The National Chopin Piano Competition 1975 to 2020

In 2015, Dean Kramer joined the jury of the 9th National Chopin Piano Competition and performed at the gala opening "Meet the Jury" concert (pictured here). Kramer also served on the jury of the 2020 Competition.

Elier Suarez, Charles Abramovic, Ira Levin and Jeffrey Kahane all received the top prize and each was awarded $3,000. Charles Abramovic and Elier Suarez have enjoyed performance careers in addition to holding top faculty positions at prestigious conservatories.

Arthur Hart and Jonathan Bass earned the top prize at the 3rd Competition  and were each awarded $3,000 and concert engagements as part of their awards. Hart continued his career as an independent concert artist and Bass is Chair of the Piano Department at the Boston Conservatory, where he has been a member of the piano faculty since 1993.

Jon Nakamatsu's career reads like a true fairy tale and it all started here. After placing first at the US competition and being sent to scores of concerts arranged by the Chopin Foundation, he went on to win the 1997 International Van Cliburn Competition.  

Jon Nakamatsu enjoyed his time in Poland, while representing the US at the International Competition. Here he visits the Chopin's birthplace - Zelazowa Wola!

A much sought after soloist and collaborative pianist, Nakamatsu joined the piano faculty of the prestigious San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2016.  In 2015, Jon Nakamatsu joined the jury of the 9th National Chopin Piano Competition and performed at the gala opening "Meet the Jury" concert (pictured here). Nakamatsu also served on the jury of the 2020 Competition.

The Competition is going strong 30 years after the first edition!  Maestro Tadeusz Strugala conducted the orchestra that accompanied the finalists.

As the Founder and President of the Chopin Foundation, Mrs. Rosenstiel takes a personal interest in the success of the young American pianists that come to Miami for the National Chopin piano Competition. In her eyes, they are ALL winners.

Lady Blanka Rosenstiel Awards the Top Prize to Claire Huangci during the Awards Ceremony in 2010.

In 2018 Claire Huangci won the Geza Anda Competition and Mozart prize. On March 31, 2019, the Chopin Foundation welcomed Claire back to Miami for a Chopin Salon concert. She was congratulated by Barbara Muze, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Chopin Foundation.

Eric Lu was one of the youngest first prize winners of the the US Chopin Competition. His musical maturity however was unmistakable as he went on to win the 4th Prize in Warsaw later that year.

Eric Lu won First Prize at The Leeds International Piano Competition in 2018 and is currently a member of the BBC New Generation Artist scheme and a recipient of the 2021 Avery Fisher Grant. He is under management with Askonas Holt and released 2 recordings on Warner Classics. 

The world will be watching as the winner of the 10th National Chopin Piano Competition heads to Warsaw to compete at the 18th International Competition. She will be joined by 3 other US laureates: Evren Ozel, Chelsea Guo, and Talon Smith. Best of luck to ALL!

In 2020 Lady Blanka and the Rosenstiel Foundation sponsored the top prize of $100,000. While it was the highest cash award of any competition at the time, Lady Blanka believes that the winners deserve even more!   Avery Gagliano also won the prize for Best Concerto performance.

Presented in collaboration with the Frost School of Music, Avery performed on 9/11/21 at the Chopin Foundation's 1st live concert since 2020. Avery was joined by University faculty in a special arrangement by Kevin Kenner of Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante.

Avery Gagliano is scheduled to make her debut at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on November 30, 2021. The date has been rescheduled 3 times due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Her first commercial recording on the Steinway Label is also due for release in early November.