7th Chopin International Competition

Welcome to the 7th International Chopin Competition in Kuwait organized by Kuwait Music

Academy in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kuwait and other

entities.

The event will be held on May, 2025: 1st stage online, 2nd stage as live performance

as well as Award Ceremony at Final Gala Concert.

Since 1999 we have conducting six editions of Chopin Competitions under honorable

patronages, continuing activities of Treasure of Talents Program and Kuwait Chamber

Pilharmonia, dedicated to young musicians in Kuwait as well as other Gulf countries. That

celebrates the timeless music of Frederic Chopin and showcases the talents of young

musicians in Kuwait.

Year 2025 creates a very special opportunities for such an event. Kuwait celebrates

this year as Arab Capital of Culture and Capital of Arab Media as well as holds presidency of GCC Countries. During celebration in Kuwait the Flag Raising Ceremony on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025 such important words were pronounced: „It is also a valuable chance to shed light on the achievement it has made in the fields of culture, media and art and present it as a model to be emulated in promoting cultural dialogue’’.

In 2025 also Poland holds presidency of European Union and celebrates International

Chopin Year, including famous International Chopin Competition. Genial Polish composer,

Frederic Chopin is a symbol of raising the rank of native folk music to Human World Heritage and it would be a boost for musicians from many countries and cultures.

The KMA's event has a purpose to support and promote its continued mission and principles

as:

- Provide the young people with the opportunity to perform and share their musical

achievements and creativity.

- Supporting musical culture in Kuwait and Gulf Countries, especially among young

generation.

- Promote famous Polish composer, Frederic Chopin and his cultural heritage among

Gulf Countries.

- Developing a greater appreciation of classical music worldwide, throughout

discovering and encouraging the young talents in Kuwait and across Gulf Region, by

enabling them to enter the competition without setting an age limit in various

categories.

- Supporting the peaceful diversity, tolerance and rapprochement in humanity through

talented young musicians of the World.

Dates

- May 15th 2025: The last date of registration and sending application form and

videos.

- May 15th – 22nd 2025: 1st stage Jury’s evaluation of the videos.

- May 23rd 2025: 2nd stage Live performance in front of the Jury and audience.

GRAND FINAL CONCERT – May 31 2025 Announcement of result, Award ceremony and live performance, recorded video for Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Channel.

Instrumental categories

• Piano

• Vocal

• Transcription for another instrument

Level Categories

• Beginners

• Intermediate

• Higher

Att: Jury would advise to correct Level Category entrance of candidates.

Program requirements

• Every participant should present 1 piece, compose by Fredric Chopin.

• The program can be played by heart or from the scores (candidate’s choice).

• Vocal (Frederic Chopin songs) instrumental transcription would be presented with

accompaniment on piano.

• All the filming guidelines will be attached here.

Fees

The registration fee for each entry is 12.500 Kuwaiti Dinars.

For participant who performs in more than one category or more than one instrument

within the category the fee is payable for each entry separately (details provided below).

The registration fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable.

The payment should be submitted through the bank transfer.

Kindly find the details of bank transaction payment below:

Competition fees: 12.500 KD to be paid by bank transfer

Fees to be submitted:

Name of Account Holder: KUWAIT MUSIC FOR MUSICAL INSTURMANTS

Bank Name: GULF BANK

No. of Account: 91484716

IBAN: KW30GULB0000000000000091484716

SWIFT NO. GULBKWKWXXX

Please send us copy of bank transfer payment with the participant’s name by email to

kuwaitmusica30@gmail.com.

Prizes & Awards

All participants will receive Honorary Certificates of Appreciation and Chopin competition

memory medal.

Winners - contestants of each category of instruments and level will be awarded by:

• 1st PRIZE: HONORARY CERTIFICATE and CHOPIN MEDAL

• 2nd PRIZE: HONORARY CERTIFICATE and CHOPIN MEDAL

• 3rd PRIZE HONORARY CERTIFICATE and CHOPIN MEDAL

Another 3 candidates in each category will be awarded with:

HONORABLE MENTION CERTIFICATE

Jury will award The Best Competition Winner of:

GRAND PRIX CHOPIN CERTIFICATE & CHOPIN SPECIAL AWARD

- Jury as well as our Partners provide additional Special Awards for candidates who deserve special appreciation.

- Jury chooses and recommends the best performers to GRAND FINAL CONCERT

transmitted by Internet and record.

- Depending on the results achieved and with account of the fixed quantity of prices, the

Juries have the right:

a) Not to award all prizes

b) Divide prizes between contestants (exception: Grand Prix and 1st Prize)

- Jury Verdicts are not a subject to change once they are announced.

For the participants and winners from the foreign countries digital copy of certificates will be

send through email. Presented on Gala Concert on May 31st 2025.

JURY MEMBERS OF THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL CHOPIN COMPETITION

Head of Jury, Mr. Cezary Owerkowicz - Co-founder of Kuwait Music Academy and Director of Treasure of Talents Festival in Kuwait. Graduated with distinction in 1964 Chopin Academy and in 1965 represented Poland on 7th International Chopin Piano Competition. He performed concerts in more than 30 countries, at Carnegie Hall, New York, Moscow, London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin and so on. He obtains his PhD in AMFC in Warsaw, In Kuwait he co-founded in 1992 Kuwait Chamber Philharmonic. The Jury Chairman of the 1st Gulf Young Talents Competition in Bahrain in 1998, and 1st Chopin International Competitions in Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and five consecutive editions of Chopin Competitions in Kuwait. He writes regularly as press-publicist.

Mrs. Anna Owerkowicz - Graduated Chopin Academy of Music (AMFC) with distinction in

1971.She won B. Smetana Competition in Czech and represented Poland on 8th

International Chopin Competition. She performed widely as a soloist and in 4 hands duo

with her husband, Mr Cezary Owerkowicz, in Poland and in several European and Asian

countries. In 1985 she moved to Kuwait, where she lectured at higher Institute of Music.

She co established there “Treasure of Talents”, educational program and Yearly Young

Musician Festival. She cooperated in establishing and was a jury member of five

consecutive editions of Chopin Competitions in Kuwait since 1999.

Ms. Fajer Al Mazidi - Started to play Piano at ten years old, in 2002 became a student of

Professor Cezary Owerkowicz, participated in several Piano competitions including the 3rd

Chopin Competition held in Kuwait in 2004 and was awarded of the Chopin Prize. She

continued her music studies with ABRSM and have reached the Diploma level. After

graduating from Kuwait University in 2011 and majoring in Finance. She Co-founded

Kuwait Music Academy alongside Professor Cezary making it the first professional music

school in Kuwait.

Mr. Karol Masternak - Manager and Instructor of Kuwait Music Academy, Graduated piano at Music Academy in Bydgoszcz Poland. He represented Poland at the prestigious 14th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw 2000, in the same year he was nominated as an ambassador of the native city, Szczecin. He also performed many concerts as a piano soloist and with chamber ensembles in several cities of Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Norway, France and Gulf Countries. In 2008, he worked at German under outstanding pianist and composer Andreas Kohl. He was a jury member of 5th Kuwaiti & Gulf International Chopin Competition.

Mr. Viktor Shramko - Graduated in 2018 with honors from Orchestral Wind and Percussion

Instruments Faculty at R. M. Glier Kyiv Institute of Music in Ukraine. Worked in orchestra of

National Radio Company of Ukraine, also as a guest clarinetist he played in the Academic

Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, Kyiv Fantastic orchestra,

chamber and orchestral projects of Kyiv Kamerata orchestra. Performed as a soloist,

ensemble and orchestra musician on the most prestigious stages of Ukraine.

Since 2016 became a member of Moldovan National Youth Orchestra under Maestros

Gabriel Bebeselea (Romania) and Cristian Spătaru (Moldova). In 2017 took part in the

Young Euro Classic at Konzerthaus of Berlin. Worked as a Music Instructor in Ukraine and

Singapore. Since 2019 teaching in Kuwait Music Academy.

Ms. Kinga Masternak – Born in Wadowice, Poland. In 2006 she graduated with honors from piano class of the Music Academy in Bydgoszcz (Poland) under Professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń. She is also a graduate with honors of Frederic Chopin Music College in Cracow (Poland). Kinga completed several master courses on piano under world known professors: A. Orlovetsky, A. Jasiński, V. Nossina, J. Sulikowski, D. Joffe. She has performed as a pianist- soloist and played jointly with music ensembles in Poland, Germany, France, Kuwait, Qatar. Since 2009 she has been teaching in Kuwait Music Academy.

Ms. Inna Agibalova – an esteemed pianist and vocal educator with over two decades of

professional experience. She earned degrees in piano and academic vocal from the

Prokofiev Music Academy in Donetsk, Ukraine, and later completed her postgraduate

studies with honors as a piano with extensive experience as both a teacher and

accompanist in Ukraine, Inna has worked with students of all ages and levels, helping

them build a strong musical foundation. Since 2003, she has performed as a solo pianist

across the Middle East, captivating audiences at prestigious hotels and venues in Qatar,

Jordan, Syria, and Kuwait. Since 2012 teaching at the Kuwait Music Academy.

Mr. Dmitrii Krasnikov - Graduated in 2018 with honors from Moscow State Tchaikovsky

Conservatory under prof. Yury Bashmet. Winner of International music competition

(Belgrade, 2013), grant holder of Rostropovitch fund and Yury Rozum's fund. Worked

as concertmaster of viola group or tutti viola musician in several orchestras in Moscow.

Since 2017 lectured violin, piano and music theory for private students. Among

performing as viola player also had jazz piano background and some works as

composer and arranger.

Mr. Aleksandr Kovalev - Graduated from Gnesins Russian Academy of Music, majoring in

classical guitar, and Kemerovo State University of Culture and Arts, majoring in

culturology. Laureate and award-winner of numerous international guitar competitions

in Russia and Belarus, He has been performing as a guitarist and bassist with many

vocalists, bands, theaters, and folk orchestras in Novosibirsk and Moscow. He also

recorded two CDs for classical guitar methods, with 60 songs on each. Over 10 years of

international teaching experience in Russia and Bahrain, providing lessons on classical

and electric guitars, ukulele, bass, piano, and keyboards, as well as conducting bands and

orchestras. He believes in a blended approach to classical and contemporary music

education and is fond of all cultures, languages, and music styles.

Mr. Kamil Mateusz Derylo - Graduated in 2019, He received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the Faculty of Vocal Music and Drama at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz.He was constantly giving educational concerts and recitals with other musicians from the Pomeranian Philharmonic Orchestra Hall in Bydgoszcz while living in Poland. He has a unique passion for voice coaching with a special focus on the psychophysical aspects of vocal performance in a holistic approach. He Inspires students to discover themselves by exploring their voice, creativity and processing emotions through various means. In addition, passionate about playing the piano and willing to share his musical talents with others. music education and is fond of all cultures, languages, and music styles.