Rafał Blechacz

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Rafał Blechacz

Rafał Blechacz (born June 30, 1985 Nakło n. Notecią, Poland) is a Polish classical pianist.

On October 21, 2005 he was the sole recipient of all five first prizes at the 15th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Specifically, he took First Prize and also the polonaise, mazurka, sonata and concerto prizes. According to ABC News, one of the judges, Professor Piotr Paleczn, said that Blechacz "so outclassed the remaining finalists that no second prize could actually be awarded." Another judge, the distinguished Irish pianist John O'Conor, said "“He is one of the greatest artists I have had a chance to hear in my entire life," according to PBS. Blechacz was the first Pole to win the prize (given every five years) since 1975, when Krystian Zimerman won.

Blechacz completed his secondary education in the National Arthur Rubinstein Music School in Bydgoszcz, and now continues his studies in the Music Academy in Bydgoszcz under Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń.

He is also a winner of the second prize in Artur Rubinstein in memoriam Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz (2002), 4th International Hamamatsu Piano Competition (2003) and a winner of the Grand Prix at the International Piano Competition in Morocco in 2004.

His first CD, a recording of Chopin's complete Preludes and his op. 62 Nocturnes, was released by Deutsche Grammophone in April, 2008.