Piotr Orzechowski, a 20-year student from the Krakow Academy of Music, has been awarded first prize in the 13th Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition. The contest took place during the 45th Montreux Jazz Festival. Orzechowski is the first Pole to win the competition.
The Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition is open only to pianists under 30. Orzechowski is the youngest winner in the contest’s history. He was chosen from among 42 pianists from 21 different countries. A jury selected 10 pianists to play at the semifinal in Montreux, which was then narrowed down to four semi-finalists.
Finalists
1st Prize: Piotr Orzechowski (Poland)
2nd Prize: Jeremy Siskind (USA)
3rd Prize: Jerry Léonide (Rep. of Mauritius)
Public Prize: Emil Mammadov (Azerbaijan)