Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880) was one of the most outstanding violin virtuosos of his era and, at the same time, a highly regarded composer. He performed in the major musical centres of Europe and America, contributing to the popularisation of his own works. His compositions continue to hold an important place both in the history of violin music and in the repertoire of contemporary performers.

"One of the most important missions of the Competition is not only to discover exceptional talents, but also to provide them with the best possible start for an international career. Success in the Competition itself is merely the beginning of this path" - says Director of the Wieniawski Society and Competition, Karolina Kaźmierczak. "For young violinists, one of the most valuable rewards consists of subsequent concerts-the opportunity to perform with distinguished orchestras, in prestigious halls, and before an international audience. This is why we are especially pleased that so many philharmonics, festivals, and partners from Poland and around the world invite the laureates of the Wieniawski Competition to their stages."

Fifty violinists will showcase their skills during the 17th edition of the Wieniawski Competition. Despite their youth-participants range in age from 18 to 30-many of them already boast impressive artistic achievements.

The program of this year's edition is a joy for listeners and a challenge for participants. It requires a display of a range of skills-impeccable technique, style, and expression. The repertoire encompasses works from various eras-from the Baroque, through Classicism and Romanticism, to 20th-century pieces and contemporary works. However, the work of the Competition's patron will take center stage in the program, emphasizes the chairman of the jury panel, Bartłomiej Nizioł: "One of the main premises of this edition of the Competition is to restore Henryk Wieniawski's music to its rightful place. We want his works to serve as the clear axis of the entire event-so that the Competition begins with Wieniawski and ends with Wieniawski. At the same time, we wanted to leave participants as much room as possible to showcase their own artistic personality. Therefore, in the recital section, they have considerable freedom in choosing their repertoire-we do not limit them to specific eras or styles. Alongside the music of our patron, the works of other Polish composers also occupy an important place. We want the Competition to be not only a celebration of Wieniawski, but also an international space showcasing the richness of Polish musical culture."

Schedule and the Course of the Competition

The Competition will open on 8 October, with cellist Taeyeon Kim as the star of the evening. She is the recipient of second prize and the Klara Audience Prize at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition, as well as first prize and no fewer than nine special prizes at the Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition. Taeyeon Kim's appearance at the opening of the Wieniawski Competition highlights the event's openness to outstanding artists of the younger generation. Although the violin remains at the heart of the Competition, the participation of a cellist offers a broader perspective on string music. The artist's achievements at international competitions and performances on concert stages around the world testify to her exceptional musical maturity.

Taeyeon Kim will perform with the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Łukasz Borowicz, appearing as soloist in Camille Saint-Saëns's Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33. The solo performance will be preceded by Antoni Szałowski's Overture, while after the interval the audience will hear Grażyna Bacewicz's Symphony No. 3.

The Competition auditions will begin on 9 October and continue through 22 October. The official Gala, combined with the Prize-Winner Concert, will take place on 23 October, followed by the second Prize-Winner Concert the following day. Both the auditions and the two Prize-Winner Concerts in Poznań will take place in the Auditorium of the Adam Mickiewicz University, one of the most beautiful concert halls in Europe, renowned for its excellent acoustics. The third Prize-Winner Concert is scheduled for 25 October at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw.

The 17th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition will reach listeners at the Auditorium of the Adam Mickiewicz University, as well as via online, television, and radio broadcasts. Online streams will be available on the Wieniawski Society's official YouTube channel and on the Violin Channel, Medici.tv, and Amadeus.tv platforms. The competition will also be broadcast on TVP Kultura and TVP Kultura 2. The competition will also feature a significant presence from Polish Radio Channel 2.

The Competition in Numbers

The Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition was first held in 1935. It is the world's oldest existing violin competition, one of the most prestigious events of its kind, and one of Poland's most important cultural brands. Talented young violinists from almost every continent come to Poznań, drawn by the Competition's reputation, long-standing tradition and unique atmosphere. The Competition is also a founding member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, established in Geneva in 1957.

Applications for the 17th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition closed on 9 January. The organisers received 252 applications from 36 countries across four continents. The largest number of applications came from China, Japan, Poland, South Korea and the United States.

Women accounted for 60% of all applicants, while men accounted for 40%. The oldest applicant was born in 1996, while the youngest was born in 2008. A total of 236 violinists met the formal requirements. Ultimately, 50 participants were selected to take part in the Competition.

The candidates will be evaluated by an international jury composed of outstanding figures from the world of music, chaired by the renowned violinist and winner of First Prize at the 1991 Competition, Bartłomiej Nizioł.

17th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition
8-25 October, the Auditorium of the Adam Mickiewicz University
for more, see: 17th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition website

materials made available by the organizer: The Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society in Poznań

© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2026