The Muzyczne Orły (Musical Eagles) Awards, organized by the Muzyka do Potęgi Foundation, have become a new celebration of excellence in classical music. This international competition recognizes outstanding achievements across a wide array of musical disciplines, from performance to education, honoring both Polish and international artists.
The competition is judged by a distinguished panel of musicians, composers, and educators, whose expertise ensures that only the most deserving artists and institutions receive the coveted “Musical Eagle” statuette and the various diplomas (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) awarded in nine categories. These categories span performance, composition, education, and the presentation of new works, showcasing the breadth and depth of musical talent globally.
The 2024 edition was marked by many remarkable performances and premieres, including the ambitious project led by Adam Bala from Polsko-Ukraińska Fundacja im. Ignacego Jana Paderewskiego [The Ignacy Jan Paderewski Polish-Ukrainian Foundation], which received accolades in the premiere performance category. His project, the premiere of Mikołaj Majkusiak’s Symfonia o obrotach ciał niebieskich [Symphony on the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres], was part of the Copernican Year inauguration in Chicago, underlining the global reach of these awards. Adam Bala’s dedication to promoting cross-cultural musical collaboration has also earned him recognition within the broader classical music community.
Other prize winners include the Cracow Duo, renowned musicians and pedagogues of the Music Academy in Krakow who are longtime partners of the Polish Music Center. We are particularly proud of winners Adam Bala and the Cracow Duo as we collaborate closely with them both on the Paderewski Festival Youth Exchange program.
This year’s winners, representing a diverse array of styles, backgrounds, and projects, continue to inspire both musicians and audiences alike. You can explore the full list of this year’s winners below.
[Sources: press releases]