The 11th Grzegorz Fitelberg
International Competition for Conductors
About the Competition
The Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors ? one of the most important competitions for performers in Poland. It has been organised in the Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice since 1979. Since 1982 it has belonged to the World Federation of International Music Competitions in Geneva. It is addressed to conductors who are under 35 years of age as of the inauguration of the event. Its repertoire includes oeuvres from classicism to contemporary music, with music by Polish composers, as well. The 11th Competition took place in 2017.
Famous winners
This is the Competition which marked the beginnings of world careers of many recognised conductors, such as Claus Peter Flor (Director of Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi), Andrzej Boreyko (Artistic Director of the National Philharmonic in Warsaw), Achim Fiedler (Director of Sinfonieorchester Villingen-Schwenningen), Tomas Hanus (Director of the Welsh National Opera, a regular collaborator of Wiener Staatsoper), Patrick Fournillier (Artistic Director of the Grand Theatre ? National Opera in Warsaw), Modestas Pitrenas (Artistic Director of the National Philharmonic in Vilnius), Massimiliano Caldi (1st Conductor of the Subcarpathian Philharmonic in Rzeszów), as well as: Robert Ziegler, Eugene Tzigane, Michael Zilm, Chikara Imamura, Daniel Smith, Michał Nesterowicz, or Marzena Diakun.
Next edition 2023
The 11th Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors will be held in the Henryk Mikołaj Górecki Silesian Philharmonic from 10 to 27 November 2023. Before that time a qualifying round will take place, in which participants of the subsequent stage will be selected on the basis of the recordings sent by them. The Competition will be divided into three stages. Each of the stages will require that the young conductors work with the Symphony Orchestra of the Silesian Philharmonic.
As in previous years, 3 main prizes and 3 distinctions will be awarded in the Competition, as well as a number of awards in the form of concerts with international recognised ensembles. We put emphasis on enabling young conductors to start their careers on professional stages. We will also select the Conductor – Assistant to the Artistic Director of the Silesian Philharmonic from amongst the contestants.
The Competition will be broadcast online.
Jury
Contestants will be evaluated by a professional Jury, consisting of eminent personalities from the world of music. There will be 8 conductors in the Jury (including artistic directors of orchestras of international renown), 2 artistic managers, and 1 composer. A Youth Jury will be appointed as well, consisting of music school students. This will allow to arouse interest of the younger generation in conducting.
Organiser
The Henryk Mikołaj Górecki Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice is an institution of recognised national and international reputation. As the organiser of the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competitions for Conductors and many other festivals, as well as in its daily activities, it makes the top artistic quality of all cultural events it organises its priority.
The institution was established in 1945 and ever since then it has been constantly taking care to promote classical music, putting particular emphasis on Polish composers and composers associated with Silesia. Silesian Philharmonic musicians closely collaborate with contemporary composers as first performers of music by such figures as Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Wojciech Kilar, Witold Friemann, Eugeniusz Knapik, Jerzy Kornowicz, Aleksander Lasoń, an many others. Adam Wesołowski, composer, culture manager, and pianist, is the Director of the Silesian Philharmonic. He makes every effort to guarantee that this institution fits in with the contemporary trends, while maintaining a deep respect for tradition.
Accompanying events
The Competition will be preceded with two editions of masterclasses taught by distinguished educators, including members of the Jury. The Competition will be accompanied with a Festival, which will consist of symphonic and chamber music concerts held in different concert halls in Poland, dedicated concerts, managerial workshops, and educational activities.
