Koncert symfoniczny – Piotr Pawlak

Piotr Pawlak: One of the most versatile young Polish pianists. A winner of numerous international competitions, including the 5th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Helsinki (2022) and the 11th International Chopin Competition in Darmstadt (2017), as well as Chopin competitions in Beijing (2016), Budapest (2018), and Krakow (2019), the Stanisław Moniuszko International Polish Music Competition in Rzeszów (2019), the Ignacy Jan Paderewski International Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz (2022), and the International Chopin Competition on Historical Instruments in Warsaw (2023), as well as a three-time participant in the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw (2015, 2021, 2025). He began his musical education at the age of six at the Feliks Nowowiejski General Education Music School in Gdańsk, under the tutelage of Ewa Włodarczyk, and later continued his studies with Professor Waldemar Wojtal until completing his studies in 2021. He also graduated from the music school in the organ class of Dr. Hanna Dys, and is currently studying conducting at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk under the tutelage of Professor Zygmunt Rychert. This year, he is also a student at the prestigious International Piano Academy Lake Como. Pawlak is passionate about reviving improvisation in classical music. He draws inspiration from historical performance practice, such as performing improvised cadences in Mozart's concerts. At the Chopin competition in Darmstadt, in addition to first prize, he also won a prize for the best improvisation on themes from Weber's "Free Riff." In 2020, he received second prize in the "Transatlantyk Instant Composition Contest" at the International Film Festival in Katowice. Daniel Smith: Daniel Smith's passion for music is boundless. He is the only conductor to have won four major international conducting competitions, including the UNESCO Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conducting Competition (where he was also awarded the Golden Baton and the Orchestra Award), and the Sir George Solti International Conducting Competition. As the first Australian to conduct the Maryborough Theatre Orchestra, he was later recognized by TIME International. Shortly thereafter, he took on the role of Principal Conductor at Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. On the symphonic stage, Smith is highly regarded for his clarity of form, rhythmic expressiveness, and refined orchestral color. He has guest conducted the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic, the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, and the New Japan Philharmonic. He has also performed at festivals such as the Mozarteum Festival, the Estate Musicale Chigiana in Siena, the Aspen Music Festival, and Stars of the White Nights.