International Paderewski Piano
Competition in Bydgoszcz

About the Competition

The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities, born between 1990 and 2006, who have not been students of the Jurors in the last three years.

The Competition is organized to commemorate Ignacy Jan Paderewski, an exceptional pianist, virtuoso, composer, politician and statesman.

The event in numbers

133

Jurors

12 editions

61 years of experience

1,192 applications

from 65 countries

421 participants

from 39 countries

66 laureates

from 14 countries

Over 250,000 hours

of broadcast from the competition auditions

Application Form for the Competition

Win Prizes and Prestige

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The nearest events

Concert on the 163rd anniversary of Paderewski’s birthday

Ignacy Jan Paderewki's 163rd Birthday Concert [...]

References

To be part of the Paderewski International Piano Competition Jury was a rather remarkable experience due to the great talents who performed along the contest, in addition to the fine professionals involved in the Coordination Board.Read more

Lilian Barretto

Jury member of the 11th Competition, 2019

Participating in the International Paderewski Piano Competition was one of the brightest experiences in my life. It was great not only to be in the marvellous city of Bydgoszcz, but also to perform on different stages in front of the wonderful audience and the great jury members. I believe that this unique event can play a very important role in the lives of young musicians from all over the world.Read more

Philipp Lynov

1st prize winner of the 11th Competition, 2019

Paderewski Competition is one of most important international piano contests today. I am honoured to be one of the winners of this competition and since 13 years after winning I can say that it was establishing of my career. Most important moment that competition takes care about their prize winners and organize many concerts in most important venues in Europe. I highly recommend to participate.Read more

Nikita Mndoyants

1st prize winner of the 8th Competition, 2007

Poland is country where piano music is indeed a national pride. Hats off to the Paderewski Competition for representing this great passion, introducing a great International attraction, all over the world, for young pianists, alongside the superb local level of piano playing.Read more

Arie Vardi

Jury member of the 10th Competition, 2016

I have accepted and held the function of the artistic director of the I. J. Paderewski Piano Competition as both a great honor and a significant challenge. But above all personal honors, I value the deep satisfaction and joy that we all probably feel, observing the great development of the Competition in the last few editions. Over a period of several years, thanks to the efforts of the organizers, the I. J. Paderewski Competition, from the position of a valuable, albeit local competition, has risen to an artistic and organizational level that guarantees truly international recognition and prestige available only to the most serious international piano competitions! This is undoubtedly a great success, but also our great common responsibility - a commitment not only to maintain the already achieved level, but above all, to ensure its further dynamic development.I can assure you that this is a task that I care deeply about.Read more

Piotr Paleczny

Chairman of the Competition Jury

The figure of Ignacy Jan Paderewski is a great inspiration for the young pianist - a stunning career and friendships in the highest circles of politicians and aristocracy, great fortune and enormous charity, a true patriot and committed activist for the newly created Polish state. The competition dedicated to his memory is designed as an impulse in the development of a young artist - a rich concert offer, cash prizes, contacts with leading figures in the piano world. The IJ Paderewski Piano Competition meets high international standards and the winners of the leading places have a statutory guaranteed participation in the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw. This is an event worth appearing at.Read more

Prof. Katarzyna Poowa-Zydroń

Jury member

The Japan Paderewski Association is carrying out promotional support for the Paderewski International Piano Competition, as well as promoting prize winners. It also held the Polish Culture Festival 2019 in Japan, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Poland.  It is our sincere hope that the Paderewski International Competition continues to make the magnificent character and superb music of Ignacy Jan Paderewski even more well known throughout the world, to further grow and develop, and to contribute to the friendship between our two countries.Read more

Jun-ichi Nihei

Executive Producer of the Japan Paderewski Association

Through the Paderewski Piano Competition, a great musician and Poland's first Prime Minister, I had a turning point to have the opportunity to expand my capabilities as a pianist. The Paderewski Piano Competition where you can expand your musical limits with great passion was a new light for me and a great force to keep me leap forward. I wish endless prosperity and great development to the Paderewski Piano Competition.Read more

Hyuk Lee

1st prize winner of the 10th Competition, 2016

To be part of the Paderewski International Piano Competition Jury was a rather remarkable experience due to the great talents who performed along the contest, in addition to the fine professionals involved in the Coordination Board.Read more

Lilian Barretto

Jury member of the 11th Competition, 2019

Participating in the International Paderewski Piano Competition was one of the brightest experiences in my life. It was great not only to be in the marvellous city of Bydgoszcz, but also to perform on different stages in front of the wonderful audience and the great jury members. I believe that this unique event can play a very important role in the lives of young musicians from all over the world.Read more

Philipp Lynov

1st prize winner of the 11th Competition, 2019

Paderewski Competition is one of most important international piano contests today. I am honoured to be one of the winners of this competition and since 13 years after winning I can say that it was establishing of my career. Most important moment that competition takes care about their prize winners and organize many concerts in most important venues in Europe. I highly recommend to participate.Read more

Nikita Mndoyants

1st prize winner of the 8th Competition, 2007

Poland is country where piano music is indeed a national pride. Hats off to the Paderewski Competition for representing this great passion, introducing a great International attraction, all over the world, for young pianists, alongside the superb local level of piano playing.Read more

Arie Vardi

Jury member of the 10th Competition, 2016

I have accepted and held the function of the artistic director of the I. J. Paderewski Piano Competition as both a great honor and a significant challenge. But above all personal honors, I value the deep satisfaction and joy that we all probably feel, observing the great development of the Competition in the last few editions. Over a period of several years, thanks to the efforts of the organizers, the I. J. Paderewski Competition, from the position of a valuable, albeit local competition, has risen to an artistic and organizational level that guarantees truly international recognition and prestige available only to the most serious international piano competitions! This is undoubtedly a great success, but also our great common responsibility - a commitment not only to maintain the already achieved level, but above all, to ensure its further dynamic development.I can assure you that this is a task that I care deeply about.Read more

Piotr Paleczny

Chairman of the Competition Jury

The figure of Ignacy Jan Paderewski is a great inspiration for the young pianist - a stunning career and friendships in the highest circles of politicians and aristocracy, great fortune and enormous charity, a true patriot and committed activist for the newly created Polish state. The competition dedicated to his memory is designed as an impulse in the development of a young artist - a rich concert offer, cash prizes, contacts with leading figures in the piano world. The IJ Paderewski Piano Competition meets high international standards and the winners of the leading places have a statutory guaranteed participation in the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw. This is an event worth appearing at.Read more

Prof. Katarzyna Poowa-Zydroń

Jury member

The Japan Paderewski Association is carrying out promotional support for the Paderewski International Piano Competition, as well as promoting prize winners. It also held the Polish Culture Festival 2019 in Japan, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Poland.  It is our sincere hope that the Paderewski International Competition continues to make the magnificent character and superb music of Ignacy Jan Paderewski even more well known throughout the world, to further grow and develop, and to contribute to the friendship between our two countries.Read more

Jun-ichi Nihei

Executive Producer of the Japan Paderewski Association

Through the Paderewski Piano Competition, a great musician and Poland's first Prime Minister, I had a turning point to have the opportunity to expand my capabilities as a pianist. The Paderewski Piano Competition where you can expand your musical limits with great passion was a new light for me and a great force to keep me leap forward. I wish endless prosperity and great development to the Paderewski Piano Competition.Read more

Hyuk Lee

1st prize winner of the 10th Competition, 2016

Facts

1100

Over 1,000 films from competitions

250 300

hours of competition film viewing

7960

More than 7,700 channel subscribers

2 500 000

Over 2.4 million video views

The International Paderewski Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz also leads the activities in social media by conducting live broadcasts from their events and publishing videos from the Piano Competitions.