Piotr Pawlak
Piotr Pawlak was born in 1998 in Gdansk.
In 2016, he graduated with distinction from Feliks Nowowiejski Music School in Gdansk in the piano class of Waldemar Wojtal and the organ class of Hanna Dys. He is a graduate from Gdansk Music Academy, where he continued to study piano with Waldemar Wojtal. He also studied conducting with Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski and finished his Master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Gdansk in 2020.
Piotr has performed as a pianist at numerous musical events in Poland, Spain, Germany, Lithuania, Hungary, Georgia, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Russia, China, and the United States. As a soloist, he has played with the Warsaw National Symphony Orchestra, Lower Silesia Philharmonic Orchestra, Holy Cross Philharmonic Orchestra, West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra, Ningbo Symphony Orchestra, Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra and the Accademia Teatro La Scala Orchestra.
He was a scholarship recipient of the Polish Children’s Fund, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Polish Ministry of National Education, Prime Minister, Marshal of the Pomeranian District, and Mayor of the City of Gdansk. In 2014, he was awarded a scholarship funded by Kristian Zimerman.
Piotr is a laureate of a number of national and international piano competitions.
He won First Prize and the Prize for the Best Improvisation at the XI Darmstadt International Chopin Piano Competition (2017), Second Prize at the I Beijing International Fryderyk Chopin Competition for Young Pianists (2016), Second Prize at the Stanisław Moniuszko International Competition of Polish Music in Rzeszów (2019), First Prize at the II International Competition for Young Pianists “Chopin at Wawel” in Cracow (2019), Second Prize (First Prize was not awarded) at the 8th International Chopin Piano Competition in Budapest (2018), and Honorable Mention and an Audience Award at the XI International Competition for Young Pianists “Step Towards Mastery” in St. Petersburg (2017). He was a finalist of Premio Internazionale Antonio Mormone in Milano (2021).
Piotr also won First Prizes at the International Chopin Piano Competitions in Antonin (2015), Szafarnia (2014, 2012, 2010, 2009), Budapest (2014, 2010), Jelenia Góra (2011), and the Grand Prix at Chopinowskie Interpretacje Młodych Festival in Konin (2013).
In 2018, he received Third Prize at the 10th International Sweelinck Organ Competition in Gdańsk and Pasłęk and in 2017, First Prize at the Organ Music Competition at the 29th International Festival of Religious Music in Rumia. In 2020, he was awarded Second Prize at the “Transatlantyk Instant Composition Contest” during the International Film Festival in Katowice.
In addition to his musical career, Piotr has been a laureate at national and international competitions in mathematics, informatics, and other sciences. He is a double Bronze Medalist at the International Mathematical Olympiad (South African Republic in 2014 and Thailand in 2015), double Silver Medalist at the International Math Competition “Romanian Masters in Mathematics” (2015, 2016), triple Gold Medalist at the International Mathematics Competition for University Students in Bulgaria (2017, 2018, 2019), and an absolute winner of the 12th International Internet Mathematical Olympiad at Ariel University (2019).
Virtual First Round
Bach: Prelude and Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846
Rachmaninoff: Prelude in b minor, Op. 32, No. 10
Chopin: Étude in c minor, Op. 10, No. 12
Beethoven: Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101
I. Allegretto ma non troppo
II. Vivace alla marcia
III. Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto
IV. Allegro
Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, No. 6 in a minor
In-Person Second Round
Carl Vine: Resolve
Chopin: Sonata in b-flat minor, Op. 35
I. Grave—Doppio movimento
II. Scherzo
III. Marche funèbre: Lento
IV. Finale: Presto
Liszt: Sonata in b minor, S. 178
Semifinal Round – Chamber Music
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 3 in d minor, Op. 108
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Un poco presto e con sentimento
IV. Presto agitato
Final Round
Prokofiev: Concerto No. 2 in g minor, Op. 16
I. Andantino—Allegretto
II. Scherzo: Vivace
III. Intermezzo: Allegro moderato
IV. Finale: Allegro tempestoso
2022 Participants
Meet the People!
Recognizing the Board of Directors, distinguished jury, guest artists, competitors, finalists, and more.