Third All-Polish
I. J. Paderewski
Piano Competition
Bydgoszcz, February 5 - 13, 1994

Third competition in the media:

Dorota Szwarcman,
Gazeta Regionalna, February 7, 1994,

In the evening in the Pomeranian Philharmonic performed Professor Regina Smendzianka, a member of the jury. She played Chopin. She composed her program perfectly, enhancing the suspense carefully: from minor compositions to great forms; from calmer to more vibrant moods. But the calmest, nocturnal pieces rich in poetry, such as Etude Cis-Moll Op. 25 No. 7 or Nocturne G-Moll Op. 37 No. 1 sounded most beautiful in her rendition.

Dorota Szwarcman, "It is worthwile playing Paderewski",
Gazeta Regionalna, February 14, 1994

In fact it was easy to predict that there would be no first prize. There was not a person during this contest, about whom we could have called without hesitation: this one is the best. Yet the I. J. Paderewski competition enjoys the chance to promote truly good pianists in the future.

This is guaranteed by the program, based on the repertoire played by the patron himself: difficult but rewarding, with classic and romantic lyrical and virtuoso compositions. And also pieces written by Paderewski himself, still underestimated, still not widely known, apart from such "hits" as Minuet or Krakowiak fantastyczny. But undoubtedly this is the repertoire for the pianist of a great format. The performance of the majority of this year's participants did not go beyond school accuracy. The competition came to its end. In four years' time the organizers are announcing a new contest. This time of international scope.

Małgorzata Maniszewska, "To feel the perspective". Interview with Regina Smendzianka
"Gazeta Pomorska", February 17, 1994

- The program participants had to perform was immense, romantic and virtuoso. Was it not too demanding?

- It is thanks to the program that the competition can contend with other important events of international rank. Basing on the repertoire of Paderewski, it prompts to bring to light imaginativeness and poetry inherent in this 19th century music. Not overloaded with the compositions of the patron, whose pieces do not enjoy great popularity any more, was well balanced in this respect. And bringing to recollection the personage of this great pianists and Pole - is simply our duty.

Henryk Martenka, "Paderewski Redivivus"
"Ilustrowany Kurier Polski", February 18, 1994,

Warm and cordial atmosphere characterized the event which came to an end last Sunday. This was palpable not only during auditions for the 1st and 2nd stage in an exquisite concert hall of the Academy at Staszica Street, but also during the finale in the Pomeranian Philharmonic. And the test the participant of the competition had to undergo was not easy. The Paderewski competition is not a monographic test. Not only less-known pieces by Paderewski are played, but chiefly his repertoire. Extensive, virtuoso, requiring not only technical competency, but also interpretive maturity and a strong, creative personality. The candidates for prizes played for example during the first stage compositions by Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and Chopin, Liszt and Paderewski, and during the second stage compositions by Beethoven, Chopin and Paderewski. [...] The style of organization of the competition brought the spirit of new times. Statutory prizes were entirely financed by the American Foundation Paderewski's Center, i.e. Barbara Piasecka-Jonson, and a Yamaha piano was presented by the Foundation of Regina Smendzianka.