We regret to inform you that Nikola Meeuwsen cancelled his Festival appearance yesterday due to personal reasons. As a result, we are unfortunately required to make one change to the Festival programme.
In these new circumstances, we warmly invite you to a special concert on 14 August at 4:00 p.m., commemorating the 200th anniversary of the stay and concerts of the 16-year-old Frédéric Chopin in Duszniki-Zdrój.
The concert will feature two outstanding young Polish pianists – the same age as Frédéric Chopin was in 1826. We warmly invite you to join us for this unique event!
Duszniki-Zdrój – Chopin Manor
14 August 2026 – 4:00 p.m.
Filip KAUCH — Oliver HAK
Filip Kauch
Filip KAUCH was born in 2009 in Kościan, Poland, where he began studying the piano at the age of eight at the Fr. Dr. Józef Surzyński Primary Music School, under the guidance of Marian Michałowicz. He is currently studying with Professor Andrzej Tatarski at the Jadwiga Kaliszewska Secondary Music School in Poznań.
He is the laureate of more than 40 international and national piano competitions. His most significant achievements include:
- Golden Parnassus Grand Prize, 21st International Piano Forum, Sanok (2026)
- Second Prize, National Centre for Artistic Education Competition Musical Spring, Warsaw (2026)
- Grand Prix, First Prize and three Special Awards, 5th International Chopin Spring Piano Competition, Lutsk (Ukraine) – Sanok (2025)
- Absolute Prize, Music Academy FORTE International Competition, Brussels (2025)
- Second Prize and Silver Medal, Premio Enrico Galletta International Piano Competition, Livorno, Italy (2025)
- Elżbieta and Krzysztof Penderecki Artistic Award, 20th International Piano Forum, Sanok (2025)
- First Prize, Chopin Avenue International Piano Competition, Hong Kong (2024)
- Grand Prix and three Special Awards, 22nd National Piano Competition, Konin (2024)
He has further developed his artistry under the guidance of distinguished musicians including Leonora Armellini, Akiko Ebi, Alexander Gadjiev, Philippe Giusiano, Marc Laforêt, Alberto Nosè, Carlo Palese, Dina Yoffe, Andrzej Jasiński, Magdalena Lisak, Joanna Ławrynowicz-Just, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, and Wojciech Świtała.
Filip Kauch has given recitals in the United States, Slovenia, Germany, and Hungary. In Poland, he has performed at such prestigious venues as the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the Royal Łazienki Museum, and the Birthplace of Frédéric Chopin in Żelazowa Wola. In 2026, he performed Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor with the Judson Civic Orchestra in Chicago under the baton of Dr. Robert Kania.
He has received numerous scholarships and awards, including those from the Young Poland programme, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, the Fundusz Zdolni Foundation, the Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region, the Dezydery Chłapowski Educational Association, the Vividus Music Association, the Director of the Centre for Artistic Education, Rotary Club Poznań, Rotary Club Wolsztyn, the City of Poznań, and the Mayor of Kościan.
Oliver Hak
Oliver HAK (born 27 May 2010) is a 16-year-old Polish pianist who has gained international recognition as an award-winning young artist.
His most notable recent achievements include:
- First Prize, Young Euregio Piano Award International Competition (Geilenkirchen, Germany, July 2026)
- First Prize, 33rd International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth, Szafarnia, Poland (May 2026)
- First Prize and two Special Awards, 6th Concours International Piano Neuchâtel – Val de Travers (Switzerland, February 2026, 16–25 age category)
- First Prize, 25th International Piano Competition of Île-de-France, Paris (June 2024)
- First Prize, Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition, organized by the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe (BPSE), London (2023)
- First Prize and the Moray Prize, 5th Scottish International Youth Piano Competition (Junior Division)
- First Prize and the Sam Hutchings Memorial Award, 7th Scottish International Youth Piano Competition (Senior Division)
- Finalist, 7th Aarhus International Piano Competition (Denmark)
- Two-time winner of the RCS Junior Concerto Competition
- Recipient of the RCS Junior Conservatoire Beethoven Piano Prize
- Winner of the Hugh S. Roberton Memorial Trophy and the Glasgow Orpheus Choir Trust Award at the Glasgow Music Festival
- ABRSM Scholar
Since 2018, Oliver has been a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He began studying the piano at the age of eight with Dr Marianna Abrahamyan and is currently a student of Professor Aaron Shorr.
At the age of twelve, he made his solo recital debut and soon began an active concert career, performing in the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Poland, and Denmark. In the same year, he also made his concerto debut with the RCS Junior Symphony Orchestra.
He has also appeared as a soloist with the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS), performing at Aberdeen Music Hall and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
In 2023, Oliver Hak was featured in International Piano Magazine.