On March 25 the inhabitants of Dzierżoniów municipality and the surroundings had the opportunity to listen to the recital of Jakub Kuszlik, the winner of the IV prize in the 18th Chopin Piano Competition. On the initiative of Most the Most Foundation, Kiełczyn has been included in the list of towns with the concert series “With classics through Poland” the organizer of which is the National Institute of Music and Dance.
The audience of a small town in Lower Silesia listened to mazurkas, scherzo, two polonaises, among others. The works of Fryderyk Chopin and Jan Ignacy Paderewski were performed by Jakub Kuszlik, the laureate of the 18th Chopin Piano Competition.
The choice of concert location is not random. The palace in Kiełczyn is the winner of the pilot Our Monument Competition that Most the Most Foundation held in 2021 in Lower Silesia. The Foundation and Dzierżoniów municipality signed the contract for the amount of PLN 1 MLN for the restoration of this historic palace and adjusting it to new social functions.
– I am happy to see this extensive presence of the inhabitants of Dzierżoniów municipality. That is a good sign for the future. Today’s concert is the first – but definitely not the last – joint cultural initiative within this project – Brygida Ślabska, the president of Most the Most Foundation said, and added: – We feel distinguished that we can organize the concert in Kiełczyn in cooperation with such a notable partner as the National Institute of Music and Dance.
– I am very happy that we managed to make such significant steps to restore the palace in Kiełczyn to its glory. A lot of years behind us for this unique object to become a meeting and activities center for our local society. It was possible also thanks to good cooperation with Most the Most Foundation. I am convinced that the marvelous recital of Jakub Kuszlik is the prelude to subsequent amazing events that will be held in this historic place – Marek Chmielewski, the Mayor of Dzierżoniów municipality added.
– Our project creates equal opportunities in the access to high culture and at the same time plays a crucial educational function – Lech Dzierżanowski, Deputy Director of National Institute of Music and Dance, who manages the Music Department, emphasizes. – Polish music plays an important role in it, frequently of the composers connected with the towns where the concerts are held. Each time the artists are welcome with a great deal of enthusiasm. It only reassures us that it is one of the most important programmes of the National Institute of Music and Dance that from the very beginning is supported by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
Support for Ukraine
The event was accompanied by a charity fund-raiser for the support for Ukraine. Its revenue will be assigned to the special account opened by Dzierżoniów municipality. The funds collected will be donated for the aid of Ukrainian citizens fleeing from war. Also the artist dedicated his performance to the friends from Ukraine that are fighting for their freedom.
“With classics through Poland”
Jakub Kuszlik’s recital is one of the concerts of “With classics through Poland” series. This is the project of Polish Music Management organized since 2019 by the National Institute of Music and Dance. It attracts growing interest of local societies. Only in 2021, 54 concerts with great artists were held. Thanks to this, classical music reaches new audience that very often is introduced to the interesting repertoire of classical music and has an opportunity to meet the outstanding artists for the first time.
Jakub Kuszlik, the laureate of Chopin Piano Competition
Awards in prestigious piano competitions. Concerts all over Poland and abroad: in USA, Japan, Vietnam, Germany, Italy and Iceland, among others. Despite his young age, in Jakub Kuszlik’s portfolio there are many achievements of international importance.
One of the most important are the awards in the 18th Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 2021 – IV prize and the special prize (awarded by the Polish Radio) for the best performance of mazurkas.
In the review for “The Gramophone” Jed Distler wrote: “I’ve tended to focus on pianists whose particular character traits, talents and quirks (or lack thereof) readily manifest themselves. Consequently, several ‘dark horses’ have nearly escaped my attention, such as Jakub Kuszlik. I re-watched Kuszlik’s second-stage performance […] Kuszlik is so musical that you only notice his remarkable virtuosity after the fact. He was born to play Chopin.
The pianist was a student of Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. In November 2018 he performed with great success at Lincoln Center in New York. In March 2019, he won 2nd prize at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition in New York, and in June 2019, he won 3rd prize at the Top of the World International Piano Competition in Tromsø, Norway.
About the Institute
National Institute of Music and Dance is a state-run cultural institution whose mission is to support and promote the development of music and dance culture in Poland.
The Institute works for the development and professionalization of music and dance communities, music and dance education, support of scientific research in the field of music and dance, and also protection and promotion of cultural heritage in Poland and abroad.
The concert series “With classics through Poland” organized by Polish Music Management is one of flagships projects to increase the interest in classical music in small towns. Thanks to it the audience that does not have the possibility to listen to classical music, may get to know the works of famous composers and participate in concerts of the highest level with the participation of outstanding artists.