How did the concept of instrumental competitions originate, and why did Poznań become the venue for one of the most important contests for violinists from around the globe? In this lecture, Jarosław Pietrzak, a professor at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, will explore the history of the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition. He will discuss its origins, the evolution of its rules, scoring systems, and repertoire requirements over the years, as well as the inner workings of the jury. The talk will cover the experiences of the participants, their years of training and preparation for the competition, and the role played by Polish violinists, whether as prize winners or jurors, in the tradition of this musical contest. There will be plenty of anecdotes and interesting facts from various editions of the competition, along with stories about the brilliant careers of its most famous winners. A special segment will be dedicated to this year’s 17th edition of the competition, taking place in Poznań from October 8 to 25. After the lecture, join us for a recital by the competition’s winner, offering an opportunity to hear a young talent and discover the story behind their success.

Jarosław Pietrzak completed his violin studies with Professor Zenon Brzewski at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. He is a prize winner of the Festival of Young Violinists in Lublin and the Karol Szymanowski Chamber Music Competition in Łódź. He honed his craft through masterclasses with artists such as Irena Dubiska, Jean Fournier, and Zakhar Bron. A former member of the Polish Chamber Orchestra and Sinfonia Varsovia, he has performed on four continents. He has also played with the Menuhin Festival Orchestra under the baton of Sir Yehudi Menuhin and with L’Orchestre National de Chambre de Toulouse. He has an active career as a soloist and chamber musician, performing at venues such as the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the NFM in Wrocław, and the Warsaw Philharmonic. Since 2010, he has performed as part of the Art Chamber Duo with pianist Julita Przybylska-Nowak; the duo has recorded five albums that won Musical Eagles awards between 2021 and 2024. He is a professor at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. In 2024, he was awarded the Bronze and Silver Crosses of Merit, as well as an award from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.