The Paderewski Music Society in Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization, was established only two years ago by a group of prominent musicians and music lovers alike to promote the legacy of the great Polish pianist, statesman and philanthropist, Ignacy Jan Paderewski.
Last year we organized several successful concerts of 20-year old Russian pianist, Nikita Mndoyants, who is the winner of the First Prize of the 7th International Paderewski Piano Competition in Poland. The performances were of the highest artistic order and an unforgettable experience to all who attended. This year, our guest artist was Polish pianist Hubert Rutkowski, the winner of the 2007 Chopin Competition in Hanover, Germany.
On February 27, 2010, the Chopin Year, our Society will celebrate the grand anniversary of Chopin’s Birthday with a concert at Zipper Hall at the prestigious Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles. The event will be hosted by the popular actress, friend, and benefactor of the Society, Jane Kaczmarek.
That venue will also be the site of our main event next year, the first AMERICAN PADEREWSKI PIANO COMPETITION. It will be held between 26th and 29th of May, 2010 and will be open to pianist of all nationalities between the ages of 16 and 32. The goals of the competition are twofold: to encourage and help the young generation of pianists following in Paderewski’s footsteps and, in a broader context, to promote music and culture and its all important place in society. Throughout his life Paderewski was deeply engaged in promotion of both of those aims. He dedicated his life to artistic and humanistic ideals whether as a concert pianist, diplomat and statesman, or philanthropist.
We would like to encourage you to follow Paderewski’s example! Please support the Competition and the Society with your generous, tax-deductible donation. We plan to organize a world-class, recurring competition but it will not happen without you. In these economically difficult times it is especially important that we support the arts, which usually are the first to suffer. Yet, it is also in difficult times that we realize even more strongly how important the arts are to our lives and how truly essential and indispensable they are if the artistic soul of us as a people is to be preserved.
Let us support the world’s best young pianists who will come to Los Angeles to compete. Let us celebrate music and the continuity of tradition. Let us promote the simple goodness, dignity and generous humanity exemplified by the great Paderewski.
Please make your donation by using PayPal or if you prefer to send a check, please make it out to the Paderewski Music Society and mail to: 8504 Independence Avenue, Canoga Park, California 91304.
Suggested, tax deductible, donation of one hundred dollarsor more would be greatly appreciated and listed in the Competition program. Contributions of any amount will be sincerely valued.
Our goal is to collect $50,000 by March 2010. The collection progress will be announced every month on the Donation page on our website, where you can also find additional information about the Society, our patron Paderewski, and The American Paderewski Piano Competition.
