Dedicated to the Polish genius of jazz violin, Zbigniew Seifert, and open to violinists, violists, and cellists from around the world, this competition is now in its sixth edition. This time, the entire event will take place in Krakow. The application period for the competition will last until the end of May.
“It’s our national treasure,” said Tomasz Stańko, who had the opportunity to know and collaborate with Seifert in their legendary quintet during the late '60s and '70s.
”Seifert Competition was established exactly 10 years ago to ensure that Seifert’s remarkable legacy would not be forgotten. The winner of the first edition was the outstanding young Polish violinist Bartosz Dworak. The jury included international stars as well as one of the last living musicians from Seifert’s bands, Janusz Stefański. It was with Janusz that we founded the Zbigniew Seifert Foundation, whose mission is to nurture the musical heritage left by this exceptional jazz violinist. Małgorzata Jantos, a member of the foundation’s board, proposed commemorating Seifert’s legacy with an international competition for violinists. And that’s how it all began," recalls Aneta Norek-Skrycka, the president of the Zbigniew Seifert Foundation.
This year, the Seifert Competition will hold its 6th edition. Musicians playing improvised music—violinists, violists, and cellists from around the world—are invited to participate. Eligible participants must be under 38 years old. Similar to previous editions, each participant will present their interpretation of Zbigniew Seifert’s compositions. In the semifinals and finals, selected pieces performed by a given soloist cannot be repeated. The Seifert Competition aims not only to promote young talents but also to continuously remind and nurture the musical legacy left by Seifert. Is there a better way to achieve this than entrusting new interpretations of our patron’s classic works to young artists from different parts of the world? emphasizes Aneta Norek-Skrycka.
Before a soloist (violinist, violist, or cellist) qualifies for the semifinals and finals, they must submit an application to the competition. At this stage, the choice of repertoire is flexible, although one of the pieces must be a solo work.
The application period for the Seifert Competition will last until May 31, 2024. The announcement of the list of artists qualified for the semifinals, which will take place in Krakow, will be published by June 12, 2024.
The total prize pool for the 6th edition of the Seifert Competition amounts to 70,000 PLN this year. Accompanying the artists qualified for the competition auditions will be the same rhythm section composed of: Dominik Wania (piano), Michał Kapczuk (double bass), and Dawid Fortuna (drums).
The regulations and application form are available on the website:
https://seifertcompetition.com/en/
The auditions and gala concerts of the Seifert Competition will be held under the umbrella brand of Krakow Jazz Week, in collaboration with the Jazz Juniors Festival and Competition.
The Seifert Competition will take place from September 26 to 29, 2024. The Jazz Juniors Festival and Competition will run from September 30 to October 3, 2024.
Organizers:
Zbigniew Seifert Foundation
Foundation of Film and Jazz Music
Funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the City of Krakow.
For more information:
https://seifertcompetition.com/en/
www.facebook.com/seifertcompetition
www.instagram.com/seifertcontest
