The upcoming, fifth edition of the Seifert Competition brings together violinists from Poland, France, Portugal, the United States, and Brazil, as well an international jury including such celebrities as Miroslav Vitouš, Mark Feldman, and Michał Urbaniak. The event will culminate with a gala concert in the memory of Tomasz Stańko.
The first edition was organised in 2014, but the very idea of such an event was put forward to us as early as 2009 by Małgorzata Jantos, Chair of the Board of Zbigniew Seifert Foundation. It took several years to complete the difficult process of putting the idea into practice. More than 200 musicians from all over the world, from Japan to the USA and Brazil, have entered the five editions, making the Seifert Competition the only international event of its kind. What makes us most happy is that the Seifert Competition has become not only a recognisable brand highly valued virtually worldwide, but also a major meeting point for violinists, violists, and cellists performing improvised music. “It is thanks to their commitment that we are able to discover Zbigniew Seifert’s rich legacy ever anew and to promote the memory of that excellent artist in ever wider circles,” says Aneta Norek-Skrycka, President of Zbigniew Seifert Foundation.
This year’s fifth edition of the Seifert Competition opens on 24th August at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Lusławice, where auditions will be held for three consecutive days. The submitted entries will be assessed by the same three-strong jury of international stars that also judges the participants in the main stage. The jury consists of famous Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš, member (with Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul) of the legendary Weather Report; outstanding US violinist Mark Feldman, recording for many years for John Zorn’s prestigious Tzadik label; and excellent Polish violinist Michał Urbaniak, best known for his collaboration with US jazz legend Miles Davis. The following male violinists have qualified for the semi-finals: Serge Hirsch (France), Benjamin Sutin (USA), Wojciech Barteczek (Poland), Kacper Malisz (Poland), Guilherme Pimenta (Brazil), and Eduardo Bortolotti, a Mexican residing for many years in Poland. The women contestants are Amalia Obrębowska (participant of the 2018 Seifert Competition, winner of the audience award) and Lucy Southern (USA). Two other violinists have been admitted to the Competition for the second time: Gabriel Vieira from Brazil (audience award 2020) and João Silva from Portugal.
The stakes at the 2022 Seifert Competition amount to PLN 70,000 in total. The online audience can also vote for its favourite, choosing the best participant via our website: www.seifertcompetition.com. Auditions will be broadcast on the Seifert Jazz Music YouTube channel and our FB profile Facebook.com/SeifertCompetition. You are also invited to attend the auditions in person between 24th and 26th August at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Lusławice (starting at 7 p.m. every day). All the soloists will be accompanied by the same rhythm section, consisting of: Piotr Wyleżoł – piano, Michał Barański – bass, and Dawid Fortuna – drums.
Day1, 24 August 2022, SEMI-FINALS - streaming:
Day 2, 25 August 2022, SEMI-FINALS - streaming:
Day 3, 26 August 2022, FINAL - streaming:
The final gala, dedicated to the memory of Tomasz Stańko, promises to be an extraordinary event. It will be held on Stańko’s 80th birth anniversary in Cracow, where he received his music education and set up his first bands, including the memorable Tomasz Stańko Quintet with Zbigniew Seifert, Bronisław Suchanek, Janusz Muniak, and Janusz Stefański. Stańko’s compositions will be recalled and reinterpreted by those who accompanied him on his musical journey for nearly three decades: pianist Marcin Wasilewski, bassist Sławomir Kurkiewicz, and drummer Michał Miśkiewicz, together forming the Marcin Wasilewski Trio, with a guest appearance by the excellent Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær. The concert “Remembering Tomasz Stańko/Seifert Competition” will be held on 29th August 2022 at 7 p.m. at the ICE Kraków Congress Centre.
Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the earmarked government Fund for the Promotion of Culture, as part of the ‘Music’ programme implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance, as well as from the funds of the City of Cracow, the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation, and with the financial support of the Małopolska Province. Audi is a Partner of the concert
Tickets: https://kbfbilety.krakow.pl/kup-bilet/remembering-tomasz-stanko-w-ramach-seifert-competition?id=895
For details, visit:
www.facebook.com/SeifertCompetition
See also: