The Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition
Background
The Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition was established in 1949, in honor of the hundredth anniversary of the death of Frederic Chopin. The inauguration took place at the Kosciuszko Foundation House in New York City, with Witold Malcuzynski as guest artist, and Abram Chasins, composer and music director of the New York Times Radio Stations, presiding. Over the years, many outstanding musicians have been associated with the competition including Van Cliburn, Ian Hobson, and Murray Perahia. Today the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition continues to encourage gifted young pianists to further their studies, and to perform the works of Polish composers.
Prizes: $5,000/ $2,500 / $1,500
Requiered Repertoire
1. Chopin
- One Mazurka of the contestant's choice
- Two major works (see application form, below, for selections
2. Szymanowski
- One Mazurka of the contestant's choice
- One work chosen from the following: Theme and Variations; Variations on a Polish Folk Song: Fantasie: Prelude and Fugue; One of the Metopes, Op. 29, or Masques, Op. 34.
3. A major work by J.S. Bach
(excluding The Well-Tempered Clavier)
4. A complete sonata by Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, or Schubert
5. A major 19th-century work
(including Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, etc., but excluding those in (4) above)
6. A substantial work by an American, Polish, or Polish-American composer written after 1950.
(the Foundation can suggest repertoire)
Preliminary Basic Information for the Year 2010 Competition
Complete application and submit, along with the required materials, by deadlines below.
- Biography or curriculum vitae. Include education, experience, honors or competitions won, public recitals or performances with orchestra.
- Include the official event name or competition title, sponsoring organization and date.
- Two letters of recommendation emphasizing artistic ability and achievement, one from a current teacher and one from another source, sent directly to The Kosciuszko Foundation.
- A typewritten copy of your program from the required repertoire (see application form) Please give complete information, (including key and opus number, etc.) and movement titles. Retain a copy.
- A copy of an official document with proof of age.
One black and white photo of yourself suitable for reproduction, no smaller than 3 x 5" - A non-refundable application fee of a $50 check or money order payable to The Kosciuszko Foundation.
The Competition is open to citizens and permanent residents of the US and to international full-time students with valid student visas.
Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 22 as of April 8, 2010.
Preliminaries:
New York, Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 10 AM
Kosciuszko Foundation House
FINALS:
Kosciuszko Foundation House, April 10, 2010 at 2 PM
Contact: Thomas Pniewski
Director of Cultural Affairs
The Kosciuszko Foundation
15 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10065
tel: (212) 734-2130
fax: (212) 628-4552
e-mail: tjpny@aol.com
Application Deadline is March 5, 2010
Main Contact:
Chopin Piano Competition
Kosciuszko Foundation
15 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10065
tel: (212) 734-2130 fax: (212) 628-4552
Application Forms
Click here to download the requirements and application forms for the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition (80K PDF format).
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