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The 68th Chopin Piano Competition

February 28 - March 3, 2024 in Washington, DC

Congratulations to Yuya Nishimoto from Japan, who won the First Prize ($5,000) in 2024 Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition

Thanks to Yuya and eight other competition semifinalists, Washington, DC, became the Chopin capital of the world. The pianists showed incredible skills and played their hearts out, performing recitals at St. Ann Catholic Church. After careful deliberation, the jury chose three finalists to perform on the final round. The other participants received master classes from the jury members.

The Competition’s grand finale took place Sunday March 3rd. Three finalists, Yuya Nishimoto, 21 (Japan), Athena Deng, 21 (Canada),

and Antoni Kleczek, 17 (United States), played Chopin concertos with the National Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Piotr Gajewski. The winner was announced later that night during the Award Ceremony at the residence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland.

The first-place winner, Yuya Nishimoto, also shared the Szymanowski Prize ($1,500) ex aequo with Athena Deng.

The jury gave two Second Prizes ($3,000) ex aequo to Athena Deng and Antoni Kleczek.

All nine participants of the Competition adored the evening with their short recitals at the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland’s residence.

The 68th Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition would not have been such an incredibly successful event without the esteemed and hard-working jury with Ewa Poblocka (Poland), Akiko Ebi (Japan), Linda Petricova (United States), Krzysztof Jablonski (United States/Poland), and the jury chair, Maestro Piotr Gajewski with the National Philharmonic, and the entire KF Chopin Piano Competition Team.

We appreciate invaluable help from the host families who took our young contestants under their roofs, made them feel at home, and provided good care during their stay in Washington, DC.

We are grateful for the support of WETA Classical, which recorded the recitals and reported daily on the Competition’s highlights.

We appreciate all our partners and sponsors:

the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C., and the Consular Division.

Mrs. Wanda OBrien-Trefil for funding the Competition’s Third Prize.

Rev. Msgr. James D. Watkins of St. Ann Catholic Church. Thank you for allowing us to use this wonderful space and making it a home for the Competition.