On October 14, 2025, at the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall, the Round 3 evening session of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition unfolded. This summary follows the proceedings, performances, and sponsor interviews in chronological order. The programs and performance atmospheres of the four pianists who took the stage, along with the meaningful stories of the sponsors supporting the competition, are also introduced.
1. The Start of the Evening Session and the Significance of the Competition
The event began with official sponsor announcements and beautiful music setting the atmosphere. Subtitles displayed sponsor highlights, music, and light laughter from partner interviews, followed immediately by heartfelt reflections from contestants about the competition.
"My challenge at the Chopin Competition started from my elementary school graduation album. When writing about my future, I wrote that someday I want to participate in the Chopin Competition. And now, I've finally made it to this stage that I've always admired. I'm truly grateful." "The most important thing is to feel joy. Because you're happy, and that's the best part of being a pianist."
The contestants added that they feel more excitement and gratitude than nervousness on stage.
"When I'm on stage, I feel very calm. The stage is my greatest joy, and I'm grateful and happy that the audience listens to my performance. So there's no reason to be stressed."
After an announcement asking the audience to turn off their mobile phones, the official proceedings began.
2. Host Introduction and Jury Panel, Session Briefing
The official evening session host Monica Pottoac took the stage to explain that this was the first evening session of Round 3. She announced that four pianists would perform in sequence, welcoming not only the in-person audience but also music fans worldwide watching via TV, radio, and official streaming platforms.
"Welcome to everyone in the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall audience, and to all those joining us via TV, radio, and the Chopin Institute's official channels!"
Following the introduction of the jury chair and 17 jury members, who received cheers and applause, the first performance of the session was announced.
3. Four Contestants, Performances and Programs
1) SHIORI KUWAHARA (Japan)
The first to take the stage, Shiori Kuwahara performed 'Scherzo in C sharp minor, Op.39', four Mazurkas, and 'Sonata in B minor, Op.58'. Her performance conveyed her musical passion fully, with subtitles repeatedly displaying 'Heat' to describe the audience's enthusiastic response and focused atmosphere.
The passionate sections of the "Scherzo" and "Sonata" drew admiration multiple times.
"Heat. Heat."
She concluded to thunderous applause.
2) HYO LEE (South Korea)
The second pianist, Hyo Lee (South Korea), presented a program consisting of "Ballade in G minor, Op.23", three Mazurkas, "Sonata in B flat minor, Op.35", and "Scherzo in C sharp minor, Op.39". He too breathed with the audience, with exclamations like "Hallelujah", "Dingle", "Sing", "spirit" appearing in the subtitles, and 'Heat' repeatedly appearing at movement transitions and climaxes, conveying the intensity of the venue.
After the performance ended, applause and gratitude followed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be very grateful if you turn over. Thank you."
3) HYUK LEE (South Korea)
After a break, the third performer was Hyuk Lee (South Korea). He showcased a diverse palette of Chopin with "Impromptu in F sharp major, Op.36", "Ballade in A flat major, Op.47", four Mazurkas, and "Sonata in B minor, Op.58".
"Heat. Heat." repeatedly appeared in the subtitles during intense movements, and the audience's immersion and emotion were palpable at the peak moments of each piano solo. After completing his program, the audience's applause resounded loudly.
4) TIANYOU LI (China)
The final performance was by China's Tianyou Li. He performed "Mazurkas Op.59" (3 pieces), "Sonata in B flat minor, Op.35", and "Variations in B flat major, Op.2". During and after the performances, subtitles reading 'Heat', 'Happy birthday' and more appeared, well capturing the rapport between the performer and audience.
4. Special Sponsor Interviews
After the second performance, an in-depth interview followed about how the Chopin Competition maintains its sustainability as a global music festival and how important the role of sponsors is.
"The Chopin Competition is a living festival in music history. The reason this legacy inspires people in Poland and around the world is thanks to the dedication of sponsors."
Adelina Kumor (head of PR and fundraising) spoke candidly about the difficulties and rewards of securing sponsors.
"It's still a reality that it's easier to attract sponsorship for sports than for culture. But we strive to prove the value of cooperation through data and statistics, showing that it provides real business benefits. Thanks to that, companies from numerous fields invest in the competition, and the brand value of Chopin has reached millions of dollars."
Leading sponsors each expressed their strategies and affection for the Chopin Competition, taking pride in how the event has grown beyond a mere cultural activity into a brand for Poland and the entire music world.
"We sponsor both sports and culture, but cases that are globally recognized like this competition are rare. The branding power of the Chopin Competition is truly remarkable." "At Orlen, we've made official logo and QR code-labeled coffee cups and special food sets so you can feel the competition atmosphere at gas stations across the country." "We're also running fan zones in a total of 7 cities where anyone can freely enjoy the music!"
Finally, sponsors added their voices about the sports-like tension of the competition, its competitive structure that draws in the public, and how young artists become stars.
"The competition truly resembles actual sports. The tension at each stage, the passionate audience, and the debates about the judging results... The worlds of music and sports naturally converge." "We've been officially supporting since 2015, working every year toward popularizing Chopin -- from the Chopin Museum to various music festivals and children's education projects."
The conclusion followed that the continued interest and participation of the jury, sponsors, and audience make this event even brighter.
"The competition is held once every 5 years, but behind it lies year-round continuous preparation and efforts to nurture the next generation of Chopin interpreters."
5. The End of the Session
After the final contestant's performance, official sponsors, partner companies, and airlines were once again introduced alongside lingering music.
"LOT Polish Airlines, the official partner of the Chopin Competition, joins as the official airline of this music festival."
The broadcast concluded with music, signaling that the music festival transcending regions and generations under the name of the Chopin Competition had been successfully carried out.
Closing
This session was truly an "international music festival" encompassing the passionate and profound performances of young pianists active on the world stage, diverse cultural and social significance, and the role of sponsors firmly supporting the competition. It was a moment where the dreams of the pianists on stage, the efforts of the many people who support them, and the love of people worldwide for Chopin's music all came together.