Welcome to the Fryderyk Chopin 200^th Birthday Celebrations in Alberta!

Alberta is very honoured to be among the international community celebrating the life and music of Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin.

The genius of Chopin’s musical language, in its universality and complexity, speaks to the wide range of human emotion.

I cannot recall the moment that Chopin’s music was introduced to me; it seems that it has always been in my life.  However I do remember the many trips to Warsaw, from my home in Gdansk, to attend the prestigious International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competitions. There I would listen to Chopin’s music performed by highly competent pianists.  These competitions were also televised nationwide so that all of Poland could listen…Chopin’s music is in our blood.  It has defined my life as a musician and influenced the work of many other artists, in Poland and beyond. 

We are privileged as Albertans to host the following world-class musicians and I would like to present to you:

Simon de Freitas, a young pianist, a graduate from University of Toronto who played at Edmonton’s New Years Eve Downtown.  At the stroke of midnight, for the first time in the history of Alberta’s capital we welcomed the New Year with a fireworks display accompanied by Fryderyk Chopin’s Polonaise in A Major…our fanfare!

The Grand Opening concert features the 1980 Warsaw Chopin Piano Competition

First Prize Winner, Dang Thai Son.

The Chopin for Two concert features the Internationally acclaimed 14 year-old piano prodigy from Calgary, Jan Lisiecki together

with the winner of numerous music competitions, the talented young Edmonton cellist, David Eggert.

On July 1^st, Let’s Celebrate Canada with Chopin at Louise McKinney Park with music, dance and folk celebrations.

In the fall, we present our annual Festival of Polish Culture which includes:

The Chopin and Jazz in One concert features Poland’s pre-eminent interpreters of Chopin music in style of Jazz, the Andrzej Jagodzinski Trio.

Also from Poland, the Kuba Stankiewicz Group with singer Inga Lewandowska will appear on our All Souls Day Jazz Concert Chopin Songbook, October 17^th. This is an important day as it is the day of Chopin’s death.

The Festival of Polish Culture will close with a chamber music concert Chopin for Three with Edmonton musicians Magda Adamek, Tanya Prochazka and yours truly…

The Alberta Chopin 2010 Celebration Finale is on February 22, 2011. In partnership with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra we present world-renowned Polish pianist and the 2005 First Prize Winner of the prestigious Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Rafal Blechacz…the first Polish artist to win the award since Krystian Zimerman’s triumph  in 1975!

During the next 12 months of Alberta celebrations in centres like Calgary, Lethbridge, and Grande Prairie, to name a few, you are sure to find a Chopin just for YOU!  that will satisfy your appetite and appreciation of Chopin’s genius.

In closing, I would like to thank all those working on the Alberta Chopin 2010 Celebration Committee, the volunteers, supporters, enthusiasts, and all who are helping one way or the other. Without your hard work and commitment Alberta Chopin 2010 Celebration would not be possible.

Also, I would like to thank my husband Kent, my kids Adam and Kaja for their ongoing support, patience and love.

For more information on the global Chopin2010 Celebration and Honorary Committees from around the world visit http://www.chopin2010.pl/en/celebrations/committees/type/world

….and then…ALBERTA…LET US CELEBRATE everything CHOPIN..starting TODAY!!!!

Sincerely,

Joanna Ciapka- Sangster