in bringing back to life the oeuvre of Chopin, launching today's world famous piano competition in Warsaw set us on the right course. [...] In the Ministry of Culture and the Arts before an inauguration of our competition I heard the following sentence: - One eminent contestant will suffice to make the competition save face in the course of history. In my opinion such a person showed up during the December auditions in the Pomeranian Philharmonic."

Henryk Sztomka - a pianist, the chairman of the jury

"The organizers of the hundredth anniversary of I. J. Paderewski birthday were right that apart from Paderewski's renditions of other composers, he used to be famous for and win with his talent and perfection the whole world, they also decided to bring out - his creative activity so unfairly forgotten in Poland. [...] Paderewski's piano compositions played in this competition, bear witness to the fact that [...], Paderewski has contributed to the elevation of Polish music culture in general, and the piano culture in particular."

Florian Dąbrowski, "A challenge"
"Pomorze", December 1 - 15, 1961 r.

The event which ends the celebrations of Paderewski's birthday will be an all - Polish Ignacy Paderewski piano competition. During the first ten days of December, young Polish pianists, graduates from the final year as well as students of piano classes of State Music Schools of Higher Education, in noble rivalry, will compete for honorable prizes and mentions. [...]

Kazimierz Kończewski, "After the Bydgoszcz piano competition"
"Pomorze", January 16 - 31, 1962 r.

From the 2nd till the 10th of December, 1961 Bydgoszcz was experiencing its heyday. An indisputable success of the competition consists in the popularization of Polish music across all spheres of the society and musicians. [...]