Wieniawski Competition in Poznań: six violinists reach the semi-final, Polish entrant out after stage III

The Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poznań, regarded as the oldest violin competition still running in the world, has moved into its next phase. Late on the evening of Sunday 18 October 2026, the jury, chaired by Bartłomiej Nizioł, announced who will play in stage IV (the semi-final) of the 17th edition.

Who went through

The semi-finalists are Jooha Choi, Anna Im, SooBeen Lee, Jinzhu Li, Bohdan Luts and Meng Zou. Twelve violinists performed in stage III, held on 17 and 18 October.

Polish contestant eliminated

One Polish player, Zofia Anna Olesik, took part in stage III. According to Polish Radio Dwójka, she did not advance and was the last Polish representative in the competition. Of eight Poles who began the contest, she was the only one to reach stage III.

Olesik is 21 and studies at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań under Prof. Marcin Baranowski. In 2025 she won the Zdzisław Jahnke National Violin Competition in Poznań. At auditions in the Adam Mickiewicz University Auditorium she was greeted with applause from the audience, including friends from her academy. She told Polish Radio Dwójka that such support made a big impression on her.

What happens next

In the semi-final, each of the six participants chooses one of six violin concertos. Results of the later stages will be announced in Poznań.

Background

The competition has run for more than ninety years and has opened the way to the world's concert stages for many artists. Its history is linked with names such as Ginette Neveu, David Oistrakh, Wanda Wiłkomirska and Agata Szymczewska. The auditions can be followed in Polish Radio Dwójka's broadcasts.