An international jury led by Garrick Ohlsson has selected 11 pianists for the final stage of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. Poland’s Piotr Alexewicz remains his nation’s only contender, carrying local hopes into the final performances in Warsaw.
The announcement marked a major moment for the global classical music community, which now turns its attention to the final round. The event, founded in 1927, stands as one of the world’s most prestigious and historic piano competitions. Since its beginning, every participant has performed music composed solely by Fryderyk Chopin, honoring his enduring influence.
Eleven Virtuosos Prepare to Compete for the Crown
Alongside Alexewicz, the finalists include Kevin Chen (Canada), David Khrikuli (Georgia), Shiori Kuwahara (Japan), Tianyou Li (China), Eric Lu (United States), Tianyao Lyu (China), Vincent Ong (Malaysia), Miyu Shindo (Japan), Zitong Wang (China), and William Yang (United States).
Each competitor will perform Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61, followed by a Chopin piano concerto — either E minor, Op. 11, or F minor, Op. 21. The National Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Andrzej Boreyka, will accompany the finalists in the final stage.
The performances are scheduled for October 18–20, beginning at 6 p.m. each evening.
Prestigious Prize Awaits the Next Chopin Master
The winner will claim a €60,000 award and a gold medal, joining the ranks of past champions who defined generations of pianists.
Each finalist now faces one of classical music’s greatest challenges — mastering Chopin’s emotionally rich compositions under global scrutiny. As anticipation builds in Warsaw, the world waits to see which pianist will deliver a performance worthy of history.
