The Kosciuszko Foundation in Washington, DC continues its 72-year long tradition of organizing the Chopin Piano Competition by holding its 67th edition on February 5-27, 2022. Composed of online and in-person auditions, this hybrid competition will be held in four rounds. Pianists of all nationalities aged 18-30 are invited to apply to the Kosciuszko Foundation by midnight on December 19, 2021.
The semifinal and final rounds will be held in Washington, DC, with the final round featuring performance of one of Chopin’s two concertos with the National Philharmonic Orchestra led by Maestro Piotr Gajewski. The 2022 Kosciuszko Foundation’s Chopin Competition jury lineup will include Akiko Ebi, Piotr Gajewski, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Aleksander Korbin and Piotr Paleczny.
The Competition’s preliminary round will consist of a 20-minute recorded video recital with the results announced on January 3, 2022. The First Round will take place online on February 5-6, 2022 and will also consist of a 20-minute recorded recital, with the results announced on February 6. The Second Round (online, February 12-13) will be a 30-minute recorded recital and the results will be announced on February 13.
During the weekend of February 25-27, 2022, the Semifinal and Final Rounds will be held live in in Washington, DC. For the Semifinals, participants will perform a 50-minute recital at St. Anne Catholic Church on Friday, February 25. On the next day, those who pass to the Final round will have rehearsals with the orchestra, then on Sunday, February 27, the final round will be held, also at St. Ann Church. During this Final round, selected contestants will perform a Chopin concerto with the National Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gajewski.
Video submissions for the first two rounds must be made in a single take and unedited. All semi-finalists will receive a stipend for travel expenses to Washington and will be placed with host families for the duration of the Competition.
Established in 1949 on the centenary of Chopin’s death, over the years the Kosciuszko Foundation’s Chopin Competition has amassed a roster of distinguished laureates, including Van Cliburn, Ian Hobson and Murray Perahia, among others. More information on repertoire, rules for video submissions and application forms for the 2022 Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition can be found at: kfchopin.org.
[Source: press release (Kosciuszko Foundation, 7 September 2021)]