International Chopin Competition in Narva
16.02.2020
On 9-15 February the 13th edition of the International Chopin Competition for young pianists took place in Narva. In this year’s edition of the competition, organised traditionally under the patronage of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Estonia 35 young people from 13 countries participated, among them six from Poland.
The contest culminated in a gala concert of laureates, organised by the Embassy of Poland in Tallinn on 16 February, in the concert hall „Estonia” in Tallinn. About 800 invited guests participated, among others former president of Estonia Arnold Rüütel, vice president of Parliament and former prime minister as well as former vice president of the European Commission Siim Kallas, former prime minister Andres Tarand, several members of Parliament, top officials of the ministries of foreign affairs, defence, culture and home affairs, ambassadors accredited to Estonia, top representatives of national cultural institutions, Polish military personnel of the Orlik contingent on a mission in Baltic Air Policing, representatives of Poles living in Estonia and Estonian friends of Poland, representatives of the media and the business community as well as students of music schools. The concert was broadcast live on the internet programme of public radio ERR and will be rebroadcast on 1 March on Raadio Klaasika.
During a ceremony before the concert Estonian minister of culture Tõnis Lukas gave a short speech, and secretary of state of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Paweł Lewandowski read out the letter of vice premier, minister of culture and national heritage Piotr Gliński. Polish ambassador Grzegorz Kozłowski handed to the long-standing chair of the Organising Committee Ms Galina Moldon a state decoration awarded by the president of Poland – the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
Leyla Zeynalova from Azerbaijan became the laureate of Grand Prix. Polish pianists won three prizes:
Leszek Szymula – second prize in I age group (up to 13 years),
Zuzanna Sejbuk – first prize in II age group (14-16 years),
Krzysztof Wierciński – second prize in III age group (17-19 years).
The competition has been organised on a biennial basis since 1999. The main organiser is the Municipality of Narva, and the event is supported by, besides the Embassy of Poland in Tallinn and the Ministries of Culture of both countries, the National Institute of Fryderyk Chopin, the Foundation for the National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin and the Polish Music Publishing House among others.
