4th International I. J. Paderewski
Piano Competition
Bydgoszcz, 3 - 14 November 1998

Presentation of the fourth competition in the media:

Jacek Marczyński, "Successors of the Master Ignacy"
"Rzeczpospolita", November 28, 1998,

Numerous adversities befell the nascence of this competition, it suffices to mention that between its first and second edition 25 years have elapsed. This year the Fourth Paderewski Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz will be of greatest size and significance, and it is proclaimed it will be organized regularly, every three years [...]

This year fourth Paderewski competition, and the first of truly international rank, is supposed to launch a new phase in the history of this event. The Society for Music in Bydgoszcz undertook the organization of the competition [...] Heed has been paid to propagate the event both home and abroad, numerous sponsors have been solicited.

Anna Mąkol, "Let's worship music"
Good evening, monsieur Paderewski
"Trybuna Pomorza i Kujaw", October 31 - November 6, 1998

They come to this place - to Bydgoszcz, the city of music - from various countries and continents [...] to win precious prizes and highest laurels. [...].

The return of Maestro
"Gazeta Pomorska", November 5, 1998.

It is due to a strange combination of circumstances that Maestro Jerzy Maksymiuk, the laureate of the 1st I. J. Paderewski Competition in Bydgoszcz in 1961, will appear behind the music stand. For many years Jerzy Maksymiuk has been propagating the output of Paderewski, officially maintaining that Paderewski's Symphony H-moll "Polonia" is the best symphony we can find in the Polish music literature. [...]

The concert in memory of Paderewski will be at the same time a solemn inauguration of the 4th I. J. Paderewski Piano Competition which is in progress now. (hm)

Henryk Martenka, "Polonia" for Maestro's birthday
"Gazeta Pomorska", November 9, 1998,

Standing ovation lasting for a long time ended the symphonic concert in the Pomeranian Philharmonic. Such enthusiasm was brought about by the rendition of two most famous compositions by Ignacy Jan Paderewsk on occasion of the inauguration of the fourth I. J. Paderewski International Piano Competition. These pieces comprised Concerto A-Moll and Symphony H-Moll, given the name "Polonia". The anniversary of Ignacy�s birthday - a legendary pianist, outstanding composer and the first Prime Minister of independent Poland fell on that evening providing the second pretext for celebration. The concert was conducted by Jerzy Maksymiuk, Wojciech Kocyan was the solist. [...]

After the break "Polonia" was played. This composition, monumental in form and with allusions to Polish history, evidently was the right choice, yet it required participation of a great number of musicians. For some time this has been the favorite symphony of Maksymiuk. [...] Presented composition (65 minutes of music), rendered in a spectacular way, did not bore even with a single bar [...] The symphony is plastic, expressive, originally instrumented (for the purpose of the composition Paderewski constructed a tonitruon - a percussion instrument). Maksymiuk brought out beauty inherent in the symphony, presenting the audience with a spectacular rendition. Phrases from Andante con moto and Vivace from the finale inspired admiration and emotion. Readable motives [...] infuse this composition with patriotic virtues, yet a foreigner listening to "Polonia", understanding hardly anything from the syndrome of the year 1963, shall appreciate its perfect composition and unceasing artistic value.

Jacek Marczyński, "X-rated"
"Rzeczpospolita", November 16, 1998,

Six main prizes went to the representatives of six countries [...] Organizers succeeded in encouraging young pianists from various countries to come, which is not easy in face of numerous contests taking place worldwide. [...] Judging by the biographies of all laureates, young people want to try their hand at this competition.

This is not the right event for artistic losers having a record of earlier failures at competitions, but a serious confrontation for gifted people, who want to examine their skills in Bydgoszcz prior to a start in other more prestigious events. If this tendency is to be continued in years to come, we may feel confident of the future of the International Paderewski Competition.

Thousands for Tomomi,
"Gazeta Wyborcza", November 17, 1998,

Tomomi Okumura turned out to be the best, a twenty year old student from the University of Art and Music from Tokyo. Frail and slim Japanese, roughly not more than sixteen years old, took in Bydgoszcz the main prize - 10.000 USD and non-statutory prizes: 1000 USD funded by Christine Smith from the USA, a concert in California at the invitation of Paso Robles Foundation for Culture and Art.

Małgorzata Szczepańska- Piszcz, "Mixing with geniuses",
An interview with Professor Reginą Smendzianką
"Gazeta Pomorska", November 19, 1998,

Małgorzata Szczepańska-Piszcz: How do you rate the level of this year competition?

Regina Smendzianka: Regina Smendzianka: Those who got into the final from the very beginning set such high standards that minor talents dropped out during the first and second stage. [...] The best were so good, that they probably will make a name for themselves and make the competition in Bydgoszcz famous.

M. S.-P.: Will the appearance of so talented youngsters raise the status of the competition in Bydgoszcz?

R. S.: Undoubtedly. Further course of career of its laureates is of importance. Their subsequent artistic achievements will certainly make youngsters worldwide interested in entering our competition.

M.S.-P.: Were the previous editions, in which you participated as a juror, equally successful?

R. S.: Wojciech Kocyan, who in years to come, confirmed his class, won the second competition. Nowadays he lives in the United States. The subsequent edition - despite the participation of foreign students studying in Poland - was not very successful and we did not award the first prize. [...] There is no doubt that this year competition was special: international, with highest number of participants, and the level of the best came as a nice surprise.