The first Chopin competition was held in Narva in 1999 by the initiative of the Polish Ambassador to Estonia Jakub Wolasiewicz. 39 pianists aged 8 to

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1 The first Chopin competition was held in Narva in 1999 by the initiative of the Polish Ambassador to Estonia Jakub Wolasiewicz. 39 pianists aged 8 to 18 representing 5 countries took part in the competition. From 1999 to 2002 the Competition was held annually. The organizers of the Competition Narva Municipality, with support from the Estonian Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland, Polish Embassy in Estonia, National Chopin Institute in Poland, Chopin Society in Warsaw, and the Estonian Broadcasting Corporation. The patrons of the Competition have traditionally been the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland and the Minister of Culture of Estonia.

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3 In 1999 the Competition acquired a logo, which was created by a Narva artist Vera Lantsova.

4 Since 2000 the Competition has got its laureate s badge. The laureate s badge is awarded to winners of the first prize, whereas the Grand prix winner receives a diamond-studded badge.

5 Mr Miroslav Pieńkowsky.

6 The Competition programme consists of pieces from F. Chopin, and I.S. Bach, as well as sonatas of Vienna classics. The participants in the young group must also perform a piece by their native composer of the twentieth-twenty-first centuries.

7 Thanks to the Competition, the works of the great Polish composer made their way to the curricula of several music schools in Estonia before the establishment of the Competition students would only play a few Chopin miniatures. This undoubtedly has had a positive impact on both the development of young Estonian pianists, enriching them in terms of skill mastering and artistic perception, and the evolvement of the Estonian piano school at large. Even in their most daring predictions no one could foresee that students of young age would be able to master Chopin s etudes, which before had only been played at professional stage of music education

8 . In 2002 the Competition became a biennial event

9 In 2002 the Chopin Competition in Narva became a member of EMCY

10 A special Narva Chopin Competition pin for every competition participant as well as all the sponsors was introduced in 2006.

11 In 2004, for age group 3, a third round was introduced, where contestants perform one of Chopin s concertos being accompanied by Narva Symphony Orchestra.

12 The 1st International Chopin Competition in Narva, which happened back in 1999, was announced as a competition for the countries of the Baltic Sea. On January 31, 2016 Narva will welcome the 11th International Chopin Competition.

13 The programme of the competition besides music performances includes such events as master-classes from the members of the jury, concerts of the participants in the Knights Hall of Narva Castle and in the House of Culture in the town of Sillamäe as well as different entertainments for the entries: night excursions inside Narva Castle, bowling, excursions to Narva Gallery and the Town Hall building.

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17 Since the first Narva Chopin competition, 543 young musicians from 23 different countries have taken part in the contest.

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19 The time between the Competitions is still a busy time for the Organizing Committee: there are master-classes for piano teachers in Estonia, concerts of the Chopin Competition laureates for the people of the city, and a contest of drawings called Listening to Chopin s music all organized after one competition ends and another begins. Masurka cis-moll, op.63. autor Anfisa Eremina, 10.a.

20 The Polish Embassy in Estonia has provided considerable support to the Competition by attracting sponsors from Poland and being allround helpful in organizing the actual Competition. For a number of years the Polish Chopin Institute has been furnishing the laureates as well as music schools who train the young pianists with the very popular Jan Ekier edition of the complete music works by Fryderick Chopin. The Chopin Society of Warsaw has supported the Competition, assisting with invitations of a Polish member of the jury. It was with their help that the Competition saw such famous Polish musicians as Anna Maria Stanczyk, Bronislawa Kawalla, Jaroslaw Drzewiecki, Teresa Monasterska, Karol Radziwonowicz, and Anna Wesolowska-Firlej.

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25 The 5-member jury of the Competition is comprised of highly qualified professionals: professors, lecturers of music academies, conservatories, and practicing musicians. They represent such countries as Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, Poland, France, and Germany. The jury is renewed every 2 years.

26 In the final of the Competition, the laureates, winners, and their teachers, whose work is equally acknowledged and honored as the success of their students, are awarded with money prizes and gifts. The money for the prizes is provided by the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the City of Narva, and the general sponsor, Mr Miroslav Pieńkowsky. The Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage awards the finalists with the Grand Prix A trip around the locations connected with Chopin. At some point in the Competition history, the city of Warsaw used to award its own prize A Week in Warsaw with Excursions and a Concert. Prizes are also provided by the Polish Embassy in Estonia, the Polish Radio, the Estonian Broadcasting Corporation and some private companies from Narva.

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30 Traditionally, the final stage of the Competition takes place in the largest concert hall of Estonia in Tallinn. The concert for the audience in Tallinn is performed by the laureates of the Competition and is organized by the Polish Embassy in Estonia. Link:

31 For detailed information on the Competition please visit During the Competition there is an on-line broadcast in the Internet; the address of the on-line broadcast is usually published on Narva Chopin Competition webpage.