The 17th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition – one of the oldest, most prestigious, and demanding music competitions in the world – will take place this autumn. Every five years, the eyes of the artistic community turn to Poznań to witness the birth of new violin stars. For young virtuosos, this event is an invaluable gateway to global careers, recording contracts, and concerts on the most important stages. Just one month after the competition, the first prize winner will perform a recital at the National Forum of Music.

The multi-round competition traditionally obliges participants to present an extremely diverse and challenging repertoire. During the auditions, the audience listens to performances of both violin miniatures and canonical violin concertos, presented in the finals with an orchestra – including the works by Wieniawski. The young talents are judged by an international jury composed of distinguished soloists, experienced teachers, and authorities on the music scene. This year, chairman of the jury will be Bartłomiej Nizioł, winner of the 1991 Poznań competition.

The history of the competition dates back to 1935. Its organisation – intended to commemorate the centenary of Henryk Wieniawski’s birth – was initiated by his nephew, Adam Wieniawski. The first edition, held in Warsaw, was won by France’s Ginette Neveu, with the legendary David Oistrakh taking second place. World War II put a stop to organised music life, and the competition idea was revived in 1952, moving the event to Poznań, where it has been held regularly every five years since. Over the decades, the Wieniawski Competition has become a cradle of dozens of renowned virtuosos, attracting the most outstanding talents to participate. By listening to this year’s winner perform a recital at the NFM, you will have an opportunity to experience the contest’s extraordinary output.