The 68th
Kosciuszko Foundation
Chopin Piano Competition
February 28 - March 3, 2024
Semi Final Round Performance in Washington D.C.
Final Round with Members of the
National Philharmonic and
Maestro Piotr Gajewski
Competition Jury: Akiko Ebi,
Piotr Gajewski, Krzysztof Jabłonski,
Linda Petrikova, and Ewa Poblocka
Ages 17-30
Application Deadline January 12, 2024
© Dario Acosta
Kosciuszko Foundation
Chopin Piano Competition
Garrick Ohlsson
Honorary Patron
Winner of the 8th Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, 1970.
I send my best wishes to the participants and the organizers of the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin
Piano Competition.
Chopin is the Rosetta Stone for pianism, and the Alpha and Omega for pianists.
To play Chopin well, the player needs impeccable physical skills, deep and wide tonal sensitivity, musicianship to deal with complex structures, and a sense of magic. The pianist who can do all this is equipped to take on almost any challenge in the piano repertory.
I salute all those who take on this challenge. May this competition succeed and thrive, and bring deserved attention to wonderful young pianists.
KF Chopin Piano Competition
Featured in WETA Classical Chopin Celebration
Announcing the Winners
of the 2024 Competition!
First Prize: Contestant 2, Yuya Nishimoto, Japan
Second Prize: Contestant 3, Athena Deng, Canada
Second Prize: Contestant 9, Antoni Kleczek, United States
Third Prize: Not Awarded
Best Performance of a Work by Karol Szymanowski:
Contestant 2, Yuya Nishimoto, Japan and Contestant 3, Athena Deng, Canada
KFCC 2024 Competition
The Kosciuszko Foundation's Chopin Piano Competition was established in 1949, in honor of the hundredth anniversary of the death of Frédéric Chopin. The inauguration took place at the Kosciuszko Foundation House in New York City, with Witold Malcuzynski as a guest artist, and Abram Chasins, composer and music director of the New York Times Radio Station, presiding. Over the years, many outstanding musicians have been associated with the competition including Van Cliburn, Ian Hobson, Daniel Pollak, Murray Perahia, Myung-whun Chung, Kevin Kenner, and Kirill Gerstein. Today, the Kosciuszko Foundation's Chopin Competition continues to encourage gifted young pianists to further their studies and to perform the works of Polish composers.
Competition Schedule
The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities representing a professional level of performance ages 17-30.
Preliminary round is through video audition.
Semifinal and final rounds are live in Washington D.C.
Preliminary Round
Video recording
Friday January 12
25 minute recital due with application
Results announced January 19, 2024
Semifinal Round
Solo Recital
Thursday February 29 and Friday March 1
55 minute solo recital
St. Ann Catholic Church in Washington D.C
Chopin Piano Academy
Saturday March 2 Masterclass with competition jury
Akiko Ebi, Krzysztof Jablonski, and Ewa Poblocka
St. Ann Catholic Church in Washington D.C
Final Round
Concerto Performance
Sunday March 3
Concerto performance with members of the National Philharmonic and Maestro Piotr Gajewski at St. Ann Catholic Church in Washington D.C.
Winners Concert
Sunday March 3 at the Residence of the Polish Ambassador
Van Cliburn, winner of the 1952 KF Chopin Piano Competition with KF Founder Stephen Mizwa.
Prizes & Awards
1st - $5,000
2nd - $3,000
3rd - $2,000
Szymanowski Prize - $1,500
Other Prizes and Performances TBA
Download Digital Competition Program
Opening Concert With 2022 First Prize Laureate
Yun-Chih Hsu
Wednesday, February 28 at 7:00 PM
At St. Ann Catholic Church
Wisconsin Avenue at Tenley Circle
Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op.60 CHOPIN
Andante Spianato et Polonaise Brillante, Op.22 CHOPIN
Theme and Variations in B-flat Minor, Op.3 SZYMANOWSKI
Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor Op.36, RACHMANINOFF
Free Admission
Competition Jury
**Chair of the Jury.
*Judging final round only.
Notable Laureates
1952
1955
2006
1952
Repertoire
Preliminary Round 25 minute video recording
-
Two etudes from Op.10 and/or Op.25
-
One nocturne
-
Two Mazurkas
-
Free choice of any work(s) by Chopin. OPTIONAL if time allows (Waltz, Poloniase, ect.)
Semifinal Round 55 minute recital
-
A work(s) by Karol Szymanowski of at least 6 minutes. Individual movements are acceptable.
-
Large work(s) of Chopin: Sonata/Preludes/Ballade(s)/Scherzo(s), Fantasy, Barcarolle, etc.
-
The remainder of the program can be decided by the contestant, but must consist of work(s) by Chopin.
The majority of the semifinal round program should be devoted to the music of Chopin.
Final Round Concerto Performance
-
No.1 in E Minor OR
-
No.2 in F Minor
All video recordings for the preliminary round must be recorded in one place and at the same time, played from memory. Videos will be uploaded as four separate links. 1) Etudes 2) Nocturne 3) Mazuraks 4) Free Choice (optional)
Repertoire from the preliminary round may not be repeated.
Meet The KFCC Team
Barbara Bernhardt
Vice President
Kosciuszko Foundation and
Washington D.C. Director
Martin Labazevitch
Artistic Director
Jason Solounias
Competition Director
Jolanta Stefanska
Advancement Director
©Stephen Jaffe
Thank You To Our Sponsors
The Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition is sponsored by the Kosciuszko Foundation from the Cierpik Fund, Jan Gorbaty Memorial Fund, and from the donation made by Ms. Krystyna Piorkowska to the Cultural Fund.
The Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition is organized in partnership with the
Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C.
Polish American Arts Organization
IMF/WB Polish Club
Special Thanks to Dr. James Trefil and Dr. Wanda O’Brien-Trefil for funding the third prize and hosting a contestant.
