One of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world is happening this month, right now, in Warsaw, Poland! Begun in 1927, the International Fryderyk Chopin Competition, now in it's 19th iteration, features some of the greatest young pianists around the globe. Contestants play only music of the beloved and peerless Chopin. The preliminary round accepts 160 pianists. Starting Oct. 2, this number is whittled down to about 80, and then 40, and so on. The winner will be declared the 3rd week of October!
Immense careers have been launched through this “Olympics” of a piano competition. Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Dang Thai Son, SeongJin Cho, Garrick Ohlson, Krystian Zimmerman, Yulianna Adeevna, and Bruce Liu are some of winners who are recognized as some of the greatest pianists of all time. Vladimir Ashkenazy and Mitsuko Uchida won 2nd prizes! Who will be the next winner?
You can watch it happening right here: https://www.chopincompetition.pl/en