Rafał Blechacz, photo by: Felix Broede
The Award is presented every four years, based on the candidates’ live performances. The artists are normally unaware of their nominations, and the Jury’s proceedings are kept secret throughout the entire selection period.
The previous winners of the Gilmore Artist Award include: Kirill Gerstein, Ingrid Fliter, Leif Ove Andsner, Ralf Gothóni, and David Owen Norris. The award went to a Pole once before – Piotr Anderszewski received the prize in 2002.
Blechacz will be given a prize of $300 000, most of which ($250 000) he is expected to spend on his career development. The verdict was officially announced on 8 January, during a concert at the New York’s WQXR radio station.
Simultaneously with obtaining the Gilmore Artist Award, Rafał Blechacz was invited to perform at this year’s edition of Gilmore International Festival in Kalamazoo, MI (24 April-10 May), where he will appear next to some of the previous laureates: Gerstein, Fliter, and Anderszewski.
Sources: NY Times, Gilmore Artist Award, szwarcman.blog.polityka.pl, Culture.pl
Ed. SW, 8/01/2014. Translated and edited by AM 9/01/2014.