Piotr Paleczny

Piotr Paleczny is one of Poland’s most eminent pianists and one of its most acclaimed professors of piano. As a graduate of the Frederic Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw, he succeeded in winning prizes in five international competitions, including those of Sofia, Bulgaria (1968), Munich (1969), Warsaw (1970), Pleven (1971) and Bordeaux (1972). Since these successes, he has been engaged in concert activities on all continents. Appearances in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein and Konzerthaus in Vienna, Festpielhaus in Salzburg, Royal Festival Hall in London and Tonhalle in Zurich attest to his extensive and wide reputation. He was invited to be a soloist at the Gala Concerto celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Active as a soloist and pianist with many orchestras, he has made numerous CD recordings for such companies as EMI, BBC Classic, Naxos, Pony Canyon, Sound, BeArTon, DUX, CD Accord, Olympia, Wifon and Polskie Nagrania. Concerti and solo works by Polish composers are a significant part of his repertory. Two of his Chopin CD’s –the complete Ballades and Concerti of Chopin recorded with Sinfonia Varsovia and Jerzy Maksymiuk for BeArTon, received status of the “Gold Disc.” Another recent recording – “The Best of Chopin” (Dux label) – has been awarded the “Frederick 99” Prize by the Polish Phonographic Academy and in December 2002 this CD achieved the status of “Platinum Disc.”

Since 1993, he has been the Artistic Director of the oldest music festival held in Poland and most probably the longest existing international piano festival in the world – The International Chopin Piano Festival in Duszniki Zdrój, Poland.

As a master teacher, Piotr Paleczny was conferred title of Professor by the President of Poland in 1998. He has taught master classes in many international cities including Bordeaux, France, Amsterdam, Paris, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Hamamatsu, Toronto, Copenhagen, Lugano, Mexico City, Montevideo and Warsaw. Presently, he conducts the piano class at the Frederic Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw.

In recognition of his outstanding artistic achievements, Piotr Paleczny has been honored with many superior and prestigious Polish and foreign medals such as the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the Mexican Order of the Aguila Azteca. In September 2005, Piotr Paleczny was awarded the “Meritorious for Culture-Gloria Artis” Gold Medal.

Back to 2006 Jurors