You’re invited. Come see the world’s finest young pianists compete at Loyola Marymount University
When it comes to classical piano, the world’s best young keyboard artists are coming to Westchester — and the public is invited.
Instead of having to trek downtown to Disney Hall or the Colburn School and pay high prices to hear some of the world’s finest classical musicians, Westchester will be the setting for an International piano competition that will bring 25 of the world’s best young classical pianists to Loyola Marymount University.
They will take part in the Third American International Paderewski Piano Competition to be held March 21 to 26. The semi-finalists will be winnowed to six who will all be vying for a $10,000 prize and the opportunity to perform in concert in the U.S., France, Italy and Poland.
The competition honors the memory of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, not only a celebrated concert pianist and composer, but also a leader in the Polish fight for independence after World War I and the nation's prime minister. In his later years, he resided in Paso Robles, California and died at age 80 in New York in 1941.
The competition was brought to Loyola Marymount by its music professor, Dr. Wojciech Kocyan, a noted piano soloist in his own right. “Paderewski was an inspirational figure, who throughout his life supported many worthy causes, including careers of young musicians. There can be no better way to honor his legacy than to follow in his footsteps and help the best young pianists from around the world in their development, while bringing together afficionados of piano music in a world-class event” said Kocyan, the Artistic Director of the Paderewski Music Society who co-founded the competition in 2010. The competition stands out among other international competitions for its free programming, which allows the pianists to fully express their unique artistic personalities without forcing them to conform to a preconceived standard.
Kocyan knows what it takes to become an international piano sensation. He has performed in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, Australia and Japan. His recitals at Loyola Marymount, where he is a clinical professor of piano and artist-in-residence, have created a large following. His solo and chamber music recordings can be found on DUX, Naxos and Spotify. In 2007, Gramophone Magazine named his recording of Prokofiev, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff as one of the 50 best classic recordings ever made.
In the March competition, 72 contestants between the ages of 16 and 30 have submitted video recordings in hopes of making it to the semi-finals and a chance to show off their talents in Los Angeles. They represent the United States, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. They come from the most prestigious conservatories and universities around the world and all are already accomplished pianists.
The competition is open to the public. Audience members will witness stunning performances from tomorrow’s piano superstars. Competitors will be playing some of the world’s most beautiful and compelling classical works for the piano at the only competition of this stature on the West Coast.
An international jury will consist of prominent musicians from Poland, France, Hungary, Italy and the United States.
The semi-finals take place Monday through Wednesday, March 21, 22 and 23. Finals are on Friday, March 25 and the winner’s concert and reception is Saturday, March 26. Daily passes start at $30. All tickets are available at https://paderewskimusicsociety.org/ along with LMU Covid safety protocols that will be observed.
The competition is presented by the Paderewski Music Society in Los Angeles, a non-profit formed in 2008 by a group of prominent musicians. The society promotes classical music and the legacy of the great pianist, statesman and philanthropist Ignacy Jan Paderewski through concerts, master classes, publications and the International Piano Competition