Laureates of the KF Chopin Piano Competition Shine at the 19th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw

Prestigious KF Chopin Piano Competition Laureates Shine in Warsaw

From October 2 to 23, Warsaw once again became the world’s piano capital. The 19th International Chopin Competition — one of the most prestigious events in classical music — took place at Poland’s historic National Philharmonic Hall.

First organized in 1927 through the efforts of Prof. Jerzy Żurawlew, this renowned competition has been held every five years, interrupted only by World War II and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Over nearly a century, it has launched the careers of pianistic legends such as Adam Harasiewicz, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Garrick Ohlsson, Krystian Zimerman, and Rafał Blechacz — artists who have shaped the global understanding of Chopin’s music.

In 2025, 84 pianists were selected from over 600 applicants who underwent rigorous preliminary rounds. Thirteen competitors represented Poland, while five came from the United States.

For the Kosciuszko Foundation, this edition brought particular pride. Several laureates of the Foundation’s own Chopin Competition — as well as alumni of the Chopin Piano Academy in Washington, D.C. — earned their place among the distinguished performers in Warsaw. They included:

• Yuya Nishimoto (Japan) – 1st Prize Winner, The KF Chopin Piano Competition, 2024
• Athena Deng (Canada) – 2nd Prize Winner ex aequo, The KF Chopin Piano Competition, 2024
• Antoni Kleczek (United States/Poland) – 2nd Prize Winner ex aequo, The KF Chopin Piano Competition, 2024
• Krzysztof Wierciński (Poland) – Semifinalist, The KF Chopin Piano Competition, 2024
• Victoria Wong (United States/Canada) – Semifinalist, The KF Chopin Piano Competition, 2024
• Xiaoxuan Li (China) – Participant, 2021 Chopin Piano Academy
• Arisa Onoda (Japan) – Participant, 2021 Chopin Piano Academy

A distinguished jury of seventeen internationally acclaimed pianists — many of them former Chopin Competition laureates — listened daily to the contestants’ performances at the Warsaw Philharmonic. Among them were several figures familiar to Kosciuszko Foundation audiences, including Piotr Paleczny (Poland), Ewa Pobłocka (Poland), Krzysztof Jabłoński (Poland/Canada), and Akiko Ebi (Japan).

Audiences around the world followed every note live or on demand through the official YouTube channel of the Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina

The international success of KF Chopin Piano Competition Laureates reflects the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to supporting young pianists and preserving Chopin’s musical legacy.

More information, including competitor profiles, is available on the 19th International Chopin Competition website HERE